Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Big illegal fish haul

Two women were arrested on Saturday morning in eSikhawini for being in possession of over 300 ‘no sale’ fish. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, together with Operation Rescue Services (ORS) and Immigration Services, were conducting routine patrols in the area when they came across the two women at eSikhawini robots at around 6am. A 49 year-old woman was found with 288 spotted grunter and three Natal stumpnose, while the other, said to be in her late twenties, was carrying 24 spotted grunter. The two were detained at the eSikhawini SAP and the fish confiscated. Both the spotted grunter and Natal stumpnose are recreational species only. They are Red-listed, no sale species, meaning it is illegal to sell or buy these anywhere in South Africa. They are specifically reserved for recreational fishing and may only be caught by anglers in possession of recreational permits. Anglers must also abide by the recreational permit conditions, which include daily bag limits and minimum size. They are not allowed to sell their catches.

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