We are now in touch with the right people – Senior Marine Conservation Inspectors with DAFF, to whom any sightings of suspected trawlers, can be reported.
But there is some procedure to follow, that filters out any legitimate vessels.
SO, when you see a suspected trawler…
Log onto http://marinetraffic.com on the internet, or onto your AIS cellphone App. Click here to choose one if you need one still.
Locate the area where your suspect ship is, and see if there a corresponding ship icon, for your suspect
If there is no AIS icon visible, please report to…
 The DAFF vessel operating in that area – The Ruth First, is in the area off the Transkei, where most of the suspect activity has been noted lately. Their number is 079 773 6514 and Inspector Teyise is on board right now.
Our contacts, Senior Marine Conservation Inspector Mr. Bongani Pitoyi is on 071 765 2533, and is extremely helpful.
Another number you can call is deputy director Mr Moshani on 076 780 5049.
SO, please keep your eyes on your horizon, and help us iron out what is actually going on out there.
On Trawler Watch 2017!
EXTRA: Check the following video documentary, to see how much mechanisation is used by commercial fishing trawlers…slow and shaky, but you get the picture fair enough. And it is in Iceland. But the same technology can be deployed against fish anywhere in the world. Including our waters. And why we need to be on the lookout. Next thing we buying our own mackerel and sardines in tins marked Made in China!
Sardine activity intensifies: Sardine report 17 July 2017
After the wild weather and waves of the last week, the sardine activity being reported from down in the Transkei, is intensifying. More sardines. More dolphins. More birds. More fish. More everything!
This in from Debbie Smith way down in the Port St. Johns area…
“Its been a cracker of a season. still baitballs today. south west has blown for 2 days, surf is a bit gnarly, viz is abit low, surprising for after the swest but water temp is a steady 19.5.”
But Jay Steenkamp of the Natal Sharks Board received very little sardine news today so far.
With the adverse weather caused by a trio of cold fronts moving across the country and up the coastline, the air temperature has plummeted. So now we have a few more things lining us up for some sardines up in KZN. Steady 19 degrees water and cold air are two vital ingredients.
For the first time this year really too, birds were seen patrolling the backline, in tight formation – on the KZN Lower South Coast.
Now with the next cold front forcing it’s way through to here by about Wednesday or Thursday, this is no time to be giving up hope!
Eyes on the horizon!
Some action from the Offshore Africa team…who are taking bookings for next years Sardine Run front row seats.
The Sardine Report 2017 has been made possible by Fishing’s Finest in Pretoria. Distributors of Pelagic Fishing Gear.
Like great author and eye opener – Callum Roberts, author of “The Ocean of Life: The Fate of Man and the Sea”  and other tales of environmental gloom and doom, Mr. Al Spaeth, in his description of the state of our oceans and our fisheries, has the ability to put things way into perspective.
Read his shocking synopsis of our particular piece of ocean’s predicament, at the following link…
Mr. Spaeth is particularly focused on our South African waters and their fisheries. But this is happening, and has happened, all over the globe, in so many other ignorant countries. Where greedy and ignorant governments and their parastatals, give away the resources of their people, in exchange for under the table rewards or incentives.
His call-to-action, to mimic the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association ), in the United States, is our only chance. They are a very effective watchdog association of anglers in the United States, that campaign for the fish and the environment, as well as educate the public fishing community at large. On pertinent environmental issues at hand. And we have many. The sardines, squid, and tuna that Mr. Spaeth addresses, are just three. What about the plight of the poor shad this year?! No DAFF’s anywhere?! Bucket loads leaving the beach.
The CCA in America is the type of organisation Mr. Al Spaeth is advocating
This is what they do over there, very successfully…
ON A LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL WE…
• Initiate scientific studies. • Fund marine-science scholarships. • Build artificial reefs. • Create finfish hatcheries. • Monitor the quality and quantity of freshwater inflows. • Support local marine law enforcement. • Help establish game fish status for recreational species. • Work to prohibit destructive commercial gear.
ON A FEDERAL LEVEL WE…
• Defend net bans. • Work to implement bycatch reduction regulations. • Support pro-fisheries legislation. • Battle arbitrary no-fishing zones.
You can read all about them and their successes against their government at this link…
Anybody else keen to get involved, and has the time and resources, jump in now by filling out the form below…I have been in touch with the CCA, and they are prepared to assist. We just need some momentum. In the meantime we are calling the movement CCASAÂ (Coastal Conservation Association of Southern Africa). If there are any other established or fledgling groups like the CCA, already operating in South Africa, Namibia or Mozambique, please let me know on umzimkulu@gmail.com.
Jay Steenkamp Sardine Super Spy in Margate today, offers the following no Sardine report 6 July 2017…
“Our plane flew yesterday morning. There was no activity so we have put back all the shark nets – as it’s holiday season now. Even today, the only action is whales in the deep, moving north. Sea temp here is 21 degrees so it’s still very warm. Swell has dropped to about 3ft but the viz has improved finally.” – Jay Steenkamp in Margate today the 6 July 2017
However, on a recent boat trip down the Transkei Wild Coast, Jay was lucky enough to come across a huge pod of dolphins cruising north and also evidently in search of the sardines. This was but a few days back and shows the patient dolphins, but ends off in an inspiring moment of sardine frenzy, as the gannet brigade come falling out of the air and down into the ocean after hapless sardines.
Enjoy the picture show…
The gannets are a display in themselves, they actually swim around underwater choosing sardines as if they were in a sardine supermarket. One by one. And more than one at a time.
The guys at Offshore have also been quiet. After their epic run of sardine baitball action, they must be on their toes searching for the next shoals. Presumably and hopefully the BIG shoals we are all talking about, and waiting for. Often this pause in the action, is part of the lead up to the great event. Sometimes this only happens in August and even into September!
In the meantime, the shad are still committing suicide with no Ezimvelo to counsel them out of it. The DAFF (DOFF) boys seem to enjoy fish genocide and are seemingly completely uninterested in the slaughter going on.
It’s open season. No policing anywhere. Buckets of shad being poached by the public.
Our deep undercover sardine spy Robbie van Wijk reports of an alleged trawler spotted trawling at Mdumbi just yesterday! Could this be one of the three “legal” ships (Japanese with permits from the totally ineffectual DAFF), that have been spotted up and down all over? Robbie just has this photo for proof.
Fishing Trawler spotted trawling at Mdumbi!
The trawler had nets out and was heading NE, at trawling speed!
Targeting sardines no doubt! But imagine the destruction they are causing to the reefs and eco-system! Trawls carry the most destructive fishing equipment known to man. And are illegal in most places. They are most likely purse seine fishing, but still – WHOSE FISH ARE THEY?! The Japanese’? And who is policing their methods?
And there is more, when I contact DAFF (Department of Forestry and Fisheries or whatever), they could NOT TELL ME WHERE TO REPORT this type of suspicious activity!
We checked the AIS system (a global map of every legitimate ship on the planet – please check it out at http://marinetraffic.com – such important information to cross reference with), only to find that the “legal” Japanese KOEI MARU No. 1 was in fact off Durban. And the only other boats in the area where Robbie spotted the trawler, are a patrol boat (weirdly enough – full of gunmen as reported by AIS – could be the Sarah Baardman – hopefully), and another unpurposed one, as far as AIS is fed this information. The MSC Rania (not guilty of anything I assure), was the only other vessel reporting itself, for hundreds of miles up and down.
So, a ship without it’s AIS system on. That surely is a guilty ship.
It was a very ironic post that Robbie made from Mdumbi last year this time. It says it all in one photograph. How far did these “South African” sardines travel, before going on sale, back where they came from? I know Lucky Star is a local brand, but are they catching these fish? Is this their boat? Then why the Japanese and Chinese boats? With permits? From our very own DAFF?! (DOFF).
Lucky Star South African Sardines spotted off Umdumbi
I have been receiving offers for fresh frozen sardines in my inbox (someone spammed me with a subscription to this seafood industry bunch, so I play along, to keep getting the info), way before the sardine season even though of starting. In fact back in January and February were my first emails received – selling by the tonne!
Enjoy the read…
Dear Sir,
Good morning.
We now have several containers’ products coming soon, please kindly advise, thanks.
Product Name: Frozen W/R Sardine for Market / Bait purpose
Specification: 6-10 pcs/kg, BQF, Light Purse Seine, Land Frozen
#2 Sardine 6-10 pcs/kg Canning
Product Name: Frozen W/R Sardine for Canning purpose
Specification: 6-10 pcs/kg, BQF, Trawl, Land Frozen
#3 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 8-10 pcs/kg Market
Product Name: Frozen W/R Scad (Horse Mackerel) for Market purpose
Specification: 8-10 pcs/kg, BQF, Light Purse Seine, Land Frozen
Kindly let us know the name of your destination port. More products information including pictures and price will be sent according to your respond.
Thanks and warmly regards.
I accept that most of this seafood is likely not from our waters. But who is to tell?
And a few more pics of Mdumbi, by Robbie van Wijk, showing the beauty of the place’s waters that we need to protect from exploitation by few, against the will of the public whole. One shot featuring the Sarah Baardman on patrol, about a month back. That is one mean boat and they would know about every ship for a thousand miles around, just with their own equipment, let alone AIS. So hopefully they have their orders to chase and apprehend, as they did last year, with three captures out of nine reported incursions, by foreign vessels. Or are they just on parade?
Ok, but there is something we can do. Since we are the culprits in the first place.
Yes, it’s us.
The buyers of canned fish. We pay for those ships. We pay those politicians their bribes. We pay for the destruction. We even pay for the Sarah Baardman, through taxes! We are paying for both sides?!
And only we can stop the mayhem. By not buying tinned fish. Ever again. No sardines. No tuna. No mackerel. No Anchovies. Etc…
Take the power back!
You would be doing so much good, on so many levels.
