Category: Feature

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How do our Scomber Japonicus (our KZN mackerel), end up in cans?

How do our Scomber Japonicus (our KZN mackerel), end up in cans?

It’s been a while since I stopped buying tinned fish. It took a great deal to get me to stop. I mean, tinned tuna is off the charts delicious! And sardines! Eish – the basis of so many quick and easy and scrumptious meals! Convenience in a can. And it’s fish! SO good for you…

But not good for anyone else. Or the ocean. Or the tuna. Or the sardines. Just you, or me, in that moment of sheer ignorance and bliss, as we savour the flavour of the oil soaked and smoked tuna. Perfect every time.

We have to pop that bubble.

My folks are away, and so looking after the Umzimkulu Marina, I cleared out one of the chalets. And there it was…a tin of mackerel!

Bowled me over. Now what?! Mackerel are beyond delicious, and so very good for you. But no ways am I opening that can. So I take it, mull it over in my hands, and read the species of mackerel, and how it was caught…

70% Mackerel (Scomber Japonicus) Water, salt. Method of Capture: Trawl.

?!?!?!?!

So, I pop onto Wikipedia and type in Scomber Japonicus, and click on distribution…

“Chub mackerel are widespread in the Indo-Pacific. They are absent from the Indian Ocean except for South Africa from KwaZulu-Natal to Western Cape, and are replaced by the closely related Atlantic chub mackerel in the Atlantic. The chub mackerel is widely distributed, usually found in the northwestern, southeastern, and northeastern Pacific. In the eastern Pacific, it can be found from central Mexico to southeastern Alaska. Chub mackerel are generally found within 20 miles (37 km) off the coast in waters between 50 and 72°F (10 to 22°C). Young mackerel live around sandy beaches or kelp beds, while adults are found in deeper waters in shallow banks to 1000 feet (300 m) deep. Chub mackerel school with other pelagic species, as well such as other types of mackerels and sardines.”

Read all about the Chub Mackerel here…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chub_mackerel#Distribution

So these tinned mackerel, could well have come right from our own coast! Trawled?! The most indiscriminate and destructive fishing method.

We will never know, unless someone tells the truth, but here is a possible scenario.

Trawlers are out there trawling, right now. Legal and illegal. Some have their AIS on, some don’t. The Sarah Baardman is out there, working her beat. And the Ruth First (with marine inspectors on board). None the wiser. The mackerel, the same species in my tin, are being caught. They are being processed somewhere. Into cans. And are winding up on the shelves of our very own local supermarkets. A few hundred metres from where you can catch them yourself?!

And the can says…Product of China, on the label?!

STOP BUYING TINNED FISH!

It’s what fuels the trawlers.

Please see how to report suspicious activities here…

https://thesardine.co.za/2017/07/17/trawler-watch-2017-reporting-procedure/

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Bliksem groot tuna wins at Shelley Beach 2017

Bliksem groot tuna

Bliksem groot tuna wins at Shelley Beach 2017

After an interesting week of fishing, the absolutely magnificent yellow fin tuna caught on Bliksem, took first prize. At the 2017 Mercury Shelley Beach fishing tourney held this past week.

Bliksem groot tunaL Viljoen was the skilled angler who wrestled the magnificent yellowfin tuna to the boat

40.9kg’s May not break the scales in Cape waters, but here in KZN Natal, that is a seriously big yellowfin. Massive actually. The normal tuna we catch here only hang about until they hit about 35kg’s. Making them sexually mature. Which is the point in their lifecycle when these bigger fish hit the tuna lanes out deep. Half way between us and Madagascar and all the way down to Cape Town – on that line. About two hundred miles out.  And become breeding stock. And open season to anyone with a ship!

Overall the fishing wasn’t that great, but as usual it was a well run event with lots of excitement and thrills.

A great fish for a winner!

Thanks to Craig Bell Roberts at The Tackle Box in Shelley Beach, for keeping us up-to-date and for providing the photographs.

Click here for more information on The Tackle Box.

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State of our Oceans by Mr. Al Spaeth

Sardine activity reported moving up towards KZN

State of our Oceans by Mr. Al Spaeth

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…

http://pedsac.co.za/8-articles.html

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
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…

http://www.joincca.org/about

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 CCASA (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.

 

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Jordy Smith wins at Ballito 2017

Ballito Pro 2021is on! Jordy Smith flying high at the 2017 Ballito Pro

O’Neill Surfer Jordy Smith Wins Ballito Pro.

A victorious Jordy Smith © Van Gysen

Ballito – O’Neill surfer and third rated Championship Tour competitor Jordy Smith won the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong in front of a packed beach of local spectators on Saturday 8 July, defeating natural-footed Brazilian Willian Cardoso. This is Smith’s second Ballito Pro win, with his previous victory at the event back in 2010.

The big South African overcame a stomach bug that almost disrupted his charge in mid-week to reach the final. He managed to overcome the illness to find unrivaled rhythm for the rest of the event, and charged all the way through to the final day, when he found his peak performance.

“Obviously I love being in Ballito, this will always be the first real contest that I ever competed in on the international stage, so there’s a lot of history and it means a lot to me,” said Jordy of the contest. “It’s a great opportunity for me to stay in tune.”

The theory worked, and he was in tune for the final day in good, contestable conditions at Willard Beach. Smith first eliminated Brazilian goofy-footer Miquel Pupo in the quarterfinals, before beating fellow South African Mikey February in the semi-finals.

“Secretly I was a little bummed for Mikey February. I would have liked to be in the finals with him,” commented Smith on the Kommetjie surfer. “I just wish him all the best, I really hope he brings it and joins me on the tour next year.”

In the final it was Jordy up against the powerful Brazilian Willian Cardoso in the powerful right-handers spinning off over the Willard Beach sandbank. Both surfers had a decent start, until Jordy picked up a set wave, saw a ramp section and took to the skies for arguably the biggest air move of the entire event and a score of 9.73, leaving Cardoso chasing a massive score at the back end of the heat.


Jordy found the ramps and took to the skies in the final. © Van Gysen

“I had a bit of a slow start, but I ended up sticking that first air and from there I was actually enjoying my surf out there,” said Smith. “Eventually I got that one wave with a nice section and got one of the biggest ramps all week and just went for it and I landed it.”

“I’m really happy with my performance this week and hopefully I can take this momentum to J-Bay,” said Smith. “It’s such an honour winning this event with so many of my friends and family here.”

Ballito finals day video recap.

His win will see Smith receive a massive boost of confidence as he heads to Jeffreys Bay for the Corona Open JBay – Stop No. 6 of 11 on the WSL Championship Tour starting on Wednesdaywhere he is a former two-time event winner, having banked wins in 2010 and 2011.

Before the Corona Open JBay starts, Smith will be heading up a Memorial Paddle Out in honour of legendary waterman and the pioneer of the wetsuit, Jack O’Neill. The paddle out is open to all, and surfers are encouraged to meet Jordy and friends at the Lower Point Car Park in JBay onMonday 10 July at 8:30am. For further information please visit the Facebook Event Page.

 

For more on Jack O’Neill, watch the I Knew Jack O’Neill memorial movie below.

 

The Memorial Paddle Out is a forerunner event to the JBay Winterfest. For more information on the multi-sport and cultural festival, taking place in JBay go to www.jbaywinterfest.com

 

For further information contact

O’Neill South Africa brand director Paul Canning on

e. paul.c@sectorgroup.co.za

c. 0827271722

 

Compiled and distributed by

Craig Jarvis

craig@truthcollective.co.za

0823764443

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No Sardine report 6 July 2017

sardine report 6 july 2017

No Sardine report 6 July 2017

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.

Another F#$%^ let down by the government.

Sardine reports 2017 are sponsored by http://fishingsfinest.co.za

Special offer from Pelagic and Fishing's Finest
Special offer from Pelagic and Fishing’s Finest
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