Category: South Africa

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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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Daga Salmon reported by Spearos

Daga Salmon reported by Spearos

Jason Heyne checks in with his weekly spearing report – this week featuring some eagerly awaited for daga salmon. They are also here for sardines, and the big ones are often caught from the shore, right in the shallows! Just please be considerate with this fragile population. The big ones are our breeding stock, and we need them alive! Take your one for the season by all means – they are a very difficult fish to catch or shoot. But leave the rest for next year! TX Jason

“The diving conditions this week have been above average. Daga salmon have made an appearance in the shallows down south, big garrick up north and decent wahoo out deep. Saturday and Sunday a light offshore wind blows in the morning switching to a light on shore in the afternoon. Swell starts at 1.5m on Saturday dropping down to 1m on Sunday. Both days are looking top for a dive. Well done John on getting fish of the week a 24.5kg daga salmon on a shore dive. Good luck to all competing in the second day of natal champs tomorrow. Viz was reported north and south today. As always dive safe and straight spears.” – Jason

The big daga salmon have made their annual pilgrimage up to KZN, to lie in wait for the sardinesSardine activity reported moving up towards KZN

For more fishing and sardine news, click here…

https://thesardine.co.za/?s=sardines+2017

To get right in with the sardine action, follow this link…

http://offshoreafrica.com

For great fishing family accommodation on the KZN South Coast (Port Shepstone)…

http://umzimkulu.co.za

And to catch those shad…

https://thesardine.co.za/mydo/

 

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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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Trawler spotted trawling at Mdumbi!

Trawler Watch 2017: Fishing Trawler spotted trawling at Mdumbi!

Trawler spotted trawling at Mdumbi!

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!
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 Umzumbe
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.

#15 Frozen Seafood Mix

Ingredients: Squid Rings/ Tentacles/ Strips/Cut/Head, Octopus Cut/Strip, Baby Octopus, Mussels meat, Shrimps, etc.

Glazing: 0-20%, Package: 24 *1 lb.

#1 Sardine 6-10 pcs/kg Market / Bait

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?

Trawler Watch 2017: Fishing Trawler spotted trawling at Mdumbi!Sardine Report 8 July 2016 The Coast Guard on patrol for foreign poachers off Mdumbi in the deep Transkei

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.

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