City and Dept of Agriculture intensifying fight on illegal fishing

Mbasa Gqokoma

15 July 2015

The City of Cape Town together with the Department of Agricultural Forestry and Fisheries is intensifying its fight on illegal fishing.

This is after a suspect was arrested last week for using illegal gill nets to net fish at Zandvlei Caravan Park. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said we had already netted a 126 mullet, three garrick and an undersized Steenbras along with fishing canoe used to the commission of the offence were seized.

Illegal netting in the Zandvlei estuary has been an ongoing problem in the City. Gill netting is not only illegal, but extremely destructive and being in possession of a gill net is an offence in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act.

“Any member of the public who sees anything like this or believes there is suspicious activities relating to pouching, to please immediately alert the authorities by making contact with the City on 021 480 7700” Smith added.