The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and police, working with stakeholders such as the Coastal Marine Task Force, have clamped down on anglers who ignore the regulations relating to Shad.
Numerous anglers have been caught keeping undersized juvenile shad and exceeding daily bag limits as increasing numbers of the popular fish arrive along the KwaZulu-Natal coast ahead of winter.
The Coastal Marine Task Force (CMTF), a volunteer organisation that supports environmental stakeholders in protecting and conserving biodiversity resources in coastal operational areas, told IOL that many anglers were breaking the law by ignoring the daily bag limit of four fish per person, with a minimum total length of 30cm.
Offenders are issued spot fines or arrested and may face criminal prosecution.
“The CMTF does not create laws. We exist merely to educate and enforce the laws where applicable, along with other relevant stakeholders. Like any law in South Africa, there are those who argue different aspects, and fisheries bag limits are no exception,” a CMTF media spokesperson said.
