Huge quantity of blacktail confiscated
A man was arrested on suspicion of illegal fishing near Dolphin Park Resort on Wednesday.
Fisheries inspectors acted swiftly and detained one person with a huge quantity of blacktail in his possession during a routine patrol of the coastline on Wednesday.
Fisheries and marine resources deputy director Steven Ambabi confirmed the incident and said the fish was confiscated and transported to Swakopmund to determine the total weight.
“I have personally seen the fish. When quantities of blacktail are caught as a by-catch of, for example, mullet, it should not be more than 5% of the actual catch.
“Once we determine that the confiscated fish has a weight of more than a ton, we will proceed and open a criminal case against the trespasser since we cannot fine him for such a huge quantity of fish found in his possession.”
Ambabi pointed out that the person who was arrested employed a crew and could possibly be the holder of a quota to catch mullet.
“Some rights and quota holders deliberately exploit the situation and instead of catching what they are entitled to, intentionally cast their nets out to catch other fish species.”
The fish were allegedly caught with nets cast from a dinghy between the guano island and Dolphin Park Resort. Photos of the operation were circulated on social media. According to the person who alerted the newspaper it was a regular occurrence.
Angling regulations determine that every person who angles for recreational purposes must be in possession of an angling permit. Regulation 6, which contains the means of harvesting, states that only a hook and line, or a scoop net to lift rock lobsters from the water, and a ring net for diving are allowed.
Regulation 8 contains the daily bag limit and stipulates that the maximum daily quota that can be caught by an angler is 30 barbel, 20 snoek and one shark. Anglers are allowed to catch a maximum of ten kob, West Coast steenbras, blacktail and galjoen in total. The minimum size for blacktail is 25cm and that for galjoen is 30cm. The minimum size for and kob and steenbras is 40cm.
OTIS FINCK
Fisheries and marine resources deputy director Steven Ambabi confirmed the incident and said the fish was confiscated and transported to Swakopmund to determine the total weight.
“I have personally seen the fish. When quantities of blacktail are caught as a by-catch of, for example, mullet, it should not be more than 5% of the actual catch.
“Once we determine that the confiscated fish has a weight of more than a ton, we will proceed and open a criminal case against the trespasser since we cannot fine him for such a huge quantity of fish found in his possession.”
Ambabi pointed out that the person who was arrested employed a crew and could possibly be the holder of a quota to catch mullet.
“Some rights and quota holders deliberately exploit the situation and instead of catching what they are entitled to, intentionally cast their nets out to catch other fish species.”
The fish were allegedly caught with nets cast from a dinghy between the guano island and Dolphin Park Resort. Photos of the operation were circulated on social media. According to the person who alerted the newspaper it was a regular occurrence.
Angling regulations determine that every person who angles for recreational purposes must be in possession of an angling permit. Regulation 6, which contains the means of harvesting, states that only a hook and line, or a scoop net to lift rock lobsters from the water, and a ring net for diving are allowed.
Regulation 8 contains the daily bag limit and stipulates that the maximum daily quota that can be caught by an angler is 30 barbel, 20 snoek and one shark. Anglers are allowed to catch a maximum of ten kob, West Coast steenbras, blacktail and galjoen in total. The minimum size for blacktail is 25cm and that for galjoen is 30cm. The minimum size for and kob and steenbras is 40cm.
OTIS FINCK
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