A Mitchells Plain man says he is not happy with a decision by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to halve the number of days for recreational crayfishing.
Cecil Williams, 62, from Eastridge, who has been fishing for 40 years, says it is unfair that DAFF has shorten the season.
“We pay R94 for the fishing permit to catch crayfish in December. The open season was usually 24 days, but it has now been reduced to 12 days,” Cecil says.
“In those 12 days there are eight days where there will be no tide expected. We basically have four days to catch crayfish which is unfair, because we wait all year, yet we now get reduced without any reason.
“To gain entry and to catch at the reserve at Cape Point will cost me R868. It’s a broad daylight rip-off.”
But Deputy Director for Large Crustaceans Fisheries Management, Wendy West, says the season was reduced due to do a shortage of West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL).
“A 43.6% reduction has been determined for the 2018/19 fishing season. The department will, similarly to the past fishing seasons, apply effort limitation to restrict the daily bag/catch limits and number of fishing days,” she says.
“The 2018/19 WCRL recreational fishing effort is limited to 12 days. The 2018/19 WCRL recreational fishing season will open on Saturday, 15 December 2018, and will close on Sunday, 21 April 2019.”
“Fishing times for WCRL will be from 8am until 4pm and the bag limit is four per person per day and the size restriction is 80mm carapace length.”