T
o this end we have joined anglers
and industry members around the
country in stepping up efforts to
highlight and put an end to bad fishing
practises.
Lowrance SA recently joined a number of
marine industry sponsors with financial
support for SABAA’s Team Tournament
Trail inaugural golf day, for the conservation
and removal of illegal nets in South Africa.
Several anglers were spotted among the 120
players who took part in this a four-ball
golf day (an E-Bass initiative) at Zwartkops
Country Club and around R60 000 was
raised; which has already been put to good
use.
We spoke to Victor Bridger, the E-Bass
Sponsorship Executive for 2020, who said;
“About three years ago, the government
invested in three boats for different dams –
for the purpose of monitoring their waters
and specifically to control illegal activities.
“Rust de Winter Dam in Limpopo
was allocated one of these boats
but unfortunately it was never
used – and we suspect the same
applies to the others. So, we are
having the boat recommissioned
(by Lowrance dealer Escape
Boating in Benoni) and paying
for two Park Rangers to get their
skippers licenses. The aim is for
them to again control of their
waters and put a stop to the
netting which threatens the fish-
life in the dam
We are determined not to just
sit back and let poachers win
this battle. We know about the
fish and crocodiles being pulled
up at Arabie, Bronkhorstspruit
and other dams and while we
appreciate the efforts of individual
anglers who remove the nets and
burn them, as it can be dangerous.
The poachers are likely to be
armed and we feel that an official
presence and action is vital.”
Victor continued, “While we are Bass anglers, we are also very aware that the whole food chain
of fish is at risk. When nets are found they’re usually full of Kurper, Carp and other fish (Bass are
generally in the minority) and every species that gets wiped out affects the next.”
South African anglers from all fishing disciplines are joining the drive to eradicate netting –
whether in dams, estuaries, rivers or the sea – and Lowrance SA fully supports every move to
make this possible!