NIGHT FLY FISHING EXPERIENCE - Flyfishingtails
NIGHT FLY FISHING EXPERIENCE - Flyfishingtails
NIGHT FLY FISHING EXPERIENCE - Flyfishingtails
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23<br />
MINUTES OF A MEETING<br />
TO DISCUSS ISSUES PERTAINING TO YELLOWFISH IN<br />
STERKFONTEIN DAM<br />
Photo taken by Brandon Stonefield<br />
On 19/07/2012 Leon Barkhuizen of the Free State Department<br />
of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental<br />
Affairs (DETEA) convened a meeting to discuss<br />
the conservation and protection of yellowfish in this important<br />
fly fishing venue. The meeting was attended by DETEA officials,<br />
guides, outfitters, anglers, a fishing magazine and the SAPS.<br />
Among the problems and threats identified initially were:<br />
1. Fluctuating water levels during the spawning season.<br />
2. Poaching of breeding fish in the feeder streams.<br />
3. The growing threat and the long term effect of bass.<br />
4. Threat of transfer of grass carp from the Tugela storage<br />
dams.<br />
5. Commercial harvesting of yellowfish.<br />
6. Disruption of spawning fish by walking on banks and<br />
through spawning beds.<br />
7. Bait anglers unaware of threats to yellowfish and correct<br />
methods of handing them.<br />
8. Lack of policing by DETEA.<br />
9. Angling competitions.<br />
grass carp in the Tugela system with KZN aquatic scientists to determine<br />
the threat of translocation through the pump storage scheme.<br />
In addition cooperation is required from stakeholders in informing<br />
the DETEA of illegal activity and also to help write articles in the<br />
angling media while Leon Barkhuizen will prepare an information<br />
pamphlet and boards.<br />
This will include the necessity of killing all bass. Disruption of<br />
spawners is probably less of a problem than originally suggested<br />
but anglers need to be educated. After a lengthy discussion it was<br />
agreed that the current competitions and festivals (refer 9) were not<br />
a problem, but in future organisers will have to apply for the necessary<br />
permit. The meeting was also informed that the new Free State<br />
Nature Conservation Bill and regulations will probably be promulgated<br />
in September this year.<br />
The complete Minutes of the meeting may be viewed at<br />
http://www.fosaf.co.za/documents/Minutes_yellowfish_Sterkfontein_July_2012.pdf<br />
Regarding (1) Leon Barkhuizen will follow up with Eskom to make<br />
them aware of the threat to spawning beds. The DETEA expect to<br />
increase their policing to combat threats such as (2) and (4) while<br />
SAPS will also patrol. The DETEA will also discuss the presence of<br />
Photo taken by Carl Nicholson