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Solution

Ongoing Research.

Our survey results between January 2018 and October 2019 showed that snagged fishing tackle from recreational fishing does pose a Ghost Fishing threat to inshore reef fish.

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Recovered tackle

 
     
 

Survey Results
Finding a solution for recreational fishing pollution

 

Recovered hooks

 

Ghost Fishing in the Garden Route.

 

The Strandloper Project initiated three survey transects in the Garden Route Between Gericke's Point and the Knysna Heads. Each site attracts a different calibre of core fishermen distinguished by socio economic differences.

Feature-1

Gericke's Point

Ocean Fishing.

As a peninsula which offers shore based access to open ocean, Gericke's Point attracts primarily sports fishermen and fishermen targeting sharks.

Sports Fishing.

Gear recovered from the Gericke's Point transect are mainly large hooks with 40% using steel tracers and braided line in conjunction with monofilament.

The tackle snags on the reef with the sinker while the baited hook floats free.

Ghost Fishing.

Some of the tackle is rigged with a small soft float attached directly on the hook shaft which further increases the buoyancy of the baited hooks.

Between Jan 2018 and October 2019, 709 lead sinkers have been recovered from 12 dives on a 100m transect. On each dive we recover a mean of 63 sinkers and 20 hooks from the 100m Transect. Approximately 25% of hooks recovered are rigged with floats on the hook shaft.

These hooks present a very real #GhostFishing threat on the reef and we have recorded 5 species of fish that have died this way at Gericke's Point.

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Feature-2

Paquita Wreck

Estuary Fishing.

Located in the Knysna Estuary, Paquita Wreck site is frequently by subsistence fishermen and part time recreational fishermen.

Subsistence Fishing.

Most of the tackle used are small hooks and small in line sinkers. Both rods and hand lines are used.

Snagging of fishing tackle occurs when the hooks snag on Red bait (Pyura stolonifera) pods which encrust the reef.

This snagging doesn't present a ghost fishing threat as the hook is not available for fish to take.

We have only been able to conduct two survey dives at this site due to weather, tide and current conditions.

Reef Damage.

Further studies will attempt to investigate the impact of fishing debris on the invertebrate and algal life on the reef.

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Feature-3

Kingfisher Creek

Community Fishing.

Kingfisher Creek is located in the Sedgefield estuary and is frequented by subsistence fishermen.

Socio Economic Fishing.

Both hand lines and rods are used and recovered tackle is of small hooks and small in line sinkers.

Snagging occurs when the hooks get caught in the beds of Brown Mussels (Perna perna) which encrust the submerged reef and columns in the channel.

The estuary is a blind estuary and has been closed most of the time during the study period. Only 3 dive transects have been conducted due to poor visibility.

Bird Entanglement.

The fishing debris doesn't only pose a ghost fishing threat, but monofilament can pose an entanglement threat to diving birds species like cormorants.

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