NIGHT FLY FISHING EXPERIENCE - Flyfishingtails

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