Bulletin NEWS Thursday November 6 2014 7 No longer plenty of in the sea over-exploited. 800 000 tons of In the “Black December” of 1958, five bathers were killed by along marine life are the Kwa-Zulu Natal coastline. nets were introduced, a major contrib- harvested utor to bi-catch of dolphins, turtles with many years of killing top predators. make changes. annually “Shark nets were never set up to save Sewerage spills, plastic pollution, people but to safeguard ,” said and aquaculture are other major KAREN WATKINS Professor Attwood. threats to the integrity of the ocean The better option would be a mag- habitat. any years ago fishermen netic field and for the Natal Parks Professor Attwood feels the answer threw bait overboard in Board to be transparent regarding the to dwindling fish stocks is an increase MFalse Bay and the water costs to the environment and the aim in the number of MPAs. At present was filled with fish. Nowadays, for the nets. they cover 19% of our coastline, with Boulders penguins have to swim In 1964, the first MPA was declared, the west being mostly neglected. further out to sea in search of Tsitsikamma, with many to follow in He said only nine percent of the food. And it’s not only penguins the next four decades. But their real coast falls within no-take zones, where who are finding fish a rare com- value was only articulated in 1989. nothing is to be removed by fishing or modity. Quotas came in 1978; the line fish- other methods. The scale of fishing in South ery crisis was tackled in 1984 and 2000; “Marine protected areas protect Africa’s coastal waters is terrify- the post-democracy Fishing Act facili- habitats and ecosystems, as well as com- ing: 800 000 tons of marine life tated ecosystem management; and mercially important fish populations. are harvested annually, says there was a spike in abalone poaching They do this by preventing fishing in Professor Colin Attwood of in Gansbaai. nursery areas and locations where UCT’s zoology department who In 1989, the oil tanker Exxon spawning takes place, as well as by pre- recently spoke at the Cape Valdez ran aground, resulting in a serving the genetic structure of the Research Centre in Tokai. huge ecological disaster with 30 000 population. Attending the meeting were peo- tons of crude oil contaminating the “They allow research into the effects ple from fishing-related organisa- oceans for miles around. of fishing to take place by providing tions and marine law enforce- The result was the creation of an areas that aren’t fished to compare ment. ocean traffic scheme. with areas that are. Professor Attwood, who has a In the new millennium, eco-labels “They also enable non-consumptive special interest in Marine Pro- changed market and regulatory activities such as scuba diving, whale, tected Areas (MPA), lives in dynamics in coastal and industrial- seal and seabird viewing, and coastal Muizenberg and gave a brief, scale fisheries, and marine spatial plan- tourism to take place,” said Professor selective history tracing events ■ Colin Attwood has a special interest in Marine Protected Areas. ning was initiated in 2004. Attwood. and ideas that shaped marine In his summation Professor Attwood His message was clear: “While many conservation in . said South Africa has yet to meet the believe the sea delivers, it’s not the He said sailing ships intro- In 1872 an article in a Cape imate seabird populations was challenge of managing the impact of case. It’s important that generations duced alien species into south- monthly magazine described a defeated after a study to show offshore mining, pointing out that gov- that follow have the same opportunities ern oceans and in the 1700s dynasty of hake with abundant how many sea birds eat fish. ernments and organisations are slow to we have.” whales, seals and penguins bore fish, hundreds of tons. Jane Turpie of Steenberg- the first wave of exploitation. It was a time when geelbek based Anchor Environmental In 1790, a time when train and steenbras were plentiful in Consultants pointed out that the passengers were shooting the Table Bay – but not today. It was first description of sea-birds at abundant game as they passed also a time when a scientist the Cape was on how to cook through the Karoo, fishermen in arrived from Britain and went on them and how they tasted. Table Bay could throw in a line to pioneer trawling over line fish- In 1929 it was obvious that and the sea would be red with ing. part of the inshore trawl grounds stumpnose. Meanwhile 30 Around 1900 a plethora of should be closed. Sanctuaries whalers bobbed around in St issues prompted investigations were created for the recovery of Helena Bay. and debate with Americans dec- west coast rock lobster and a “The population of Southern imating forage fish and trawlers translocation programme fol- Right Whales has not recovered destroying fish spawn. lowed. properly today,” he said. In the 1920s a project to dec- By the 1950s fish stocks were *- a 350 seater Seafood Restaurant with stunning sundeck and superb views *- nautical-vibe Cocktail Bar *- harbourside Bistro for take-outs *- Pearl and Jewellery Boutique where pearls in oysters are guaranteed *- Seashell and Curio Shops with lovely ranges of coastal gifts and souvenirs *- Liquor and Wine Cove TORRENTE licenced for Sunday trading Á 1215 X 168 X 8.3mm - Seafood Factory, S.A.B.S. approved Á AC3 rated laminate fooring *- a Bakery, which makes the Wharf’s 2 R99m * famous bread, rolls and muffins CAMDEN GRIS *- Smokeries specialising in Snoek and Tuna Á 600 X 600mm Á 450 X 450 mm *- Maritime Antique Store, plus an offshoot Á Polished Porcelain Nano Á Glazed Ceramic at nearby Fisherman’s World specialising Vinyl Flooring R99m2 R89m2 in Victoriana and African antiques Also Available - Fishmarket with Live Lobster pond VOGUE TOILET WALL MOUNTED LONDON LUXURY * Á Includes seat TOWEL RACK HYDRO & AIR SPA BATH Africa’s fi rst harbourfront emporium MARINER’S WHARF AT HOUT BAY HARBOUR and mechanism Á 4 Bars Á 6 Chrome hydro jets www.marinerswharf.com Á Stainless steel Á 12 Chrome air jets R6995 Phone 021-7901100 Á 1800 x 900 x 440mm R129

R1 995 BB 3710 INC BOLANDER/CONSTBB 15X4 NOV’14

Read about us in the book EMBRACING HOUT BAY being sold during November 2014 (while stocks last) at a 30% discount to celebrate our 30th birthday