Club Resource Management Officer

We are eagerly awaiting the proposal and appointment of a MRO (Resource Management Officer) at Suidpunt.

This member must:

"The first thing you need to have is a deep affinity and interest for all the creatures in the sea and how we go about harvesting them!"

From a letter by Malcolm Grant WPDSAA

"The first thing you need to have is a deep affinity and interest for all the creatures in the sea and how we go about harvesting them!

Our job essentially is to help the various interest groups to promote the sustainable harvesting of the sea’s resources.

We form a vital link between the users (recreational fishers) and the protectors (MCM) of our marine resources and the scientists who guide MCM in their drafting of regulations governing our sport.

Information is key in developing policies and practices so as to continue harvesting our natural resources in the future. Catch statistics from our members can form an important tool in the decision making process with regard to bag limits, closed seasons, etc. It has been tried in the past but, due to lack of support, the effort has largely dissipated.

As the WPDSAA RMO it is my intention to re-implement the catch return forms and to seriously try and gain some insight as to our impact on our resources. Without these statistics we can not advise truthfully on say the bag limit for yellowfin tuna for example. However, armed with information we may well say that reducing our recreational bag limit from 10 to 2 (say) per day would not affect 90% of our members.

SADSAA then, as a member of SAMLMA (South African Marine Line-fish Management Association) could conceivably advise MCM to look at reducing our bag limits.

The same goes for a number of other species we normally target...red stumpnose, geelbek, yellowtail, white steenbras (remember them?), hottentot etc. Perhaps in some cases we can motivate an increase in the bag limits of some species!

There are also a number of side issues...throwing cigarette butts, discarded fishing line, plastic into the ocean. Ways to revive fish with bara-trauma, the use of circle hooks, catch and release procedures etc, etc.

The job is as big as you want it to be...with one proviso...I need someone at club level to drive the catch return procedure and practice. I want, not necessarily a policeman, but someone who can persuade their club members that to do it will ultimately benefit all the members and their members’ children.

This little preamble has resulted in a CBSBC member stepping up to the plate. It would be fantastic if each club could deliver one keen individualwho could help drive the re-introduction of the Catch Return Forms. We could form a small working group and take on other challengesor initiativesas the need arises.

I trust you and your committee will give this some thought and canvass your members for a club RMO.Together we can make a difference.

With thanks and regards,

Malcolm (Budgie) Grant

WPDSAA RMO"

This is an initiative of SADSAA and is implemented to promote the habitt of Catch and Release, and recordkeeping thereof by this person.

In order for ths to work, our club has to create a plan of action so that we can participate in this great idea, and so help to protect our resources.

Please contact us at hengel@suidpunt.com if you are interested to do this task on behalf of our club.