Trek-net fishing and Surfer's Corner in Muizenberg - a touch of tension

Late Wednesday, I started hearing about treknet fishing taking place at the popular Surfer's Corner in Muizenberg.  Muizenberg is Cape Town's surf nursery and has a firm place in South African surfing lore.  While not my preferred wave, there's always a good vibe there as newbies, oldies, guys and gals hit the surf with enthusiasm like few other places.  It's also a place known for frequent visits  from the landlord and it's the busiest post for the shark-spotters.

Treknet fishing is beach seine netting - where a net is rowed out to the backline and then across the beach before the whole lot is pulled back to shore.  It's a form of artisanal fishing although the prevalence of this method is declining.  From around 100 trek-netters in the 60's, there are now only 4 licenses issued.  Of that, only 2 are allowed to practise at Muizenberg.  And although they often fish for harders (mullet) beyond the river mouth, occasionally - about 3 - 5 times a year, there are yellowtail shoaling in the Corner, and they put their gear out amongst the surfers.

I took a cruise down there yesterday to suss the vibe.  As I stepped out of my car, I could hear the shark siren going and the beach was thronging with people as another net was coming through the breakers.  Monwa, chief sharkspotter, was calling the last few reluctant surfers in.  There was no shark sighted.  It was being done as a precaution.  Kids and other spectators joined in the net pulling.  Surfing or not, the groms were always going to gravitate towards the action.  The net hauled in a disappointing single yellowtail, and a ton of bycatch: harders, crabs, blowfish, stingrays, sandsharks and a few species I couldn't recognise.  By the time I was done taking photos, the white flag was down, and the red high alert flag was hoisted.  Surfers wasted no time in getting back in the water.  Compared to the photos I've seen of what took place in the morning, there wasn't much animosity visible.  It appeared, on face value, that surfers have accepted the situation and were getting on with it.

The problem of netting in a recreation area is two-fold.  The first is that handling the gear in a line-up, especially where there are big boards and inexperienced people, not to mention small kids playing in the shallows, is dangerous.  Nets are, after-all, designed to trap things.

The other problem is the perception that they attract sharks.  This may be true, but a few things have to be considered.  One, when the gamefish are shoaling, sharks are likely to be preying on them anyway.  So, its rather they have a common interest in being there, instead of one attracts the other.  Does A lead to B lead to C, or does A lead to B and C?  Put differently: I go to the bar because I want a drink.  Pretty girls go to the bar for the same reason, not because I'm there.  Although, later in the evening, this perception may change.  Whether sharks are being attracted by the aggregation of agitated fish is quite possible, but a very tough hypothesis to test. 

The second perception is it may be conditioning sharks to stay in the area longer.  Bear in mind it's infrequent, and if there was conditioning taking place, it would more likely happen where yellowtail treknetting is more prevalent - like Fishhoek - or further down the beach where harder fishing is a regular affair.  Current thinking amongst marine biologists is that it doesn't.

Yet, regardless of the above, if an attack does occur during or just after trek-netting, the finger will be firmly pointed at them.  This is the worst case scenario.  It's unlikely, but not impossible.  At a previous attack in Fishhoek, there were fish shoaling at the time.  Birds, and obviously other predators, were feeding.  If it were possible to measure the presence of prey during an attack, there may be a correlation.

Also, there is actually huge tension between the fisherman and surfers.  Yesterday, the net lines were apparently cut in the morning.  One surf rental owner had to physically defend himself from a fisherman.  Previously, there have been fists thrown in the water.  The fisherman have also sworn at the sharkspotters, claiming the siren scares off the fish.  While, that last accusation is actually quite laughable, it does illustrate the animosity between groups.  Opinions on who was there first, who has more right, or derives more economic value and creates more benefits and for whom forms the basis of the arguments.  Throw in a history of social injustice and an inherent distrust for the authorities and tempers are bound to flare.

City and Fisheries officials met with some experts and discussed the matter behind closed doors.  The outcome was this:

1. The licence grants the right to trek-net at Surfers Corner.  Finish and klaar.  It is unlikely that any amount of objection will change this.  Given the historical nature of it and the sensitivity of these livelihoods, the powers that be would be very reluctant to oppose the fisherman.

2. From now on, trek-netters are required to inform the officials and the sharkspotters when they intend to fish at Surfer's Corner.  The beach will be closed by the sharkspotters during this time.  It is judged to be a fair sharing of the space as it does occur infrequently, and for a short period of time when it does happen.  Local surf schools and other businesses won't agree with this.  The real problem may not be just the lost time, but the perceptions of sharks mentioned above.  Personally, I don't think the same shark warning system should be used to close the beach for trek-netting as it reinforces this connection.  I propose a new flag (yellow? pick a colour) that indicates shoaling fish, sharks possibly present.

3.  Anti-social behaviour from anyone will not be tolerated.  Fisherman tend to be a rough breed.  Surfers are known to be a touch rebellious.  Cool it, guys.  There's more problems down the road if matters are taken into your own hands and aren't addressed through the right channels.

4. Information boards on the above are to be put up.  So, there's quite a bit of signboard literature down at Muizies before you get wet there - Shark info, Dept of Environment info, rules of the waves info - best bring your reading glasses and a notepad.

I think this is a workable situation, but there will be continued grumbling from the surfers there.  As usual, perceptions trump reality.  Does treknetting bring sharks?  We don't know.  But, that doesn't matter.  The joker in the pack will be the next attack - especially if treknetting has taken place recently.  But, that can of worms will hopefully stay far away from the can-opener.

I took a few snaps while down there yesterday.  Geniedit.

Monwa, calling in the last stragglers

A treknetter: safety first

No down time if you're a grom

A stingray

Bycatch, soon to be released

Pufferfish - also not digging the treknetting

Back in the water, minimal time lost

Red flag fluttering in the offshore

Culprits and victims: you say who's who

Old men of the sea, students of surf, and young rippers - sharing is caring, especially at the 'berg