QUANTIFICATION OF ILLICIT FISH HARVESTING IN THE LAKE ST-LUCIA-GAME-RESERVE, SOUTH-AFRICA

Illegal gill and seine netting has taken place in the northern parts o f the Lake St Lucia Game Reserve, South Africa since the late 1960s. A lthough active law enforcement by the Natal Parks Board was able to pr event the large-scale commercialization of this activity, illegal nett ing has continued to take place. The present policy to prohibit nettin g in the lake has resulted in conflict between the rural communities a nd the conservation authorities. An attempt was made to quantify the c atch taken by illegal netting by analysing data collected during antin etting patrols and by negotiating with rural communities living in are as adjacent to the lake. Results showed that approximately 72 people w ere actively fishing with nets in Lake St Lucia during 1992, and their annual catch was estimated at between 91 and 135 tonnes. Competition with the recreational line fishery was limited as mugilids and other d etritivorous fish species made up 47% by mass of the total catch taken by netting. Legalisation of a controlled net fishery in St Lucia is d iscussed as, a management option to integrate rural development with c onservation of the lake's fish resources.