Experimental harvesting to assess small-scale fisheries using simple gear, at Krugersdrift Dam, Free State Province, South Africa, with notes on the socio-economic impact on the local community

Abstract

To address the key principles and deliverables identified in South Africa’s National Freshwater (Inland) Wild Capture Fisheries Policy and Implementation Plan, and the paucity of information on inland small-scale fisheries, a small-scale fisheries pilot research project was implemented at Krugersdrift Dam, Free State Province, South Africa. This paper presents the results of a 12-month seasonal study and pilot research project, with notes on the socio-economic benefit to communities and value of freshwater fish as a natural resource. Nine unemployed youth from Ikgomotseng, a small rural town in close proximity to the dam, attended a basic course on small-scale fisheries development, with only five still actively involved by the end of the research period. Three long-lines to which sixty 6/0 circular hooks on snoods were attached, a beach seine net and three double-ended Dutch type fyke nets were used to harvest fish. The long-lines selected exclusively for sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus, while catches from the beach seine net were dominated by common carp Cyprinus carpio, C. gariepinus and moggel Labeo umbratus. Catch rates based on the total weight of all species caught during the study period varied from 3 147 kg for long lines, 3 363 kg for the beach seine net and 251 kg for fyke nets. Although fishing was limited to 1 week per month during the experimental phase, results indicate an average monthly income of 6 255.48 ZAR·fisher^-1 can be expected based on 20 days of harvesting fish per month. Investigations of the price the fishers sold their catch for indicated that C. carpio was sold at 28 ZAR·kg^-1, C. gariepinus at 17 ZAR·kg^-1, and L. umbratus at 24 ZAR·kg⁻¹. The methodology and gear used during this study may serve as a blueprint for the further development of small-scale fisheries in the Orange-Vaal river system in South Africa.