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Anglers to defy Umdloti fishing ban

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LAEA MEDLEY

MORE than 50 anglers are set to gather at a restricted fishing area on Umdloti Beach tomorrow for a peaceful protest against what they see as an “unlawful ban on angling”.

The anglers will meet at the beachfront parking lot for a briefing at 5.30am before heading out to fish at what the eThekwini Municipality has declared a marine protected area. They plan to fish at the protected area from 6am to noon.

An official at the eThekwini Municipality’s Department of Parks, Leisure, and Cemeteries said Umdloti Beach was protected only from First to Sixth Avenue – the rest was not protected under any legislation.

Despite signs along the beach which indicate that fishing is not allowed, anglers’ organisation KZN Fishing insists that residents are to blame.

“We believe the ‘no fishing’ signs were not erected by the municipality, but rather by the Umdloti Residents Association,” said Cameron Johnston, a member of the group.

“And residents have no right to enforce the law.”

According to Johnston, residents in the area have been intimidating anglers for years, including damaging their vehic- les, slashing their tyres and threatening them with violence.

“The issue has been drawn out for a number of years with the Umdloti residents, who are unable to offer a valid legal reason why angling should be prohibited along this stretch of our coastline,” he said.

However, Richard Siedle, a member of the Umdloti Ratepayers and Residents Association, said fishing was not allowed in the area.

Umdloti resident, Belinda Weyer, said she respected what fishermen did, but that even she was not allowed to fish in front of her house. “There are residents here who are passionate about conserving the area and they will approach fishermen and tell them to stop.”

laea.medley@inl.co.za