Ask any angler who fished our waters 15-20 years ago. A few hours
out of the breakwater and the launch would have been full of narrow
barred giant mackerel. It was not even necessary to go to Churna
and khadda. Today anglers troll from dusk till dawn and even one
15kg mackerel is a cause for celebration. So how did it get to this?
Where have all the gamefish gone? A look at the sheer number of
"illegal" trawlers and longliners will give you a hint.
The pollution levels and destruction of mangrove breeding grounds
provide further clues. There are many factors that contribute to
this decline. So what, as recreational anglers can we do?
The PGFA maintains that there is still time. The bumper fishing
years of yesteryear can again become a reality. How you ask? Simply
by deciding that you, on an individual level, will play your small
part in the conservation process. The PGFA does not claim that trawlers
will be stopped, the mangroves will be saved, or any other such
major change will take place through our efforts. Rather, we are
simply a group of anglers who have decided to do our part in conservation.
We will do this by releasing excess fish (once you have caught enough
for consumption), undersize fish,
endangered species, and sometimes releasing entirely.
No recreational angler can maintain that when he kills 50 tuna
or 100 trevally that our sport has no effect on fisheries. Trollers
and casters DO have an effect on fish stocks and the sooner recreational
anglers stop fooling themselves and blaming only govt. authorities
and commercial fisherman the better. Yes the marine systems are
being destroyed by katra, but we as recreational anglers are at
present a part of the problem. It is time we became part of the
solution instead.
So the next time you go fishing consider releasing extra and undersize
fish. You can make a difference and play a part in saving the marine
environment by our actions today. We need to build a release culture
in our angling community so that future generations don't just hear
about the fantastic fishing we have, they actually experience it.
The Fishes of Ocean, rivers and lakes
need your help
Be a part of PGFA’s
Expedition to save marine life. Please
send this message to your friends and colleagues, together as
PGFA members; we can protect our Sport and Game Fishes we relays. Click Here
