Sport Fishing Tournaments in National Parks: Striking a Balance Between Recreation and Conservation
Fishing competitions, also known as fishing tournaments, are an integral part of the recreational fishing world. These events range from local community gatherings to nationally recognised tournaments offering substantial prizes. Regardless of their scale, the common thread among them all is a shared emphasis on competition, organisation by public or private entities, entry fees, and the allure of prizes, be it cash, valuable goods, or personal recognition. However, beneath the surface, fishing tournaments present a host of ecological, social, and economic challenges that demand careful consideration. In this article, we explore various aspects of fishing tournaments, delving into their impacts on fish populations and ecosystems and the strategies being employed to render them more sustainable.
Fishing tournaments have evolved into a global phenomenon, captivating anglers with excitement and competition while raising important questions about their environmental and social impacts. The main issues related to tournament fishing include their effects on fish populations, resource overuse, user-group conflicts, environmental consequences, and the financial burden borne by managing authorities. Fishing tournaments often concentrate anglers in specific areas or during particular periods, leading to a significant increase in fishing effort beyond typical levels, which can trigger both biological and social implications. The most immediate biological impacts stem from heightened fish mortality, either through direct removal (in catch-and-keep tournaments) or delayed post-release mortality in catch-and-release competitions due to poor handling practices. Stress and injuries incurred during capture and handling can also detrimentally affect fish populations.
Research anglers in Tsitsikamma MPA demonstrating good fish handling techniques by using barbless circle hooks and minimising direct skin-to-fish contact through the use of fish slings and wet cloths. An improvement, but not always possible, would be to keep the fish in a shallow water bath to minimise air exposure while being tagged.
However, fishing tournaments also present opportunities for research and monitoring, benefiting fisheries management, local economies, and providing valuable biological data. Interestingly, tournament anglers, despite their competitive nature, often express a strong inclination towards conservation. Many prefer a conservation-oriented approach that includes measures like catch-and-release. This shift towards sustainable practices is partly driven by growing concerns regarding fish stock sustainability and potential conflicts between tournament and non-tournament anglers.
In South Africa, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a crucial role in conserving fish stocks and marine ecosystems. These designated zones are designed to protect spawning stocks, promote stock recovery, and enhance stock abundance. However, fishing competitions held within MPAs, even with a catch-and-release format, can sometimes conflict with conservation objectives and prove incompatible with MPA no-take zones. Nevertheless, SANParks receives regular requests for fishing competitions to be held within areas zoned for resource use, including MPAs and certain estuaries that fall within national park boundaries.
To mitigate the negative impacts of fishing tournaments and ensure consistency in decision-making, clear guidelines are essential but often lacking. After extensive consultation within SANParks and soliciting input from external specialists, a comprehensive set of guidelines encompassing ecological, social, economic, and management aspects of fishing events has been proposed. These guidelines place a primary responsibility on event organisers to consider measures aimed at reducing their impact on fish populations and the environment, promoting economic benefits to local communities, managing potential social conflicts, and generating reliable fishery data.
Within the framework of these guidelines, all competitions need to strictly follow catch-and-release practices. However, additional measures to reduce post-release mortality are recommended and encouraged, including the use of knotless landing nets, circle hooks, and barbless hooks, and improved fish handling skills such as reducing or eliminating the time fish are exposed to air. Event organisers are required to provide details of these and other measures in an environmental management plan developed for each event. Communication with local authorities and communities, promoting benefits to the local economy, and, most importantly, ensuring proper recording and reporting of catch and effort information are also essential requirements.
Balancing the thrill of the sport with the need for conservation and sustainability requires thoughtful regulation and responsible practices. By adhering to these guidelines, which prioritise the well-being of fish populations, local communities, and the environment, fishing tournaments can significantly reduce their ecological footprint. Collaborative efforts between tournament organisers, communities, and conservation authorities are crucial to achieving this delicate balance and preserving the natural wonders of our waters for generations to come.
Research anglers in Tsitsikamma MPA using a fish sling to hold a fish about to be released back into the water. Fish slings minimise potential scale damage and protective mucous removal.
