Help Conserve Our Fish Species
The South African Species Green, Orange And Red List: Conservation Of South African Fish Species And Best Choices For Table Fish
I am sure at one point or another you have all heard of the red list or SASSI. These are the people involved in the conservation and research of South African fish species and ultimately they find out which fish are sustainable and which fish should never be bought or sold. I have the lists and information regarding the three colours (Green - Best choice, Orange - Caution & Red - No sale) below... This information was obtained from http://www.wwfsassi.co.za/?m=1... Please be careful in South Africa and get to know the species on the red list. It is very important you know what the conservation status of certain angling species are in South Africa... If you find a restaurant in South Africa serving fish they should not be, talk to the manager or take it up with a higher authority such as ORI or SASSI or any other marine institute. The fish stocks in South Africa are running out fast and something needs to be done to protect these species... We can all do our part even if it is just by spreading the word or making a phone call...
Have a look at the daily bag limits and legal minimum sizes so you can do your part as a recreational fisherman!
Green
The most sustainable choices from the healthiest and most well managed fish populations. These fish species can handle current fishing pressure:
| Anchovy | South Coast Rock Lobster |
| Angelfish | Squid |
| Bluefish | Steentjie |
| Blueskin | Tuna (Not bluefin) |
| Blue Hottentot | West Coast Rock Lobster |
| Butterfish | White Stumpnose |
| Chub Mackerel | Yellowtail |
| Dorado | |
| Gurnard | |
| Hake | |
| Harder (Not from estuaries) | |
| Hottentot | |
| Jacopever | |
| Jon Dory | |
| Maasbunker | |
| Monkfish | |
| Mussels | |
| Octopus | |
| Oystrers | |
| Panga | |
| Queen Mackerel | |
| Sand Soldier | |
| Santer | |
| Sardine | |
| Snoek |
Orange - Caution
Exercise caution when choosing these fish as there are reasons for concern:
- Rare from overfishing and cant sustain current fishing pressure.
- Fisheries may cause environmental damage and have high bycatch.
- The biology of the fish species makes them vulnerable to high fishing pressure
| Abalone (Not farmed) |
| Bluefin Tuna |
| Black Musselcracker |
| Carpenter |
| Dageraad |
| Englishman |
| Geelbeck |
| King Mackerel |
| King Soldierbream |
| Kingklip |
| Kob |
| Langoustines |
| Marlin |
| Prawns |
| Red Steenbras |
| Red Stumpnose |
| Rockcod |
| Roman |
| Scotsman |
| Shad (No sale in kzn) |
| Sharks |
| Skates & Rays |
| Slinger |
| Snapper |
| Sole |
| Swordfish |
Red - No Sale
These fish are illegal to buy or sell in South Africa. Some are specially protected and others are not allowed for sale reserves for recreational fishing only.
| Baardman | River Bream |
| Banded Galjoen | River Snapper |
| Blacktail | Sawfish |
| Brindle Bass | Seventy Four |
| Bronze Bream | Southern pompano |
| Cape Stumpnose | Spotted Grunter |
| East Coast Rock Lobster | Spotted Gully Shark |
| Galjoen | Springer |
| Garrick | Stonebream |
| John Brown | Striped Catshark |
| Kingfish | West Coast Steenbras |
| Knife Jaw | White Musselcracker |
| Large-spot Pompano | White Steenbras |
| Natal Stumpnose | Zebra |
| Natal Wrasse | |
| Potato Bass | |
| Ragged Tooth Shark |
Please do your bit to conserve our fish species, practice catch and release and please obey catch restrictions, size limits and closed seasons! Please email me if you are unsure!
