A successful gillnet operation at Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam

WORDS: Gys Prinsloo (Special Adviser Aquatic Monitoring: EcocareTrust) IMAGES: Supplied

Eco-Care Trust, in collaboration with the Mpumalanga SAPS Water Wing and
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency held another very successful gillnet operation at Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam on Tuesday 8 October 2024.

The SAPS Water Wing already started sending photos of their successes at 06:45 while the volunteers had to wait for the gates to open.

There were only four boats but the nets kept coming out and hundreds of meter of nets were removed. Weather conditions were not ideal with strong winds prevailing over the dam, causing huge waves and rough waters.

Many fish species were identified and numbers are astounding.

One boat tried keeping score on the 650-700m of nets that they removed:

• 1 Bass
• 2 Carps
• +- 10 barbel
• +-10 Vleikurper
• +- 20 paper mouth
• +- 50 makriele
• +- 250-300 kurpers

This is unfortunately an ongoing problem that will need constant attention with many follow-up operations needed. These two operations have made a tremendous difference to the conditions at the dam and preservation of environmental resources.

I would like to send my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all that took their time and resources to assist in this thankless job. I know that you did not do it for glory or fame, but for the warm feeling conserving our environment provides.

I also want to thank the Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam Carguard Officers for looking after the vehicles and assisting with the offloading and burning of nets. There are 16 men that are working with the blessing of Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency to protect the assets of visitors and assist with launching of boats. They are not employed and are dependent on donations of visitors for their livelihood. There have been no security incident since they started assisting there. Please support them with a minimum of R100 per guard per day attending to your vehicle. Only one guard per vehicle. You are also welcome to take out all small bass, barbel and carps caught and give it to them.

A word of thanks to the few individuals that made donations towards this operation. Your contributions helped a lot in making it possible.

Remember, Eco-Care Trust can issue companies and donators “Article 18A Tax certificates”. Financial contributions and donations can be made by any company or person.

Deposits can be made to:
ECO-CARE Trust
Bank: ABSA
Account no: 20266244
Type: Current Account/Cheque
Branch: 470010
Reference: Klipvoor nette

Borakalalo/ Klipvoor

Flowing from these successes, I would like to invite volunteers to come and assist Eco-Care Trust at Klipvoor dam/Borakalalo Nature Reserve on Saturday, the 9th of November 2024.

North West Parks and Tourism Board invited Eco-Care Trust to assist and arrange this operation and offered the assistance of their Rangers in the removal of nets and safeguarding participants vehicles and property.

The plan is to start again by getting everybody through the gates from 06:00 and launched so we can have a captains meeting at 08:00. We will then depart and tackle the dam according to sections allocated to the participating boats.

At around 15:00, a post mortem will be held at the launch where successes will be shared and group photos taken.

Those who wish could leave, but we would like to invite everybody to camp and sleep over. Then you will have the privilege to fish the dam on the Sunday from your boat, which normally would not be allowed. Many areas of the dam have never seen a lure, or a boat for that matter. That could make for a great day’s fishing.

Entrance and camping will be free of charge and for those with needs, some financial assistance would be made available according to needs and funds available.

Come and join us in making our dams a better place. I am looking forward to seeing old faces and meeting new helpers.

For any inquiries, contact the operation coordinator, Gys Prinsloo, on 083 450 9319.

Hope to have another major success.

The latest digital edition of THE BANK ANGLER / DIE OEWERHENGELAAR is now available!

The latest digital edition of STYWE LYNE/TIGHT LINES is now available!