[DoctorEldritch]

@Telomina I'd say that is a good way to do it. Helps to keep track of the fish population and make adjustments where needed. Hopefully, they are still doing that now, too.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch I strictly catch and release fresh water fish but at certain venues you may take home or prepare a fish or two and eat them.

I only eat saltwater fish.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot But why, some freshwater fish are invasive in SA and catching them actually helps the ecosystem. Like European perch, for example. Why only saltwater fish?

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch Our dams, lakes and rivers are too dirty and pollution is a huge issue. At certain places the water looks clean but I won't take my chances eating the freshwater fish. A few weeks back people had to be hospitalised due to eating Carp they've caught in a dam.

The results showed the fish had paracites and they are able to survive high temperatures when cooked.

Most of our fishing spots have rules mentioning only cash and release. No fish may be taken home or eaten.

Salt water fish is much more trustworthy. They tend not to carry diseases and much more tasty. 🙂

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot While dirty water bodies are certainly a problem, catching invasive species can help, even if you do not consume them afterwards, helping to balance the ecosystem may even help to reduce pollution in turn. It could be that indigenous water flora and fauna, responsible for reducing pollution levels, get destroyed by invasive species. Catching those invasive fish and reducing their number, even without eating them, may help. Do your rules dictate that you need to release even invasive species?

Hmm, I am not sure. Many fish spend portions of their lives in the sea and in rivers. Like salmon. Would you trust salmon caught in the sea more than in a river, even though they visit both?

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch I am not sure about the invasive species and will have ask about it. The last permit I obtained a year back states strictly catch and release. The document doesn't mention invasive species may be consumed or must be rid off.

Salmon is a whole different story. I will definitely eat freshwater Salmon caught in a clean mountain stream. The issue is we do not have the privilege to catch freshwater Salmon.

We do not have those lovely mountain getaways untouched by humans without pollution. Most streams and rivers are filled with human waste and other nasty stuff.

We even have issues with our reservoirs in certain areas. People are unable to drink the water and for months now have to depend on water trucks or have to purchase water from shops.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot I'd say it is worth looking into. In some places, you can even get small rewards for reducing the number of invasive species, like how in the USA, you'd get some small sum for catching the invasive Pikemminows.

Salmon is perhaps one of the stronger examples, being so delicious, it was more a question about your stance on fish that travel in both sea and river throughout their life. I am not sure if South Africa has many of those, I will need to look into it.

What about natural landscapes like Blyde River Canyon or the Orange River?

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch Here you will no be rewarded for anything. They would rather fine you and make your life hard no matter if it's a invasive species. With the current economic climate and poverty people would be everywhere catching those invasive species if rewards are offerd.


Salmon is one of the most expensive fish to buy in SA. I know there's a Salmon farm somewhere in Cape town and let them spawn and grow in tanks and small dams.

If fish travel in both sea and fresh water I will eat them depending where they end up and were caught.

Preferably fish from a Supermarket is the best in my opinion.

The Orange river and Blyde river is fine up to certain points depending if there's settlements alongside the river or not. Pollution is a huge issue. There's no guarantee if fish is good to eat. During the year a lot of people are admitted to hospital who got sick because of drinking the water or eating fish from it.

The Blyde and Orange river aren't as natural as you think anymore.