Vleesbaai Oyster Harvesting

Over the past few years numerous reports were received from local residents of Vleesbaai and Boggomsbaai and visitors alike that oyster “poachers” were frequently operating within the area, and that they usually worked in broad daylight in open view for all to see. The main complaint being that large groups of rough looking harvesters armed with “Koevoet’s” haul away hefty bags loaded with oysters, causing great concern. They then disappear until the next spring tide before descend onto Vleesbaai’s intertidal zones once again.

We would like to bring to your attention that these oyster harvesters are in fact licensed commercial harvesters from Great Brakriver and Mossel Bay, and therefore are not poachers at all. These harvesters possess commercial licences to harvest the Cape rock oyster. These oysters are found in the intertidal zone and up to about 6m water depths. Harvesting takes place during spring low tides and traditionally was restricted to the intertidal zone, however in recent years there has been a gradual expansion of harvesting depth towards the fringes of the subtidal zone. This is due to a decline in oyster density in the intertidal zone and a gradual increase in gear efficiency (“creeping effort”). Oysters are dislodged from rocks by means of a pointed steel crowbar.

The Cape Rock oyster is found naturally with an extensive geographic distribution occurring on rocky reefs from Cape Agulhas to Mozambique and is sold as “wild oysters” in South African restaurants. A cheaper oyster is the Pacific oyster which is imported and widely used in mariculture.

Under the new management system, four commercial oyster-harvesting areas are officially recognised in South Africa, namely KZN north, KZN south, Port Elizabeth and the Southern Cape. The oyster fishery along the Southern Cape Coast is managed by means of limiting the number of permitted pickers, with no daily bag limit, whereas KZN limits the number of oyster pickers as well as enforcing a daily bag limit of 190 oysters per day, per picker. KZN has further divided its region into five zones, each which is harvested on a rotational basis, which requires that each zone remains fallow for at least three years. In Port Elizabeth, no harvesting of the oyster beds is practised, and only washed-up oysters are being collected.

The local residents of the Southern Cape coast have not received the commercial operators with open arms, and clashes became so frequent that the Government implemented an official closed season from 15 December – 05 January to limit conflict between holiday makers and the commercial oyster sector.

During the 2006 season a total of 105 harvesting rights were allocated as follows:

_ KZN North (7);

_ KZN South (24);

_ Southern Cape (74).

These rights along the southern Cape coast is further divided across zones, based on the extent of accessible oyster reef, and as follows:

_ Heidelberg/Witsands: 9 rights;

_ Stilbaai/Riversdale/Mossel Bay: 50 rights;

_ George/Knysna/Plettenberg Bay: 12 rights; and

_ Port Elizabeth: 3 rights.

A commercial harvesting right is only awarded to an applicant if he/she is personally involved in harvesting oysters. Any infringement that the applicant has been found guilty of, in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act affects the applicant’s chances of receiving a further commercial licence negatively.

Permit Collection Conditions

  • Oysters may only be collected (does not include the act of carrying oysters) from two (2) hours prior to low tide to two (2) hours past low tide.
  • The Permit Holder is not allowed to collect oysters in terms of a recreational permit for own use from the time the right/permit is issued.
  • The Permit Holder shall not buy or accept any oysters collected in terms of a recreational permit to collect bait organisms.
  • The Permit Holder shall not transport any person in possession of oysters collected in terms of a recreational permit to collect bait organisms whilst transporting oysters collected in terms of this permit.
  • Only the Permit Holder or his/her authorised agent shall sell oysters collected in terms of this permit.
  • This permit does not grant right of admission to public or private property or land and the Permit Holder must comply with the rules of the local/ provincial authority at all times.
  • The Permit Holder must collect the oysters him/herself and must be present at all times during the transporting of oysters. The permit holder may, only in exceptional circumstances, apply in writing to the Chief Director: Resource Management (Marine) to be exempted from this condition.
  • The Permit Holder shall not collect or be in possession of any other marine organism during collection and carrying of oysters.
  • The permit shall be valid from the 1 January 2007 or from the date of issue should it be issued after the 1st of January 2007 to 31 December 2007.

Commercial right holders/pickers will only be allowed to harvest oysters using:

• wetsuits

• weight-belts

• masks and snorkels

• crowbar/koevoet

Right holders/pickers may not use:

• fins

• artificial breathing apparatus

• floating devices.

Commercial operators are therefore permitted to harvest in the region of Vleesbaai, if they comply with their permit conditions and related rules and regulations. As stated above these operators are not restricted by a daily bag limit and are therefore allowed to harvest large numbers of oysters on a daily basis. Residents and members of the public are invited to contact the local Conservation Rangers for more information.