ST Article on H10 - Suffering a Net Loss

[Nutzfactory]

Hi Guys,

If you turn to the Home Section of ST today, on H10, there's an article on 35 Horseshoe crabs being caught in nets. Apparently, the Nature Society is trying to call for a ban on the use of fishing nets around the coast of Singapore. Perhaps we can help to support the cause. Any idea how we can go about doing it? Should we contact the Nature Society? Will it help to build up a relationship with a society that probably wants to put a ban on us as well?

What are your thought? Anyone?

mel

[xxJiMboZxx]

I would strongly support the non netting, but some of the ppl putting nets are poor who depend on tat to get their day thru... somehow we need to stop them from netting and need to help them solve their problems to earn a living. But! as for those who just putting nets jus for their own leisure.... I will ......cut and destroy their nets anytime. (ofcos this what I feel inside me but so far I have not done it yet unless their nets got caught in my boat anchor, then out come my sissors and knife!)

[alberto]

We are caught in a vicious cycle. The sight of the net filled with dead horseshoe crabs pains me so much that I wish we can adopt what Africa does with poachers - shoot first and ask question later

But if we take a step back and ask why do people there or any where in the world, poach, is that is the only way they can get money to feed themselves and their family.

So Jimboz's comment of people netting to get thru the day is a reality. I have seen with my own eyes a group of 6-8 Thai workers huddled together for their meals, in front of them a mountain of rice and sharing a tiny piece of fish and a bowl of watery curried vegetable. Should we then, get angry at these people for going to our reservoirs and shoreline to net?

Although netting shown on the picture is not poaching is blatant catching a living creature that he or she has no use for.

Highlander's comment on banning of netting, bubus and long lining in the described area is the best way to start to preserving what little we have. We are privileged to be able to afford tackle and fish for sport. We must not forget those who fish to get them through the day.

Mel, you have my support in writing to the Nature Society, but remember the less fortunate.

regards
Alberto

[Chee Yung]

nutzfactory said:

Hi Guys,

If you turn to the Home Section of ST today, on H10, there's an article on 35 Horseshoe crabs being caught in nets. Apparently, the Nature Society is trying to call for a ban on the use of fishing nets around the coast of Singapore. Perhaps we can help to support the cause. Any idea how we can go about doing it? Should we contact the Nature Society? Will it help to build up a relationship with a society that probably wants to put a ban on us as well?



What are your thought? Anyone?

mel

Hi Mel,

I wrote this some time ago to my bros at the admin board:
'Please read the latest issue of Fly Fisherman (US mag) and you will understand my concern about our sport.. they have the same problem in USA regarding environmentalists and other groups that compete with flyfishermen.... the point is 'united we stand,divided we fall' ...but what ideology will unite everyone including the environmentalists? Well, I think it is about expanding flyfishing into a sport that includes a SPECIFIC conservation ideology that includes providing a balanced & beautiful setting/eco-system where hunter and hunted co-exist as in nature.....'

I was once a bird and butterfly watching member of the Nature Society and my sister is VP of the M'sian Nature Society.. I left because of their focus on leaving nature untouched when the truth about all living environments is that EVERYTHING CHANGES.. eg. migrant bird watching for example is more dangerous nowadays because of bird flu... as Crichton wrote in Jurassic Park: 'Life will Find a way'....

IMHO, our focus should be like the forefathers of nature conservation ie Theodore Roosevelt who btw is an angler... MANAGE Nature, Life doesn't need pampering
If we can show The Nature Society that we are more Progressive in our agenda than them ie. they can co-exist under our more 'moderate' and encompassing idea of 'managed nature', we can be leaders again like Roosevelt when he established Yellowstone National Park long ago

In that vein, Yes, I will support the ban on netting.

One more point, the world is getting so small and the resources so scarce that just exploiting the seas for a living is no more a viable survival solution... aquaculture and managed fisheries is the only way to go ... ( I know that 'wild' fish like Kelah is already being cultivated at Nengirri)... AVA should just train-up these poor fishermen to allow them to use their knowledge to manage the fisheries... and implement the net ban!

Cheers
CY

[xxJiMboZxx]

Ofcos netting at reservoirs and the costal by the thais is a problem, as they have a stable job and doing some netting as a pastime is no excuse but it those poor ppl that are uneducated and only fish for a living. I use to hate ppl that do netting very much, but then one day I met tis old man on a sampan and he sell his catch for between $5 to $8 per day jus to feed his family really hurts my heart. I will imagine if one day if i am old and got no job, wat will I do? So everytime I will observed when i go out on charter to see who are the real needy one and who are the net for leisure. Then.......

[alan]

Perhaps license the use of netting will help weed out the 'bad guys" from the bread n butter issue .

[Nutzfactory]

Hi one and all,

I am heartened at your contributions to this post.

What Jimmy has brought up is a good point and this has always been a point of contention even in the US and Australia. The perennial argument of commercial vs recreational fishing, who does more damage. I do agree that some people do survive off the fish they catch but it does not mean that they should catch anything and everything. Resource Management is needed to sustain their livelihood too. Without fish stock, they would have no income at all. So it's long term vs short term goals. I'm sure that the pros know where to net and when to net so that they do not affect the natural breeding cycles...I hope

But I think the case we have here is more of the 'recreational' netters that do this becoz they have nothing better to do. Banning the use of nets by recreational netters will help a lot as they are the ones that does the most damage in the most important areas like spawning sites and nurseries. Also, they use nets without knowing what the nets are used for e.g. The size of the 'holes' in the nets determine what they are going to catch. To get big fish, they ought to use suitably sized nets to get them so that the smaller fish will not be harvested as well.

The other option of a 'zonal' ban suggested by YH is also quite good . By limiting the nets to an area outside of the coastline will allow fisherman a fair share of the fish and also leave the fish a 'breathing space' where they will not be disturb. I believe that this is what is being implemented in the US and Australia. Specific vulnerable areas should also be banned. However, to implement such bans, there will need to be a study to prove that these areas are indeed vulnerable i.e. spawning grounds, nurseries, etc...

CY, your thoughts echo mine. We should be thinking of how to manage our environment and not prevent change. Hopefully, the Nature Society is open to this. I will be discussing with Qwek to get in touch with the Nature Society and how we can work together or how to lend our support to their initiatives and then keep you posted.

Once again, thank you for your lively participation. I'm glad to know that so many people do care and are willing to step forward and do something.

Tight lines and great smiles.

mel

[stonedfly]

Dear friends,

with regards to the 'No Netting' ban around our shores i am disappointed to inform you that i've been told that only the singapore river, kallang river and the marina bay are off limits to netting. Anywhere else the authorities have absolutely no say whatsoever - netters can lay their nets anywhere they darn well please.

However if the nature society has (re)brought up the issue (though i've not read the article), then their request/protest will definitely add weight. As conservation minded anglers it is our duty to lend our support to their cause, too.

In my opinion i think we must somehow 'guide' their views and perception on us (if it's already unfavourable); as anglers who are atuned and sensitive to other nature lovers, as anglers who are responsible of the quarry we cherish and pursue fervently and, as anglers who will protect our natural world. We can only achieve this by engaging them sensibly and, there's no better time then now. I seriously doubt the society's members will harbour the notion to ban angling in our reservoirs and nature reserves if they understand our passion, cause and direction.

At this juncture i'm musing with my thought - anglers and conservation societies from abroad work pretty well in hand so perhaps we can trek towards that goal? (that'll be so cool )

with warm regards,
mo