SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Not only fish species, but sea birds, turtles and a multitude of aquatic species suffer a decline in already low numbers as a result of ghost fishing.

“Ghost fishing in the Garden Route counter concerted efforts to protect fish breeding grounds and nurseries in estuaries,” says Cobus Meiring of the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI).

Meiring is spearheading the SCLI River Corridor Revival Project with the support of the Table Mountain Fund (TMF).

The project concerns itself with the management of critical water sources and biodiversity in the Outeniqua Mountains, including the estuaries, wetlands and Klein Brak, Groot Brak, Kaaimans, Touw, Goukamma and Knysna rivers.

He said abandoned fishing gear, including snapped lines, baited hooks, sinkers and nets are all capable of ghost fishing if unattended, without anyone benefitting from the undetected harvest.

Ghost fishing also mitigates concerted efforts to control and regulate over-fishing of selected species by authorities such as SANParks and CapeNature, and requires urgent intervention.

• Read more in South Cape Forum and online.

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