Stilbaai, being a popular holiday destination, relies heavily on tourism during the busiest times of the year. For Stilbaai, these times are December and the April-Easter holidays.
This Easter, however, holiday-makers stayed home due to the implementation of a national lockdown resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stilbaai, with a population of approximately 6 000 permanent residents (including adjacent Jongensfontein and Melkhoutfontein) falls under the jurisdiction of the Hessequa municipal district. This district currently has 5 confirmed Covid-19 cases.
Vice-chairperson of the Stilbaai Linefish Forum, Emile Steyl sharing his thoughts on Covid-19’s impact on fishing in Stilbaai.
A Covid-19 notice from the Western Cape Government at Stilbaai harbour during lockdown, with boats parked in the background as opposed to being out at sea. PHOTO: Danny-B Smith.
A scale down on days at sea
“This time of year we go out every day, weather-permitting,” said vice-chairperson of the Line Fish Forum, Emile Steyl. Last year in April, his crew went out a total of 14 times and caught a total of roughly 3.4 tons of Red Roman, silver fish and codfish. By 8 April this year, Steyl’s crew had only gone out once for the month and caught 660kg, he said.
Batch silver fish having been organised into crates at the harbour for the stock to be distributed and sold.
PHOTO: Tronelle Steyl
According to Koenie Jones, the acting harbour master in Stilbaai, 11 commercial boats are registered to leave the harbor and permitted to fish during lockdown. The commercial fishing industry conducts an essential service in providing essential goods, as declared by the Disaster Management Act.
All fishing boats leaving Stilbaai’s harbour operate by means of traditional line fishing, according to Jones. Corporate companies, like Sea Harvest and I&J, mainly buy fish caught on boats launched in larger harbours using 5 to 10-meter-long trawlers. The Stilbaai Linefish Forum plays a prominent role in the Stilbaai fishing community by furthering the interests of those in the local industry.
Fishing crew unloading the boat after the day’s catch earlier this year. Skipper Kevin Zeilie is on the left, with Alister Kuyler to the right.
PHOTO: Tronelle Steyl
Crewmen are in the same boat
As the Covid-19 infection rate proliferates, fish aren’t the only thing crewmen might catch. The amount of people permitted onboard is “worked out at approximately 1 meter per person on the boat,” said Kevin Zeilie, skipper for Steyl’s boat.
Social distancing guidelines recommended that citizens maintain a distance of 1.5 meters, according to Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape. The confined environment in which crewmen work whilst aboard fishing boats, a mere meter from one another, increases their risk of contracting Covid-19.
“We [are] more than happy to go out [to sea] if we get the chance. Who’s going to support our families in this time if we don’t go?” said local Melkhoutfontein resident and crewman Ricardo du Plessis.
According to local police officer Stiaan Claassen, crewmen acquire a smaller income for going out and doing the same work as prior to the implementation of lockdown. He also noted that the feasibility of fishing becomes questionable in consideration of a severely decreased market during this time.
Doug Kraamer (known by locals at ‘Douggie’) on the left and officer Stiaan Claasen standing on the right at the Stilbaai harbour on 7 April 2020. PHOTO: Danny-B Smith.
“People in this climate won’t buy a luxury fish. They would rather buy quantity,” said Doug Kramer, manager of South Princess Fishing and Viking fish shop in Stilbaai.
Buying market is cast away
Steyl said that boats operating from the Stilbaai harbour sell stock to a variety of buyers, including Fish4Africa, Gordon’s Bay Fisheries, Strand Fisheries and clients in KZN, who then distribute fish to restaurants, guest houses and passenger ships, all of which are currently closed. The circumstances ensuing from the pandemic has therefore reeled in a chain effect.
“Due to lockdown, restaurants closed and with that, our market closed too,” said Kramer. “I have buyers who would previously buy a ton [of fish] who now buy 10 kilograms, showing without a doubt that there is no market.”
Nico Manho, employee at Viking Fish Shop with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Manho is photographed gutting and filleting a silverfish at the harbour. PHOTO: Danny-B Smith.
Kramer added that there’s major uncertainty with regards to the extent of damage that the national lockdown will have on the fishing community. He also raised concerns about how long the ripple effects thereof would remain and what this might mean for Stilbaai’s peak season time periods in the future.
The effects of Covid-19 may have caught their market with hook and line, but whether a sinker is involved, only time will tell.
Fin.