Story
September 20, 2025
Illegal Gillnet Fishing Poses Threat to iSimangaliso’s Fragile Lakes
Country:
Poachers hiding just beyond the marine borders of the country are plundering marine areas.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is considered one of South Africa's conservation jewels.
A large number of Indigenous communities live in and around the park and are considered to be among the poorest in the country.
They have been fishing from these lakes and the ocean for generations, but this is now strictly regulated, as it’s a marine protected area.
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However, locals continue to fish illegally, using mainly gillnets, which have also been banned.
With law enforcement agencies stretched thin, the fish population is continuing to decline.
The Ngobezeleni lake system, which flows into the Indian Ocean, is taking strain. It is one of four interconnected lakes in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is renowned for its diverse bird and wildlife.
