People have gathered food from the seas of southern Africa for over 150 000 years. Signs of early efforts at harvesting the seas are the many middens (prehistoric refuse heaps) of shellfish left by Strandloper people along most of the South African coastline

Not all early harvesting was for fish as food. Shells were used as currency, as ornaments and in tribal custom. Seagrasses provided bedding, seaweeds were known to contain valuable constituents - such as agar (a source of gelatine) - and seawater itself was known to have certain medicinal qualities.

Today, the use of advanced technology such as satellite, radar, acoustic and echo-sounding allows large fleets to exploit marine stocks in every corner of the globe. This high-tech fishing, together with a growth in demand and poor management of marine resources has resulted in the decline of many stocks. The blue whale, seventy-four and pilchard are all examples of collapsed fisheries that could have been avoided.

SUSTAINABLE USE

If the sea is to continue to provide us with its many resources, we must harvest from it in a sustainable way, i.e. in such a way that those resources will be available to people in the future. Such management of the seas relies on scientific knowledge, and a sense of responsibility to future generations. Zones of exclusive fishing rights have been declared around most coastal countries while international treaties control the harvesting of fish in the "no-mans-land" that lies beyond. Wise and careful use of our marine resources is not solely the responsibility of large fishing fleets and governments; the man in the street can play his part too.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

* When buying marine products consider your purchase with care. Investigate the legality of the catch you are buying. Black market sales of fish not only harm the resource in its unmanaged exploitation but often result in inferior quality and hence high wastage.

* Become knowledgeable about the regulations. Before you take anything from the sea, whether fishing, collecting mussels or lobster etc., contact a conservation or fisheries officer who will give you details of harvesting limitations. In most cases the rules allow a reasonable take-off for personal use. Closed seasons (the period during which removal of a resource is not allowed), size and bag limits are not imposed to inconvenience the angler, but rather to secure the future by protecting the stock.

* Take part in conservation and research projects. Anglers can tag and release fish, provide vital catch statistics, collect important marine data and be watchdogs for conservation bodies. Divers too, can assist with underwater surveys.

* Avoid digging with spades, shelling with crowbars or opening lagoons to gain access to rich banks as such actions are serious threats to the ecosystem.

* The South African Fisheries Act allows for specific interest groups e.g surf anglers, ski-boaters, commercial fisheries, to assist with resource management. Your constructive advice could prove helpful if channelled through your representative organisation to the South African Marine Linefish Management Association.

DID YOU KNOW?

* South African endemic linefish catches (such as the seventy- four and steenbras) have dropped by more than 75%.

* Of the 2.5 million tonnes of fish harvested off southern Africa only 50% is taken by our fleets.

* There are close to 1 million marine recreational anglers in South Africa.

* Approximately 50 tonnes of fish are harmlessly tagged and released by anglers each year.

FURTHER READING

OCEANS OF LIFE OFF SOUTHERN AFRICA. A. Payne and R. Crawford (eds). Struik, Cape Town, 1989.

A GUIDE TO THE COMMON SEA FISHES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. R. van der Elst. Struik, Cape Town, 1988.

THE LIVING SHORES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. G. Branch and M. Branch. Struik, Cape Town, 1981.

MARINE CONSERVATION: DO'S AND DON'TS. Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism; and the Dept. Environment and Cultural Affairs (previously Cape Nature Conservation).

A GUIDE TO COASTAL FISHING. Natal Parks Board.

THE BEACH CODE. Natal Parks Board.

All books available from Russel Friedman Books, PO Box 73, Halfway House, 1685. Tel. 011-7022300/1.

USEFUL ADDRESSES

Sea Fisheries Research Institute. P/Bag X2, Roggebaai, 8012. Tel. 021-4023911

Dept. Environmental and Cultural Affairs (previously Cape Nature Conservation) Private Bag X9086, Cape Town, 8000. Tel. 021-483 4227

Natal Parks Board. P O Box 662, Pietermaritzburg, 3200. Tel. 0331-471961.

Natal Sea Fisheries Licensing Board. Private Bag 15, Congella 4013. Tel. 031-373536.

Oceanographic Research Institute. P O Box 10712, Marine Parade, 4056. Tel. 031-373536.