3 Responses
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Alexis Baikoff
November 28, 2010
Greetings Justin and the cooked crew,
I do not enjoy being the prophet of doom and gloom,but there are a few points that I need to mention re:the Kosi Lake system that were not mentioned on your program.
I have just come back from a week long fishing trip to Kosi Lakes.I have a cabin boat and spent the entire week living on and fishing the lake system.Due to this I got to see a lot more than the average ‘day tripper’.
At dusk when most of the boats had gone ashore,the local illegal gillnetters would go and set their gillnets.Not just one or two-rather many of them.This occured mainly at the Banga Nek side of the third lake.From Kosi Lodge side,you could not even see them.
Then at dawn in very poor light conditions,they would go out on their very primitive floating devices to recover their nets and whatever was in them.This way the boats and Hippos could not affect their nets.
The one night I actually overnighted amongst a few of these characters nets.I was very tempted to inspect some of these but glad I didnt because after speaking to some other fishermen,found out that the owners take pot shots with AK-47′s at people who interfere with their illegal activities.I also had the misfortune of getting my prop fouled by a gillnet which contained a fish.
I thought it be prudent to make you and the general public aware of the true state of affairs at Kosi.In the week I was there,The Parksboard boats did not do a single patrol.This is not subsistence fishing,but rather big business.Between the ever increasing numbers of fish kraals being erected,gillnets and recreational fishermen(who are also harvesters),this special world heritage sight is under serious threat!I dont believe that it is sustainable.I was also informed by a local that at night gillnets are strung in the channel between 2nd and 3rd lakes.
It would be a great thing if this could be exposed in order for people with clout and interest to do something about preseving this truly magical place.
Kosi is a one of a kind place and it would be an absolute dis-service to decent society and future generations of good people to stand by and watch the exploitation and destruction of such a soulful place.
Best regards,
Alexis Baikoff
Seriously concerned citizen.
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Justin
December 1, 2010
Hi Alexis
I was equally appalled that one of our World Heritage Sites will soon be a semblance of it’s former self due to the greed of a few
I saw many of the same things you’re talking about. One of the fisherfolk I met on the lake turned around and proudly said that in the last year he’d bought himself a fridge, television and bed off the proceeds of fishing on the lake system – this from one of the families that has historic rights to fish the lakes. Sadly, fishing on the lakes has turned from being an historically sustainable method of fishing (one of the most sustainable in the world) to become big illicit business. In both of our minds, we believe that the parks board should be preserving our heritage, but in many respects they are coming to a gun fight armed with knives.
My hope is that more of us take up the battle to preserves our heritage.
Maybe the solution is as simple night time patrols on the lake.
Here’s crossing our fingers that someone is listening.
All the best
Justin.
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Alexis Baikoff
December 16, 2010
Hi Justin,
Thank you for your reply!
I am of the strong opinion that the parksboard officials are also cashing in on this illegal fishing practice.The one night I was anchored approximately 200m off Bhanga nek.At about 1am I got up yo relieve myself.I heard activity coming from the shore and the flashing of headlights.I thought that this was the gillnetters on their makeshift floating devices hauling in their nets.The next thing 2 x large boats took off headed in the direction of Kosi lodge.I am pretty sure it was some people taking the catch away to be loaded onto vehicles and taken to the prospective buyer(s).This was in the same area that I saw people setting gillnets at dusk.
Lets just hope that there are some people out there with enough political and financial clout who care to do something about this before it is too late!
What Kosi needs is an anti-poaching task force armed with R1 rifles as was done in the pre 1994 era.
Best regards,
Alexis.
Leave Your Reply
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Alexis Baikoff
November 28, 2010
Greetings Justin and the cooked crew,
I do not enjoy being the prophet of doom and gloom,but there are a few points that I need to mention re:the Kosi Lake system that were not mentioned on your program.
I have just come back from a week long fishing trip to Kosi Lakes.I have a cabin boat and spent the entire week living on and fishing the lake system.Due to this I got to see a lot more than the average ‘day tripper’.
At dusk when most of the boats had gone ashore,the local illegal gillnetters would go and set their gillnets.Not just one or two-rather many of them.This occured mainly at the Banga Nek side of the third lake.From Kosi Lodge side,you could not even see them.
Then at dawn in very poor light conditions,they would go out on their very primitive floating devices to recover their nets and whatever was in them.This way the boats and Hippos could not affect their nets.
The one night I actually overnighted amongst a few of these characters nets.I was very tempted to inspect some of these but glad I didnt because after speaking to some other fishermen,found out that the owners take pot shots with AK-47′s at people who interfere with their illegal activities.I also had the misfortune of getting my prop fouled by a gillnet which contained a fish.
I thought it be prudent to make you and the general public aware of the true state of affairs at Kosi.In the week I was there,The Parksboard boats did not do a single patrol.This is not subsistence fishing,but rather big business.Between the ever increasing numbers of fish kraals being erected,gillnets and recreational fishermen(who are also harvesters),this special world heritage sight is under serious threat!I dont believe that it is sustainable.I was also informed by a local that at night gillnets are strung in the channel between 2nd and 3rd lakes.
It would be a great thing if this could be exposed in order for people with clout and interest to do something about preseving this truly magical place.
Kosi is a one of a kind place and it would be an absolute dis-service to decent society and future generations of good people to stand by and watch the exploitation and destruction of such a soulful place.
Best regards,
Alexis Baikoff
Seriously concerned citizen.
-
Justin
December 1, 2010
Hi Alexis
I was equally appalled that one of our World Heritage Sites will soon be a semblance of it’s former self due to the greed of a few
I saw many of the same things you’re talking about. One of the fisherfolk I met on the lake turned around and proudly said that in the last year he’d bought himself a fridge, television and bed off the proceeds of fishing on the lake system – this from one of the families that has historic rights to fish the lakes. Sadly, fishing on the lakes has turned from being an historically sustainable method of fishing (one of the most sustainable in the world) to become big illicit business. In both of our minds, we believe that the parks board should be preserving our heritage, but in many respects they are coming to a gun fight armed with knives.
My hope is that more of us take up the battle to preserves our heritage.
Maybe the solution is as simple night time patrols on the lake.
Here’s crossing our fingers that someone is listening.
All the best
Justin.
-
Alexis Baikoff
December 16, 2010
Hi Justin,
Thank you for your reply!
I am of the strong opinion that the parksboard officials are also cashing in on this illegal fishing practice.The one night I was anchored approximately 200m off Bhanga nek.At about 1am I got up yo relieve myself.I heard activity coming from the shore and the flashing of headlights.I thought that this was the gillnetters on their makeshift floating devices hauling in their nets.The next thing 2 x large boats took off headed in the direction of Kosi lodge.I am pretty sure it was some people taking the catch away to be loaded onto vehicles and taken to the prospective buyer(s).This was in the same area that I saw people setting gillnets at dusk.
Lets just hope that there are some people out there with enough political and financial clout who care to do something about this before it is too late!
What Kosi needs is an anti-poaching task force armed with R1 rifles as was done in the pre 1994 era.
Best regards,
Alexis.
