Dear fellow angler

I am, as part of my Masters degree in Environmental Management, conducting a “Critical Review of the Legislative Framework for Angling in South Africa”.

Angling in South Africa is governed by a plethora of contradicting laws. Anglers are faced with national legislation, as well as contradicting legislation pertaining to the same fish species in different provinces. The following legislation is directly applicable to anglers in the various provinces:

Province / Applicable Legislation
Eastern Cape /
  • Cape of Good Hope Nature & Environmental Conservation Ordinance (Cape Ordinance),
  • Threatened or Protected Species Regulations (TOPS Regs) and
  • Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA)

Western Cape /
  • Cape Ordinance,
  • TOPS Regs and
  • MLRA

Northern Cape /
  • Cape Ordinance,
  • TOPS Regs and
  • MLRA

North West /
  • Cape Ordinance;
  • Transvaal Nature Conservation Ordinance, and
  • TOPS Regs

KwaZulu-Natal /
  • Natal Nature Conservation Ordinance, TOPS Regs, and MLRA

Mpumalanga /
  • Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act and
  • TOPS Regs

Free State /
  • Free State Nature Conservation Ordinance and
  • TOPS Regs

Gauteng /
  • Transvaal Nature Conservation Ordinance and
  • TOPS Regs

Limpopo /
  • Limpopo Environmental Management Act and
  • TOPS Regs

Each province views angling and angling permits, conservation and management of its freshwater resources differently. With the introduction of the TOPS Regs (and the Alien Invasive Regulations to be introduced shortly), we now also have national legislation governing fish that’s already been governed by provincial legislation. The abovementioned legislation is to be implemented by the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), as well as the provincial departments managing environmental matters. Add to the mix the National Water Act in terms of which the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) must protect the “biological characteristics of water” as well as the “characteristics, condition and distribution of aquatic biota” and we have a recipe which leads to confusion amongst anglers and government officials alike. In the process legal certainty, a corner stone of a sound legal system, is lost.

The question that I have asked myself is how the current legislative framework for angling in South Africa could be implemented or should be amended to ensure the sensible governing of angling as well as the protection of South Africa’s indigenous fish species. This is where you, the angler, come in. Instead of just blowing my own horn, or just getting the input of government officials, I think it is crucial to get your views. It would be appreciated if you could assist me in this study.

Please complete the questionnaire by marking the appropriate box with an X, give a short reason for your answer and e-mail it to or fax it to (012) 307-5857. The data will be used to propose how the current legislative framework can be implemented sensibly, or how it should be amended. I ultimately aim to make a sensible proposal to the powers that be.

Angling Licence Questionnaire

Name______Cell No: ______E-Mail______

1.Do you think we should have angling licences in SA at all?

Yes / No

Comment:______

2.What should the licence fees be used for? (You may give more than one answer)

Administration and enforcement of angling legislation / General Environmental Conservation / Funding of angling bodies and clubs / Upkeep pf angling waters (e.g. supplying security or sanitation / Conservation of fish stocks (including breeding programmes/fish ladders etc.)
Conservation of fish habitat / Combating Water Pollution / Community upliftment & awareness / Other / All of these

Comment:_______

3.How much are you willing to pay for a national angling licence (per year)?

R 0 / R 50 / R 100 / R 150 / More that R 150

Comment:______

4.Is there a need for a single national angling licence?

Yes / No

Comment:______

  1. Should there be a single, national law for angling?

Yes / No

Comment:______

6.Should there be separate licences for fresh and salt water angling?

Yes / No

Comment:______

7.Should there be separate legislation for each province, each with its own licence?

Yes / No

Comment:______

8.Should there be separate legislation for each province which is summarised on a single national angling licence?

Yes / No

Comment:______

9.Should there be separate legislation and licences for each province?

Yes / No

Comment:______

10.Where should one be able to obtain an angling licence?

Department of Environmental Affairs / Police Station / Post Office / Angling Shops / Internet / Other

Comment:______

11.How many rods should an angler be allowed to fish with?

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / No limit

Comment:______

11.How many hooks per rod should an angler be allowed to fish with?

1 / 2 / 3 / No limit

Comment:______

12.Should anglers be prohibited from using keep nets?

Yes / No

Comment:______

13.Should all species of fish caught be released?

Yes / No / Only indigenous species

Comment:______

14.Should feeding places be allowed?

Yes / No

Comment:______

15.Should markers for feeding spots be allowed?

Yes / No

Comment:______

16.Should fresh water anglers be allowed to fish with life bait?

Yes / No

Comment:______

17.Should anglers be forced not to return any alien invasive species (bass, carp & trout) to our waters?

Yes / No / Only in certain zones

Comment:______

18.Should fishing with gill nets/any other manner of fishing that does not involve a rod and reel be allowed?

Yes / No

Comment:______

19.Should anglers in possession of an angling licence be allowed to enter any angling waters, without having to pay an entrance fee?

Yes / No / Only in respect of government property

Comment:______