The nature conservation legislation applicable to fishing along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline is covered primarily, but not entirely, by the Marine Living Resources Act.
Also applicable are the General Sea Shores Act and the Road Traffic Act.

This page is a summary only and acts as a guide. It is not a precise statement of the law and is designed to simplify the legislation only. Whilst it is subject to change, it was accurate at the time of printing.

ANGLER ETHICS 

• An ethical angler will:
• remove any litter after fishing;
• take away left-over bait;
• return all unwanted fish to the sea alive;
• respect bag and size limits. By exceeding these limits, the angler is only depriving himself of future catches. The marine habitat provides renewable resources, but it can become non-sustainable with over-use;
• respect other user-groups whilst they are fishing;
• limit your catch, catch your limit;

FISHING REGULATIONS

INTRODUCTION

The new Marine Living Resources Act was introduced on 1 September 1998 by the Department of Sea Fisheries.
This new legislation has been developed through extensive participation by user groups and interested parties of the marine environment.

The new Act consolidates the Sea Fisheries Act and provincial nature conservation ordinances which previously regulated marine resource utilisation, but also provides for a number of new regulations.

WHY DO WE NEED LEGISLATION?

It is important that we conserve our marine resources before its too late.
Our marine resources are not endless, and over recent years, over utilisation of stocks has caused the survival of some species to be placed seriously at risk.
The Act controls fishing so that fish stocks are sustainably used.
To prevent people exploiting our resources to the detriment of others, the Act encourages fair and equitable use of our marine resources.
The Act ensures that individual species as well as the whole marine ecosystem is managed correctly.

KEY POINTS OF THE NEW ACT

The Marine Living Resources Act is national legislation which replaces the Sea Fisheries Act and KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Ordinance.
Responsibility for the enforcement of the Act in KwaZulu-Natal, has been delegated to KZN Wildlife.
As the Act is a consolidation of previous legislation, most regulations are the same as those to which fishermen are familiar.
A summary of bag and size limits is printed later in this chapter.

KEY POINTS TO NOTE ON PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Each person harvesting any marine resource, including all linefishing, requires a permit to do so.
The harvesting of intertidal resources in KwaZulu-Natal requires a specific permit issued by KZN Wildlife.
Your permit is valid for 365 days from the date of issue - permits are no longer valid for a calendar year.

PERMIT CATEGORIES

Permits are available in the following categories:

A)National Permits

• General angling
• Spearfishing
• Marine aquaria
• Cast/throw net
• Mud crab
• East Coast rock lobster
• West Coast rock lobster
• Abalone
• Recreational fishing from a vessel
• Mollusc (see also KwaZulu-Natal Invertebrate Permits below)

  KwaZulu-Natal Invertebrate Permits

• Mussel
• Octopus
• Oyster
• Sand/mud prawn
• Sea Lice (mole crab)
• Drag net
• Hoop net

PERMIT PURCHASE POINTS

Permits and Information are available from the following outlets: