Name
Recreational fishing
The KwaZulu Natal coast has a range of invertebrate, fish and shark species, many of which are seasonally abundant, and provide an opportunity for subsistence, recreational, charter and commercial fishing. Many species have become over-exploited over time and strict controls through permits have been placed on these vulnerable and threatened species.
A range of recreational fishing and collecting permits are available and may be downloaded from the DFFE websites (see links under Additional Information).
Permits for recreational fishing do not allow for the selling of fish. The collecting of mussels, oysters, crabs, mud and sand prawns, redbait and mole-crabs all require permits and there are specifications regarding methods used, size and bag limits for each species. You need to be able to identify the species, know the bag and seasonal limits and how to measure the species of invertebrates or fish.
Who to contact: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
Fisheries Division of DFFE
The Fisheries division of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) is the relevant authority for recreational and commercial fishing activities along the coast.
Hotline/ Tip-off line number for permit/ license holders that are in contravention of the MLRA: 028 3132703
Additional Information
Recreational Fishing/ Collecting Permits