An example of seabed habitat now protected from trawling in 10 seabed management areas. Photo: ACEP Sound Seas After more than two years of engagement with a team of seabed habitat experts, South African trawler owners and operators have co-developed 10 seabed management areas (SMAs) that the industry voluntarily will comply with. The agreement follows […]
Trawler operators voluntarily protect sensitive seabed areas Read More »
The frequency and quality of environmental reporting across the trawl fleet have improved following the appointment of Alistair Burls as Environmental Liaison Officer (ELO). The ELO position is the first of its kind for SADSTIA, the South East Coast Inshore Fishing Association (SECIFA), and possibly for fisheries across the African continent. It was established to
New environmental role strengthens reporting across the trawl fleet Read More »
If there were a G10 of fishing nations – countries with an outsized influence over global fisheries governance – South Africa would be a member. That is the view of Felix Ratheb, Chief Executive of Sea Harvest, who points to the prominent role South Africans now play in some of the world’s most influential seafood
Sea Harvest CEO takes stock at the start of the 2026 fishing year Read More »
South Africa’s deep-sea trawl hake fishery has marked 2025 as a milestone year of responsible growth and continued excellence. In our year-end video, SADSTIA Chairman, Innocent Dwayi, reflects on three defining highlights: He also pays tribute to the people who drive this sector forward – the skippers, crew, processing teams, scientists and coastal communities. Watch
2025: A year of resilience and renewal Read More »
When it comes to bottom trawling, misconceptions abound. From claims that bottom trawling can never be sustainable, to fears that it turns the seabed into a lifeless desert, bottom trawling has long been the subject of intense debate and misinformation. But what does the science actually say? SADSTIA’s latest video cuts through the noise to
Separating myth from fact: The truth about trawling Read More »
Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is now home to a pioneering initiative that transforms discarded fishing nets into valuable plastic materials, marking a significant step in tackling marine plastic pollution. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, officially opened South Africa’s first fishnet recycling facility at Collier Jetty on 10 October. The containerised
Minister Dion George launches pioneering net recycling facility at the V&A Waterfront Read More »
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, officially opened South Africa’s first fishing net recycling facility at Collier Jetty at the V&A Waterfront on 10 October. Minister Dion George delivered the keynote address at the opening event Minister Dion George points out the special plaque inaugurating the opening of the recycling
Launch event photos Read More »
The South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA), has announced it will apply for a fifth certification from the Marine Stewardship Council – a certification body that is globally recognised as a credible indicator of sustainable fishing practices. Since achieving its first certification in 2004, SADSTIA has maintained one of the longest continuous MSC certifications
SADSTIA prepares for fifth MSC certification Read More »
31 JULY 2025, CAPE TOWN – Two shipping containers central to South Africa’s first harbour-based fishing net recycling initiative were successfully delivered to Collier Jetty at the V&A Waterfront this week, marking a major milestone for the pilot project launched in May. The containers, supplied by Container World, will be used to house the Ocean
Net recycling project moves ahead as containers arrive at Collier Jetty Read More »
Inshore trawlers berthed in Mossel Bay When Colin Attwood from the University of Cape Town’s Department of Biological Sciences began studying South Africa’s inshore fishery in 2014, he and his team of researchers uncovered a complex web of challenges that would reshape how the industry thinks about managing bycatch. This decade-long research effort, which is
Managing bycatch in SA’s inshore trawl fishery: a decade of innovation and challenges Read More »
