Despite the efforts of everyone at the Dollose, the patrolling, the highly visible 'no fishing' signs, et cetera, there are still fishermen sneaking down under the cover of darkness to poach.
The three catshark species are being tagged and monitored by the White Shark Africa, Electrodive and St Blaize Marine Monitoring Forum (MMF), together with other fish and species.
This little guy, and others like him frequently fall victim to rogue poachers. Last year, divers came across a pyjama shark dying slowly on the sand, his lower jaw completely removed, torn off by a hapless fisherman, no doubt to remove an 'expensive' lure, the fishing hook and gut still in the shark's belly.
Graceful creatures
These sharks are incredibly beautiful and graceful creatures and essential to the balance of the ocean ecosystem.
Local and visiting divers and snorkellers derive great pleasure from observing them and a host of other species of fish and reef-dwelling marine life in their natural habitat.
The MMF has compiled a report on findings from a fish count and clean-up dive last month. Anyone interested in assisting or finding out more about the Reef Monitoring project, may contact Leanne Kerst-Walmsley on 072 987 7969 or Mike Keet on 083 578 7530.
This beautiful pyjama catshark was rescued last week after it had ingested a fishing hook and became entangled in fishing gut at the Dolosse. Photo: Supplied
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