Oysters

The Cape Rock oyster, which is targeted in this fishery, has an extensive geographic distribution occurring on rocky reefs from Cape Agulhas to Mozambique. These oysters are found in the intertidal zone and up to about 6m water depths. The Cape Rock oyster is found naturally and is sold as "wild oysters" in South Africa restaurants. A cheaper oyster is the Pacific oyster which is imported and widely used in mariculture.

Oysters along the KwaZulu-Natal coast have been found to take 33 months (almost 3 years) to reach marketable size (60 mm Right Valve Length). Oysters are broadcast spawners. Oysters along the KwaZulu-Natal coast spawn throughout the year with peaks during spring and summer.

Harvesting takes place during spring low tides and traditionally was restricted to the intertidal zone, however in recent years there has been a gradual expansion of harvesting depth towards the fringes of the subtidal zone. This is due to a decline in oyster density in the intertidal zone and a gradual increase in gear efficiency ("creeping effort"). Oysters are dislodged from rocks by means of a pointed steel crowbar.

The oyster fishery was previously managed as two separate fisheries related to their areas of operation, namely the KwaZulu-Natal coast and the Southern Cape coast. Since 2002 the oyster fishery has been managed as a single national fishery. Under the new management system, four commercial oyster-harvesting areas are officially recognised, namely KZN North, KZN South, Port Elizabeth and the Southern Cape. Differences between the regulations and harvesting patterns in the regions continue to exist.

In KwaZulu-Natal (North and South coasts), the management approach previously adopted by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government was retained. This entailed maintaining a system of effort limitations whereby the numbers of pickers are restricted and a daily bag limit of 190 oysters per picker per day is enforced. Moreover, the KZN North and South coasts are further sub-divided into five zones each, which are harvested on a rotational basis. This requires that zones remain fallow for at least three years at a time (the optimal length of time required for oyster recruits to reach marketable size) thereby allowing for recovery of the oyster stock. This system applies to both the commercial and recreational sectors.

The oyster fishery along the Southern Cape coast is not managed by means of rotational harvesting, but by means of limiting the number of pickers, with no daily bag limit. Furthermore, effort has been split across areas according to the extent of accessible oyster reef. The southern Cape fishery is controlled by a closed season from 15 December - 05 January. The closed season has been imposed to limit conflict between holidaymakers and the commercial oyster sector. In Port Elizabeth, no harvesting of the oyster beds is practised, and only washed-up oysters are being collected.

The Total Applied Effort ("TAE") for the oyster fishery is currently not informed by scientific considerations or even the status of the resource, but is based on pre-2002 effort levels. Advancements in research and stock assessments for the oyster resource are required in order to properly determine sustainable harvesting levels. The current TAE (2005 season) is set at 145 pickers and is apportioned as follows:

• KZN North (25 pickers);
• KZN South (15 pickers);
• Southern Cape (102 pickers); and
• Port Elizabeth (3) pickers.

The TAE along the southern Cape coast is further divided across zones, based on the extent of accessible oyster reef, and as follows:

• Heidelberg ("Witsand"): 10 pickers;
• Riversdale/Mossel Bay: 58 pickers; and
• George/Knysna: 34 pickers.

Limited commercial oyster rights were allocated in 2002 to empower a number of former subsistence fishers who were previously prevented from selling their subsistence harvests.