Botswana bans fishing too???

[tap]

I contacted Johan Calitz to try and add fishing to my upcoming safari yesterday and I was told that it would not be possible. I was told that fishing for all foreigners has been ban and that I will not be able to fish. I was wondering if this was a new ban or if it went into effect with the hunting ban regulations? I think it makes zero sense to ban fishing to all foreigners but I guess it makes sense as that country hasn't made one single conservation minded decision to this point that makes any sense at all. Just thought I would post this up in case anyone else trys to go fishing in Botswana.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Fishing Botswana

Thanks tap!


Fishing Botswana - Botswana has banned foreigners from fishing, reserving both recreational and subsistence fishing for its citizens, media reports said here on Tuesday (26/02/2013).

The reports said fishing camps and lodge owners in the country have been informed that fishing activities are now reserved for citizens only.

"A foreigner who wishes to fish will only do so through a licensed fishing camp and lodge. Therefore fishing camps and lodges are to apply for recreational fishing licenses for their clients," reads a circular from Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

The fishing restriction has already received mixed reaction, with most businesses criticising it.

The development comes against the backdrop of the recent decision by the government to ban hunting tourism in Botswana by 2014.



Source: afriquejet.com

 

[jeffpg]

Yeah, it bummed me out to learn of this change recently...

discouraging is what it is.

I cannot even begin to understand how these people think.

That was a good try though Tony.

 

[BRICKBURN]

There goes a nice relaxing activity that can happen on an off day.

How many fish do international travellers really take?

 

[SafariA]

I suggest we all boycott them ... Let them see where the money comes from . Next tourist will probably have to bring their own oxygen too ,,,,,

 

[spike.t]

i wonder how much the recreational fishing licences for lodges are? if the licence is reasonably (not a word that is seemingly comprehended by these people) priced then a safari company with a camp on a river applies for one. as for most foreigners i would presume if they want to fish there they would stay in a lodge or fishing camp anyway, and buy a licence or fish under the lodges licence . this is presuming you needed a licence previously. i would have thought the lodges/camps would think this was good as it would hopefully bring them more clients, but as i said presumably most foreigners would be staying at these establishments in the first place. reading jeromes post ,it hasnt banned foreigners they just have to stay at a lodge/camp that has the correct licence. presumably when fishing at the lodges in alaska etc you have to have a personal licence, or the lodge has a licence that covers its clients, and you just cant pitch up and start fishing for what you want?

 

[Patrick R]

Yip, what a f@$%k-up...

 

[enysse]

Well in Alaska, you buy a license from the state and it allows you to fish where you want....as long as the season is open and you have all the right stamps whatnot bought. I think Alaska is cheap fishing wise...it's just not cheap getting there or bringing any fish back home.

 

[spike.t]

Well in Alaska, you buy a license from the state and it allows you to fish where you want....as long as the season is open and you have all the right stamps whatnot bought. I think Alaska is cheap fishing wise...it's just not cheap getting there or bringing any fish back home.

hi i was just using alaska as a general example, i think in most countries you are supposed to have a licence to fish. the botswana decision maybe a bit draconian, but as i said it would be interesting to see how much the licence is, and its a bit of an overstatement to say foreigners cant fish ,when it states they can but have to stay at a lodge/camp that has the correct licence......

 

[enysse]

Ok, I get what you are saying. They are trying to see how much money they can generate off of fishing.

 

[spike.t]

Ok, I get what you are saying. They are trying to see how much money they can generate off of fishing.

maybe thats their plan, but we dont have much info on what the pricing is. i also wonder how it works for the house boats that provide fishing trips , if the licence is too expensive then i agree its bad as it screws up peoples businesses ,but in a lot of african countries the fish are going the same way as the animals, trees and the rest of the flora and fauna so there needs to be some working protection put in place. when you have people like kingsley holgate driving round the whole of africa trying to give every person a mosquito net thats fine, but the problem is the ones living near fishable waters dont use them for protection against mosquitoes, but are joining them together to make fishing nets that clean even the smallest fry out of the water. in a very short space of time there is nothing left.

 

[BRICKBURN]

After you stop Big 5 hunting your have to turn to a more prolific family/genus in order to be able to get the same money.

Fishing:
Daily rate TBD

Trophy Fees:
Bream $3500 USD
Any size

Tiger Fish
20cm to 30cm $4000 USD
30cm to 40cm $5000 USD
40cm Plus Price on application (or really you can't afford it if you have to ask.)

All catch and release.

All bites are considered wounded and caught fish. Trophy Fees are payable.
(Just joking)

 

[enysse]

It's hard to find anything positive about Botswana...because essentially they are coping the wildlife conservation story of Kenya...which has been so SUCCESSFUL.

 

[spike.t]

After you stop Big 5 hunting your have to turn to a more prolific family/genus in order to be able to get the same money.

Fishing:
Daily rate TBD

Trophy Fees:
Bream $3500 USD
Any size

Tiger Fish
20cm to 30cm $4000 USD
30cm to 40cm $5000 USD
40cm Plus Price on application (or really you can't afford it if you have to ask.)

All catch and release.

All bites are considered wounded and caught fish. Trophy Fees are payable.
(Just joking)

mmm, surely the tigers are on the teeth measurement