Tons of crayfish killed in ‘walkout’

ELANDS BAY – Red tide conditions along the West Coast have resulted in large numbers of deaths among marine animals.

The West Coast Rock Lobster has been particularly affected.

This means the next crayfish season’s catch will be significantly lower.

The local fisherfolk say the red tide has severely affected their livelihoods.

Red tide conditions are not uncommon in Elands Bay. 

And when this happens, several tons of crayfish are affected.

The affected water forces marine life to ‘walk out’ of their normal habitat. 

“When the oxygen is so low in the water, they start to migrate to areas with high wave action because this wave action is known to aerate the water and increase the oxygen somewhat,” said Grant van der Heever of the Department of Forestry and Fisheries.

“However, when the oxygen levels remain very low, the rock lobster becomes stressed out, they become lethargic, and they become very weak .”

Local fishers say they are being deprived of making a living as they are not allowed to take the live crayfish that have washed onshore. 

The fear is that the red tide could be toxic. 

“From the department’s side, it is both scientifically and legally risky to advise people to eat washed-up lobster or fish,” Van der Heever said.

The reduction in earnings for fishers has a socio-economic impact. 

“As a whole, the community is upset, they feel like they have been robbed of their food,” said Pedro Swartz.

Since 25 February, 3,6 tons of live crayfish have been rescued and relocated. 

But this is a drop in the ocean compared to the dead ones.

The bulk has already been removed and buried  

“Our living is from the sea, and this is how we feed our children and grandchildren from the sea,” said Sophia Martin.

“But the red tide has affected us a lot not only as a community but as a co-op. We have 800 kilos that we must collect, but as things are looking now, I don’t think we will be done by the 15th of March.“

This is when the fishing season ends, but it’s highly likely that their quotas will be moved to other unaffected areas and that the season will be extended.  

• eNCA’s Ayesha Ismail reports.