South Africa: Chokka Fishers Struggle to Survive in Lean Times

19 September 2017

The South African squid fishery is based on a single species, Loligo reynaudii, locally referred to as chokka and also known as squid, calamari or white gold. It is found around the Agulhas Bank and West Coast shelf. South Africa exports almost all of it to Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Spain which pay more. It is a R400-million-rand industry, and in terms of employment the third most important after deep-sea hake and small pelagic fishing.

The chokka industry has dwindled in recent years, partly due to over-fishing and climate change. Regulations have been implemented to try to save the chokka population around Port Elizabeth. The regulations implemented by the SA Squid Management Industrial Association (Sasmia) close down fishing for April, May and June instead of just for five weeks in October and November. This has left thousands of fishers with no source of income during this period.

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