Stilbaai Tidal Fish Traps

rdf:langString Stilbaai Tidal Fish Traps

rdf:langString The Stilbaai Tidal Fish Traps (also known as the Noordkapperpunt Stone-Walled Fish Traps) are ancient National Heritage intertidal stonewall fish traps (Afrikaans: visvywers) that occur in various spots on the Western Cape coast of South Africa from Gansbaai to Mosselbaai. Only a handful occur on the east coast. There are several concentrations of fish traps on the Hessequa coast between Gouritsmond, 30 km east of Stilbaai, and Witsand, 35 km to the southwest. The fish traps are located on the edge of the . In 2018, the Noordkapperpunt Stone-Walled Fish Traps were declared a National Heritage Site. These fish traps are constructed in such a way that they form pools of varying size in the intertidal zone. They operate on the principle that at high tide during new-moon (i.e. dark-moon) spring tides, fish swim over the walls to feed. As the water recedes with the turn of the tide, the fish get trapped in the enclosure. It is then an easy matter to remove the fish from the almost dry trap.