Cape Town, South Africa, Hake

Strolling into Cape Town's fishing port you see all sorts of boats moored to the docks, small and large and in all colours, and all used for fishery. Along the docks are a wide variety of enterprises dedicated to processing the fish. Since many years, this is where flappingly fresh hake is brought ashore, caught far out on the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape fishermen know their stuff: they've been fishing the coastal waters off South Africa and Namibia for over a century. Using wide-mesh nets, their method allows undersized hake and other types of fish to escape. Since this is where the cold water current of the Atlantic Ocean meets the warmer current from the Indian Ocean, the waters abound with food sources for the fish.

The fishing industry is relatively large-scale here, yet no less sustainable than many small-scale fisheries that are MSC certified. In fact, this industry is an excellent example of how large amounts of fish can be caught within endangering the fish populations. Sustainable does not necessarily imply rare. Cape Town's hake fishery is the first MSC certified fishery on the African continent and is seen as an example by many who have chosen to embark on the certification process.

The hake caught by the Cape fishermen is of exceptional quality. The fish have a clear colour and the flesh is a wonderful white. The fish is extremely popular in Mediterranean countries where it is known as ‘merluza’, but it is steadily capturing other European markets as well. It offers infinite culinary possibilities, and it's an excellent substitute for fish types such as seawolf, cod and haddock.

Cape Town hake - Specifications

Type of fish

: Hake

Latin name

: Merluccius capensis

Working with Fishes

: Since 2008

MSC certified since

: April 2004

Fishing site

 

: The Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of South Africa
  and Namibia

Methods

: Trawl

Season

: All year round

Fishes products

: Fresh and frozen

Cape Town hake - Interview

By Bart van Olphen
In March 2009 I join Tom on a Cape Town fishing boat, out on the Atlantic Ocean.

Bart: “So how's the catch today?”
Tom: “Not too good, actually. The water is green today, while we catch most hake in blue water. The different colours relate to the two strong water currents from the Atlantic and Indian oceans, which meet here. Let's hope for a better day tomorrow.”

Bart: “What´s life on board like?”
Tom: “They take good care of us. All safety measures are in place and we get a great meal three times a day. For me, fishing is such a relief and a step in the right direction. Life on shore is hard, and there´s a lot of poverty. I am proud of the money I earn by fishing for hake. I am saving this money so that I can enrol for a study at the University of Cape Town in a few years´ time. And oh, not to forget: every month I get to take home 20 kilos of hake, for my family.”

Bart: “Do you feel it's important that your method of fishing is certified as sustainable?”
Tom:“To be honest, a few months ago I wasn't even aware that this is a special way of fishing. I think it's only normal that you don't catch more fish than is ecologically responsible. After all, if we catch too many fish this year, it means I won't have any income next year.”

Bart: “What's your favourite way of preparing hake?”
Tom: “On the BBQ, seasoned with strong herbs. And a nice cold beer to go with it!”