The South African Carp Society is a member based organisation with the sole focus of promoting the sport of catch and release carp angling in Southern Africa.

The SA Carp Society strives to:

• Encourage ALL anglers to take positive and pro-active action to protect our sport.
• To unite all carp angling groups, to maximise our collective political voice.
• Defend all the angling rights and interests of our members.
• Represent all our members at national level within the angling governing bodies, other major bodies and organisations, in particular with regard to environmental and political matters of concern to carp angling.
• Secure funding to further the cause of carp angling and the environment.
• Campaign on behalf of members for a cleaner aquatic environment. This includes the support of those organisations already active in these areas such as Eco Care Trust.
• Challenge and Resist threats to carp angling and the environment.
• To play an active role in formulating any legislation which impacts on carp angling and its environment.
• Promote the universal adoption of a responsible Code of Conduct for carp anglers.
• Develop ongoing dialogue with other established conservation groups and build a closer relationship between all carp anglers and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT).
• Increase contact with various bodies to foster mutual understanding and co-operation. These bodies include, but are not limited to DEAT, SABA, SABO, etc.
• Combat anti-carp angling propaganda.
• To collect and record factual information on notable fish captures through a voluntary reporting scheme.
• To continue to provide a unified body for the benefit of all the members of the South African Carp Society.
• To source / establish private carp fishing venues for our members.

Background

Carp fishing in South Africa is facing a lot of challenges and, if we want to ensure its future in South Africa, we need to stand together. If we want to make a difference we have to address each challenge in numbers. That is one lesson we have learnt in the last two years.

Let's take the bow fishing issue for example:

When I published an article on Bow Fishing on OutdoorPAGES I was heavily criticised by local bow hunting forums. I was even contacted by local magazine publishers. I was told that I am biased and that I am only in it for my own financial gain, for sensation, and the list goes on and on.

Bow hunters have two organisations fighting their cause, SABA and SABO. Who is Andrι Dicks or OutdoorPAGES for that matter? Why would they listen? That is why people are looking for other reasons and they do not really trust our intentions.

During this entire saga, I realised that carp fishermen in South Africa must unite. We can only fight against one organisation with another organisation. And so, two years ago, I realised that we need numbers to address most issues in Carp angling. If they want numbers, we will give them numbers and show them that we mean business and demand respect.

But still, I found the idea of establishing a Carp Society very challenging. We needed financial assistance, access to the media and various other platforms. And most of all we needed the support from the anglers.

In May of 2008 I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with Mitch Smith who, at that stage, was the captain of the England carp fishing team. I informally discussed various issues with him, including the pollution, bow fishing and commercial netting challenges we face. Mitch took it all in and nonchalantly replied:, "Andrι, all you have to do is to take a shovel, dig a hole and put carp in it. That will be the future of carp fishing in South Africa". And, WHAM! the SA Carp Society was born. Thank you Mitch.

Two years of conceptualization and planning made everything fall into place. Suddenly everything made sense. OutdoorPAGES will at first fund all our endeavours and give us access to the anglers we need to support the Society. Through the alliances we have in OutdoorPAGES we can address most of the challenges we are facing. We immediately have access to a leading fishing web site to promote the cause and also a design / production / Internet company. The OutdoorPAGES Going for Gold brand will be incorporated into the SA Carp Society, which means immediate exposure.

Why OutdoorPAGES?

The media plays an important part in the success of the SA Carp Society. The SA Carp Society needs TV, multimedia and print media to effectively spread the word. OutdoorPAGES currently offers excellent advertising opportunities and a wellknown platform at NO charge to the SA Carp Society. OutdoorPAGES also share exactly the same values with regards to carp fishing in South Africa. OutdoorPAGES is one of the leading companies who pioneered Carp Fishing European Style in association with Gilbert Foxcroft and others.

Since my discussion with Mitch and with support from OutdoorPAGES, everything quickly fell into place and the SA Carp Society was officially launched on the 1st of October 2008.

NOTE:

The bow fishing issue mentioned above is just one example. Other issues where we were actively involved include:

• Gillnetting / poaching stings at Hartebeespoort Dam and Roodekopjes Dam with Eco Care Trust and the South African Police Services (SAPS) since 2003.

• Pollution in the Vaal River and more specifically the town of Bloemhof where we gathered incriminating footage on the subject. Anglers were made aware of these issues through magazines and the Going For Gold DVD series.
  Pollution in the Donaldson Dam where again footage were shown in the Going For Gold DVD series and parts were used on the Special Assignment TV show.
  Over the years various other incidents of pollution were reported to various newspapers, magazines and TV shows.

• Sourcing information and photos of the crocodile kill at Arabie Dam. Issuing of rewards and investigating the reports of wounded crocodiles at Roodekopjes Dam.
  Bow Fishing activities at the Roodeplaat Dam were reported to us. The culprits were exposed and the issues were addressed on the same day.
  
  See Environmetal for more...

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