Fogging, nudibrancs & local fish traps

Tiny spider catching a bee

Communications team processing photos & press releases

Since the rainy reason hasn't set in yet, the butterfly varieties are very low.

From the early hours of the morning the camp was bustling with activity as the different teams went out to do sampling at our last day in the Kosi Bay area. 

The insect experts set out to collect samples from the tree canopies. The method used to do the collecting is called ‘fogging’, using a synthetic parathyroid which breaks down very quickly in sunlight. All the insects affected by the ‘fog’ falls down to the ground where they are collected. Only one tree was sampled this way, as that gives a good indication of life in the tree canopies.

'Fogging' in process

Christian enjoying the 'fogging' process

Prof Holm collecting the samples after the 'fogging'

The fish experts ‘catch of the day’ is a rare, shy dark sleeper fish. This was caught using fyke nets. The fish’s main diet is prawns. Prof Hermann van der Bank said that it is the first time in 30 years that he caught this fish. Very little is known about them, and they have never been barcoded.

Sleeper Fish

This morning was neap tide with the water receding to the lowest levels in the month, revealing treasures otherwise hidden most of the month. We found some very beautiful nudibrancs whilst exploring. All the locals made use of the ideal conditions to collect red bait. 

Very beautiful nudibrancs 

Another beautiful nudibranc

When driving down to Kosi Bay mouth, one immediately notices the local fish traps. According to information gathered, there are roughly 300 of these traps, handed down through the generation to each family. Each trap, according to law, has to be a certain distance away from each other to avoid over fishing. It is also not allowed in the main channel of the river. These traps are designed for selective fishing so that only the large fish are caught thus making it a sustainable fishing practice to the area. The local fishing market was also visited, where records size Mozambique Tilapia was spotted.

Local fishing traps

The botanist ventured through the different types of vegetation in the area; sandy open grasslands with lots of bulbs, very dense humid forests with large trees and epiphytic ferns, swamps around the lake with adjacent grasslands with beautiful orchids.

'the bos-boytjies' botanist team

Tomorrow morning the camp will pack early, eager to explore the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park.