I have always got conflicting reports about whether or not it is legal to shoot those "tropical parrots" - those colourful, good tasting parrots that tear off easily. Does anyone know if we are allowed to shoot them. In the last two weeks two divers have told me two different stories. about 15 yrs ago there was no problem and they are very tasty.

Hi Zoobie,

Shooting proper parrotfish (not knifejaws) is 100% legal EXCEPT in the Aliwal Shoal MPA (and obviously the Maputuland MPA).

Feel free to shoot these fish. Prior to spearfishing falling under MCM (ie the bad old Natal Parks Board days), they were not permitted - and the minimum size for a legal fish was 2kg!

The only fish which are promibited are those specifically listed by MCM (including potato bass-tards, natal wrasse, brindles etc).

Cheers

there is a lot of parrots up here in the bay, and I think you can often hear them clicking before you see them, the old ballies say they lakka to eat, I saw on one of the aus spearing dvd they reckon they nice to chow,