Aunty Val: 26 Years Breaking Barriers in Cape Fishing

Val Arendse never planned to become a fisher, but when her husband inherited his father's fishing permit, she stepped in to help and discovered her calling.

For 26 years, Aunty Val has been one of the only women practicing trek netting on False Bay's coast. She's earned a reputation that transcends gender in an industry where men have dominated for generations.

Trek netting is ancient, dangerous work. Crews row small boats through crashing surf, circling out with nets anchored to shore, then hauling their catch back by hand. One mistimed wave can flip the boat and throw fishers into churning water with gear and thrashing fish.

But Val mastered more than just the mechanics. She developed an instinct for reading the water that even seasoned fishers respect.

"I can look at the color of the water, the way the swell moves, and I just know," she explains. When she tells her crew where to cast, they've learned to listen. Her husband Chris says he doesn't like going out without her on the beach.

Val came from corporate management in the clothing industry, where she already led teams of men. When that company closed, she joined fishing full time. Her father's words guided her: "There's no 'almost right' or 'almost wrong.' It's right or wrong."

That clarity helped her navigate a male-dominated world. The crews respect her authority and skill. "They're scared of doing wrong around me," she says with a laugh.

Why This Inspires

Val's story isn't just about breaking gender barriers. It's about trusting your instincts and earning respect through competence and character. She didn't demand a place at the table; she proved she belonged there through 26 years of reading water, braving waves, and making the tough calls.

In an industry facing challenges from declining fish populations to permit struggles, Val represents something timeless: the human capacity to adapt, persist, and thrive in unexpected places. She took skills from one world and applied them to another, building a legacy that younger fishers will remember.

Now everyone on the False Bay coast knows Aunty Val. She's not just a woman in fishing; she's a fisher who happens to inspire everyone watching.