In the late 1700s whaling picked up strongly in SA waters. There were more than 40 ships collecting full loads of oil off the Cape. In the 1800s it was reported that whales were being hunted and caught off Dassen Island (just off Yzerfontein). When caught they were taken into Table Bay where they were processed.
Saldanha Bay became the first established whaling station on the West coast of SA . It was established at Donkergat inside the Langebaan lagoon. If you visit this area today you can still see the evidence of the old whalers which are lying rotting in the shallow waters next to the piers.
During the First World War whale oil was scarce and needed for the manufacture of explosives. This had the effect of spurring on the whale hunters. It also meant competition and other whaling factories were established on the coast of SA.
With the ending of the war and the depression of 1930 whale oil prices fell and so the factories closed down. Unfortunately a second world war came along and the factories were reopened and continued to operate until 1967 when whaling was stopped worldwide.
If one visits some of the coastal towns along the West Coast you can still see evidence of the old whaling stations. Yzerfontein is one of them. Most of the harbour area was once used for whaling and if you walk round to the west you can still see foundations of some of the buildings that were once used.
Today SA is once again making money out of whaling. Fortunately not from hunting them but from tourism a as people from all over the world flock to see the many whales that visit our coastline.