Sarah
Baartman Off-Shore Environmental Protection
Vessel Returns To South Africa After Successful
Transboundary Fisheries Patrol
Media Statement - Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism - THURSDAY,
26 MARCH 2009:Inspectors from Tanzania,
Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa joined
forces in arresting six vessels and inspecting
more than 40 vessels
South Africa’s off-shore
environmental protection vessel, the Sarah
Baartman, returned today, Thursday 26 March
2009, after completing a four-nation transboundary
fisheries patrol in South African, Tanzanian,
Mozambican and Kenyan waters. The joint
patrol, which is also the first ever multilateral
patrol involving four countries at the same
time, was aimed at improving and strengthening
fisheries surveillance and law enforcement
activities within the Southern African Developing
Community (SADC) region and along the African
coastline, as well as increasing co-operation
between fisheries surveillance organizations
of the SADC countries, which is underpinned
by the SADC Protocol on Fisheries.
The eleven Fisheries
Inspectors on board the Sarah Baartman,
including two inspectors each from Mozambique,
Tanzania and Kenya, arrested 6 vessels and
inspected a total of 41 fishing vessels
over a 31 day period during which the Sarah
Baartman has steamed more than 7200 nautical
miles. This represents a total of 13462
kilometres, or a distance from Cape Town
to Helsinki in Finland and a further 3500
km beyond Helsinki.
Two South African hake
handline vessels were arrested approximately
30 nautical miles off Mossel Bay coast for
inadequate and lack of required documentation
on board the vessels. Inspections involve
examining fishing gear, catches, log books,
licenses and permits of fishing vessels.
In Mozambique another
hake handline vessel was arrested for a
lack of required documentation. A prawn
fishing vessel was arrested for illegally
fishing in a restricted zone, following
high levels of hostility and resistance
from the master and crew of the vessel.
Inspectors from the Sarah Baartman forcefully
boarded the vessel and took control thereof.
Mozambican inspectors arrested the vessel
and escorted the vessel to the Port of Angoche
in Mozambique.
In Tanzania, Inspectors
observed a fishing vessel without a flag
with its radar turned off, making it difficult
for effective electronic surveillance. Upon
being approached by the Sarah Baartman,
the vessel increased speed and refused to
heed calls to slow down and stop to allow
inspectors on-board the vessel. Inspectors
on the Sarah Baartman then launched a rubber
duck, mounting a deliberate and faster approach.
The vessel subsequently slowed down allowing
the inspectors to board the vessel and carry
out an inspection. More than 290 tons of
blue fin tuna was found onboard the vessel
without any legitimate fishing permit or
license. The vessel and crew were arrested
and all fish was confiscated by the Tanzanian
authorities.
This incident drew widespread
national recognition from Tanzanians for
the inspectors and crew on-board the Sarah
Baartman, resulting in special accolades
being bestowed on the team by the Tanzanian
Minister for Livestock and Fishing Development,
Mr John Magufuli. One accolade was a special
honour for the only female inspector, Nwabisa
Lutshete, and another was the Messiah Warrior
honour which was bestowed on the operational
commander, Keith Govender. Both inspectors
are from South Africa. The other inspectors
are Andile Moshani (South Africa), Dirk
Lourens (South Africa), Heinrich Ruppersberg
(South Africa), William Cuna (Mozambique),
Jose Ceasar Maphosa (Mozambique), Haji Shomari
Haji (Tanzania), Ernest Bupampa (Tanzania),
Maxine Yalo (Kenya) and Phillip Agwanda
(Kenya).
The team inspectors
were also invited by the President of Tanzania,
President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete who paid
tribute to the work the inspectors have
done in fighting illegal fishing in Tanzanian
waters.
On route back to South Africa, off the coast
from Durban, a Spanish foreign fishing vessel
was arrested and fined R300 000 for being
without a valid permit in South African
waters.
The vessel is detained and will be released
upon payment of the fine.
In addition to the inspections
and arrests, a vigorous training programme
was also rolled out which included technical,
operational and legal training.
The outcomes of the
fisheries patrol signals the success of
transboundary collaborations in providing
a coordinated and united front against illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing.
Carol Moses
+ More
Publication of Draft
Alien and Invasive Species Regulations and
Draft Lists of Categories of Exempted Species,
Prohibited Alien Species and Invasive Species
03 April 2009 - Media
Statement - Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism - FRIDAY, 03 APRIL 2009:
On 03 April 2009, the Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk,
published the 2nd draft of Alien and Invasive
Species Regulations under section 97 and
98 of the National Environmental Management:
Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No.10 of 2004)
as well as draft lists of categories of
species exempted in terms of section 66,
prohibited alien species under section 67
and invasive species under section 70 for
public comment in Gazette No. 32090.
The regulations have
been developed to address the management
and control of alien and invasive species.
Alien and invasive species spread out of
control because they originate from other
countries and therefore do not have natural
enemies in South Africa, or are translocated
between provinces, without risk assessments
done prior to the introduction in the new
environment. They may therefore pose a threat
to biodiversity through for example hybridisation.
The lack of management, prevention and continued
encroachment by alien and invasive species
poses a serious threat to indigenous species
and biodiversity in general.
The first draft of the
AIS regulations was published in September
2007 for public comment. Following the incorporation
of the comments received by the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)
and completion of the document by an appointed
Task Team, it was recommended that the AIS
draft regulations be re-published for public
comment. The recommendation was made due
to the resulting draft being substantially
different from the previous one. Amongst
others it included the categorisation of
species. This recommendation was approved
by MINMEC. The department will within 12
months publish maps for fish and mammal
distribution as an Annexure to supplement
and facilitate the implementation of the
regulations where management by area is
critical.
With regard to the implementation
of the regulations, the department will
work in close cooperation with the National
Departments of Water Affairs and Forestry
(DWAF), Agriculture (DOA), the provincial
departments responsible for nature conservation,
the local municipalities, the industry and
communities as the implementation requires
immense capacity and has cross-cutting responsibilities.
The department is currently working on a
national AIS implementation strategy in
order to achieve a well-coordinated and
cost-effective national implementation effort.
Any person who wishes
to submit written representations and/or
objections to the proposed regulations is
invited to do so within 30 days of the publication
of the notice in Gazette No. 32090. For
a copy of the draft lists and the draft
regulations visit www.environment.gov.za
All representations
and comments must be submitted in writing
to the Director-General of the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
