WEDNESDAY,
29 APRIL 2009: The Master and First Officer
of two Korean-flagged vessels, the MFV Oryong
371 and the MFV Oryong 373, were each sentenced
a fine of R500, 000 or five years imprisonment,
after routine inspections by inspectors
from the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism revealed contravention of the
Marine Living Resources Act of 1998. The
vessels were guilty of contravening the
permit conditions for foreign vessels entering
the South African exclusive economic zone
(EEZ). Both vessels were discharging quantities
of fish other than what was stipulated in
their respective applications for an EEZ
permit as well as exceeding the limit as
set out in the application.
The MFV Oryong 371 discharged a total of
18,5 tons of fish although their application
states they only had 7.5 tons of fish on
board the vessel for discharge. A total
of 667 kg undeclared shark fins was also
confiscated. The MFV Oryong 371 was found
guilty of transhipping 18.1 tons of fish
illegally without a valid permit.
The MFV Oryong 373 discharged
a total of approximately 10 tons of fish.
In their application they declared a total
of 17.5 tons of fish on board the vessel
for discharge. Upon investigations DEAT
inspectors found that the fish species did
not match the species stated on the application
in addition to the lesser amount of fish
discharged. Approximately 10 tons of fish
had been transhipped illegally without a
valid permit. The MFV Oryong 373 discharged
a total of 389 kg of shark fin which exceeded
the 15% tolerance limit permitted by the
permit conditions. They also did not discharge
shark trunks.
Both vessels contravened
international fishing conservation measures,
as set out by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
(IOTC) and the International Commission
for the Conservations of Atlantic Tunas
(ICCAT) which prescribe that all shark trunk
should be kept on board the vessel up to
the point of landing, and that shark fin
shall not be discharged without the trunks.
In addition to the sentences
meted out, all the fish confiscated by the
department, was forfeited to the state.
In March this year,
a Taiwanese flagged fishing vessel the Chien
Jui No 102, paid a R1, 5m fine for contravening
permit conditions for foreign vessels entering
the South African exclusive economic zone.
The department is in
the process of providing all the details
of both vessels to the appropriate international
and regional fisheries organisations for
consideration for further sanctions.
Carol Moses
+ More
Five Alleged Poachers
in Court, Vehicle and Abalone Confiscated
After Whole Night Stake -Out
Media Statement
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
THURSDAY, 30 APRIL 2009:
Five suspects have appeared in the Hermanus
magistrates’ court yesterday, 29 April 2009,
for alleged poaching activities after a
whole night stake-out by inspectors from
the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism (DEAT) resulted in their arrest.
More than 500 units of shucked abalone,
a scale and a vehicle were confiscated at
a Gansbaai house during the early hours
on Wednesday (29 April 2009) morning.
On Tuesday night a DEAT
inspector noticed a white Ford Bantam bakkie
entering and exiting Gansbaai harbour several
times. The same vehicle was later observed
at a house in Gansbaai and later joined
by another vehicle dropping two suspects
who seemed to be posted to monitor any presence
of law enforcement officials and vehicles.
Following intense monitoring
of the vehicles which made several trips
to and from the house, it was later observed
that bags were offloaded from the bakkie
and taken into the house. At this point
the officials entered the house arrested
five people and confiscated a weighing scale,
abalone and the vehicle from which the abalone
was offloaded from. The abalone and scale
were found in the bathroom.
Two of the suspects
remain in custody whilst three have been
released on bail. The case has been postponed
until the 7 May 2009.
Another poacher was
arrested in separate incident at Franskraal,
near Gansbaai. A total of 151 shucked abalone
was confiscated.
Carol Moses
