MONDAY,
23 OCTOBER 2006: The Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism will convene a 2 -day workshop
to reflect on the outcomes and challenges of the
2004 People and Parks workshop, which assessed
the of role protected areas (land under conservation)
in local economic development and poverty alleviation.
The workshop will be held in Beaufort West, in
the Western Cape from 30 – 31 October 2006.
The 2 day workshop will address
issues of cooperative governance in addressing
land claims in a protected area, support from
government post the settlement of land claims,
local Government linkages and capacity building
initiatives for communities affected by park activities.
Government has implemented environmental
legislation to mainstream biodiversity management
as part of the sustainable development agenda
and this includes promoting the sustainable use
of benefits.
In attendance will be the Deputy
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
Rejoice Mabudafhasi, National Government departments,
Provincial government, Conservation Agencies and
Representatives of communities affected by park
activities.
Mava Scott
Government Confiscated Abalone
and Made 24 Arrests
MONDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2006: This morning officials
from the Departmental of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism (DEAT) together with the Hermanus
Dog Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS)
confiscated 29 bags of abalone containing 3 800
abalone at Meerensee near Hawston. Four suspects
were arrested. They are due to appear in court
tomorrow.
Several other confiscations
and arrests were made over the weekend.
Officials from the Department
and the SAPS have clamped down on a farm in Steinkopf
on the West Coast over the weekend and confiscated
20 600 units of abalone, more than half of which
was dried. Four vehicles, a caravan and various
drying equipment were confiscated and 11 suspects
were arrested, one of whom is a Chinese national.
All are expected to appear in the Springbok magistrate’s
court today, Monday 23 October 2006.
In two separate incidents in
the Overberg area officials seized 10 000 units
of abalone in Buffelsjag and also arrested two
suspects in a house in Gansbaai where they confiscated
780 units of abalone and a freezer after a tip
off was received from members of the community.
During the same time in another
incident, members from the South African Police
Service confiscated 5 600 units of abalone, a
vehicle and arrested 7 suspects in Napier near
Bredasdorp.
All suspects are due to appear
in court today.
“With increasing tip-offs and
cooperation with members of communities it becomes
clear that communities are becoming impatient
with poachers and others who illegally exploit
our marine resources. Poachers are warned that
no matter where they are engaging with these illegal
activities, they will be exposed,” said Blessing
Manale, Acting Chief Director Communications of
the Department.
Blessing Manale
WEST COAST ROCK LOBSTER SEASON
AND TAC ANNOUNCED
24 October 2006 - The Minister
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus
van Schalkwyk, has announced the new recreational
season for west coast rock lobster and has set
the global total allowable catch (TAC) for the
2006/2007 west coast rock lobster season at 2
857 tonnes.
The Minister also gave approval
for the small portion of TAC that could not be
landed by the Offshore and Nearshore Sectors in
2005/2006, to be transferred to the 2006/2007
season.
The commercial fishing season
for Zone A (Nearshore) has opened already. The
season for all other nearshore and commercial
fishing will open on 15 November 2006.
The new season for recreational
fishing of west coast rock lobster will open on
15 November 2006 and will close on 30 April 2007.
From 15 November 2006 to 31 January 2007 fishing
will be allowed every day of the week, but from
1 February 2006 to 1 February 2007 fishing will
be restricted to weekends and public holidays
only.
The bag limit is four (4) lobsters
per person per day and the size restriction is
80 mm carapace length. Fishing time for West Coast
rock lobster will be from 8:00 till 16:00 for
all periods. Rock lobster should be landed by
16:00.
No person catching west coast
rock lobster with a recreational west coast rock
lobster permit may sell it. Any west coast rock
lobster caught, collected or transported must
be kept in a whole state.
A maximum of 20 rock lobsters
may be transported per day, on condition that
all the persons who caught the rock lobster are
present during transportation, and that they are
in possession of recreational rock lobster permits.
West coast rock lobster permits
will only be sold to persons above the age of
12 years and is available from any Post Office.
Issued by Blessing Manale
