Possible fishing in protected area
Plans to allow fishing within certain areas of the Tstsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) has moved one step forward when the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) published its draft regulations for rezoning of the area last week.
This after 20 years of discussions with Tsitsikamma anglers, who have been campaigning for the rezoning, and other roleplayers over the issue. The anglers requested fishing rights in the MPA citing cultural, historical and subsistence reasons.
In the draft regulations the department has identified four areas for this purpose, including a stretch of coastline near Witelsbos, one in the Sandrift area and two between Storms River and Coldstream.
In a statement, Minister Edna Molewa said the DEA, South African National Parks (SANParks), the Koukamma Municipality and other stakeholders had held various meetings with the Tsitsikamma Angling Forum to discuss the zonation of possible controlled areas within the MPA.
The engagement is to reassess the basis of marine resource use in the Tsitsikamma MPA section of Garden Route National Park. This is done in order to provide benefits for society and to ensure that such benefits are protected for future generations.
The trade-offs between the flow of benefits and the protection of the resources that provide benefits are complex and subject to continuous change as human needs evolve and as new knowledge accumulates. Government therefore has to be prepared to continuously reassess these trade-offs in consultation with its various partners,” Molewa said.
Should the green light be given, only the four areas will be “opened up” under a strict management plan which will be formulated by SANParks.
These regulations are set to include designated times for fishing, strict limits on the number of fish per angler and that only registered fisherman will be allowed to fish in the areas. Fishermen will also only be allowed to fish from the shore, using a rod and reel or handline. No fishing will be allowed from a vessel.
Only anglers living in communities between Covie and the Bloukrans River within eight kilometres North of the Tsitsikamma MPA and any community within the Koukamma Municipality would be able to register.
A detailed monitoring plan, which will include fixed underwater cameras, and process will also be implemented.
The public has 60 days from the date of publication (November 19) to comment on the regulations.
The deadline for submissions is at 16:00 on February 1 and can be posted to the deputy director-general: Environmental Affairs, Oceans and Coasts Xola Mkefe at PO Box 52126, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8002 or delivered by hand to the East Pier Building 2 on East Pier Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town or emailed to MPARegs@environment.gov.za.
The draft regulations can be accessed via www.environment.gov.za/legislation/actsregulations
For further enquiries Mkefe can be contacted on 021-819-2466