Question NW312 to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
05 August 2019 - NW312
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
Whether her department has set a deadline to remove the gear used for octopus fishing after imposing a temporary ban in False Bay; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) Whether all live fish and other animals caught in the gear will be released; (3) Whether her department has a map of where all the gear was placed in order to ensure that all traps are removed; if not, how will her department ensure that all the traps are removed in order to combat the illegal fishing of octopus in False Bay?
Reply:
(1) The Permit Holders were instructed on 28 June 2019 to remove all octopus fishing gear with immediate effect. The process of removal of the entire octopus fishing gear in the False Bay area was completed on 11 July 2019.
(2) Permit Holders were allowed to retain all their catch.
(3) The Department has all the GPS coordinates where all the octopus gear was deployed. The Department also works with the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO) to ensure that all the areas where their octopus gear is deployed, are recorded on the Navigational Chats in support of safe navigation. All the 46 lines and 987 pots that were deployed, have been removed and the removal was monitored by the Fisheries Compliance Officers at the Kalk Bay Fishing Harbour.
Regards
MS BARBARA CREECY, MP
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
DATE: 02/08/2019