Question NW2437 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesQUESTION
02 October 2017 - NW2437
Cebekhulu, Inkosi RN to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesQUESTION
(1) Whether his department has the capability and capacity to counter the growing threat to marine resources by poaching networks; if not what is the position in this regard; (2) What (a) plans and/or strategies are in place to counter the growing threat of poaching networks and (b) steps has his department taken, working together with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environmental Affairs, to manage the threat?
Reply:
1. The Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries is part of Operation Phakisa Oceans Economy which is led by the Department of Environmental Affairs. In this Operation Phakisa initiative there are various LABS and one of them is Marine Protection Services and Ocean Governance whose main function entails the protection of the ocean environment from all illegal activities. Joint operations that are intended to deal with illegal activities within the Ocean Environment get conducted by all law enforcement agencies through this initiative.
2. The Department has capability to deal with poaching networks through its collaborations with the other law enforcement agencies utilising the Operation Phakisa Oceans Economy initiative.