Questions and Replies
09 June 2023 - NW1956
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
What collaborative efforts has she initiated in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Development to assist small-scale fisher along the coastal line, especially in the vicinity of small harbours, who rely on their daily catches to feed their families?
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26 May 2023 - NW1664
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What (a) area the reason that she agree to withdraw the revised Regulations pertaining to Threatened or Protect Terrestrial and Freshwater Species and the Associated Spies List, (b) settlement was reached between her department and game breeders and/or hunters and (c)(i) total costs were her department made to pay and (ii) were the reason for this?
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11 April 2023 - NW1069
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
Where are her department’s air quality monitoring stations located in the (i) eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and (ii) Msunduzi Local Municipality, (b) under whose jurisdiction do the air quality monitoring stations fall, (c) where is the data from the air quality monitoring stations (i) accessible and (ii) published in each case?
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24 March 2023 - NW774
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) In light of the recent response to allegations of sewage outfalls in Cape Town, (a) what number of marine sewage outfalls are in the Republic? (b) where are the specified outfalls located? (2) whether all the outfalls are licensed and in the permitted regulations of the Coastal Waters Discharge Permit; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details: (3) what is the total volume of sewage licensed to be discharged into the ocean?
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24 March 2023 - NW786
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
On what basis did her department expressly support the recent export of live cheetah to India in the absence of an annual Non-Detriment Finding?
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24 March 2023 - NW819
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Considering that the Small-scale Fisheries Policy (SSFP) stipulates that small-scale fishing rights is the right to catch different species of fish near the shore and such rights are allocated to communities and not to individuals, and noting that the SSFP also states that fishing communities must apply to her to be recognised as small-scale fishing communities and once membership is verified, then the Government will assist to register them as community-based legal entities, how is her department (a) accommodating subsistence fishers who do not form part of a fishing community, other than issuing recreational licensing and (b) assisting members of the communities to acquire the necessary skills to (i) run legal entities and (ii) serve on co-management structures?
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24 March 2023 - NW817
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Considering that over the past eight months various public beaches in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been closed due to sewerage spills causing high levels of Escherichia coli (E. Coli) in the water, and in view of the fact that, during the December and January festive season eight beaches were closed in the Western Cape (details furnished), how is her department working with municipalities in the affected areas to ensure that public beaches (a) meet and (b) maintain the required E. Coli levels?
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03 March 2023 - NW359
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What are the relevant details of programmes that are implemented by her department to (a) deal with global warming and (b0 reduce greenhouse gas emissions other than those for transitioning from fossil fuels?
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03 March 2023 - NW358
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether she has put a policy in place for all government departments, especially the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and of Transport to use climate resilient construction techniques to mitigate the impact that sporadic floods could have on infrastructure; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
03 March 2023 - NW357
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What contingency plans are in place to mitigate the impact of the rising sea levels on the coastal towns and cities along the coast of the Republic?
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03 March 2023 - NW288
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether, given the rapidly deteriorating state of small-scale farming situated along the Umfolozi River due to low-level flooding, resulting in a loss of income and employment at an accelerating rate, flooded land now reported to cover some 2 500 hectares, an increase of 1 000 hectares since last year, any immediate intervention are being taken to prevent not only an environmental disaster, but also a soci-economic disaster to the residents in the impacted areas; if not, why not; if so, what are the full, relevant details?
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03 March 2023 - NW285
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether, given the current dire situation in the flooded farmlands located near the Umfolozi River, as well as the growing soci-economic crisis faced by small-scale farmers negatively impacted by the low-level flooding, her department has considered purchasing the farms and incorporating such farms into the iSimangaliso Wetland Park area; if not, why not; if so, what are the full, relevant details?
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03 March 2023 - NW240
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) In light of the fact that the (a) United States (US) Treasury Department and (b) National Treasury recently agreed to form a task force to step up efforts to halt illegal trade in wildlife, with China allegedly identified as the popular destination of the illegal trade, what steps will she take to assist the US Treasury Department and the National Treasury in their efforts to curb the alleged Chinese illegal trade in wildlife; (2) whether her department is working with the SA Police Service and Interpol to identify the alleged Chinese smuggling syndicates involved; if not, why not; if not, what success has been achieved; (3) which (a) species are deemed to be most at risk from illegal trafficking and (b) provinces are the animals mainly being trafficked from?
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03 March 2023 - NW239
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment:
(1) According to the 2020 report in the status of SA Marine Fishery Resources, the commercial fish stocks of the Republic have increased since 2012, (a) on what date was the most recent scientific analysis of the commercial fish stocks of the Republic conducted, (b) which entity conducted the research and (c) which marine vessel was used to conduct the research; (2) how will her department use the analysis of fish stocks to inform the curtailment of fishing rights allocations, especially taking into consideration the economic challenges faced by the unsuccessful applicants of the Fishing Rights Allocation Process; (3) on what date will the next comprehensive analysis of fish stocks be conducted?
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03 March 2023 - NW220
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) With reference to reports in the media regarding speeding and fatal accidents involving animals in Kruger National Park (KNP), (a) how is speeding controlled within the KNP and (b) what steps have been taken to reduce the incidents of speeding; (2) what total number of incidents of speeding were recorded in the Park (a)(i) in the 2020-21 and (ii) 2021-22 reporting years and (b) since 1 April 2022 until February 2023; (3) what total number of incidents of speeding involved KNP (a) employees and (b) contractors (aa)(i) in the 2020-21 and (ii) 2021-22 reporting years and (bb) since 1 April 2022 until February 2023?
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03 March 2023 - NW195
Chetty, Mr M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What are the details of the (a) destination and (b) total costs for (i) accommodation, (ii) travel and (iii) any other costs incurred for international travel of each (aa) Minister and (bb0 Deputy Minister of her department since 1 June 2019; (2) what is the total cost incurred for domestic air travel for each (a) Minister and (b) Deputy Minister of her department since 1 June 2019?
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24 February 2023 - NW85
Chetty, Mr M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What are the details of the (a) make, (b) model, (c) year of manufacture, (d) cost and (e) purchase date o fall the official vehicles purchased for (i) her, (ii) the former Minister, (iii) the Deputy Minister and the (iv) former Deputy Minister of her department since 1 June 2019?
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24 February 2023 - NW165
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
In view of the 2021-22 Fishing Rights Allocation Process that seems fraught with errors, what (a) number of appeals were lodges against the outcome and (b) are the further relevant details ?
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24 February 2023 - NW23
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether, with reference to her recent trip to Antarctic, there is any collaboration between the South African Antarctic teams, scientists and those involved in Russian expeditions to Antarctica; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so; what is the extent to the collaboration and/or support; (2) whether her trip included discussions regarding the ongoing seabed prospecting by Russia, including extensive seismic blasting along the east of Antarctica; if not; why not, what are the relevant details ; (3) whether the refueling and servicing of Russian Antarctic-bound vessels by the Republic will be reconsidered, taking into account the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine; if not, why not; if so; what are the relevant details
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24 February 2023 - NW22
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1). Whether, following recent reported incidents of conflict between wild seals and humans at South African beaches, her department has identified any verifiable evidence, locally or internationally, linking high levels of domoic acid or any other toxins present in water along the South African coastline with unproved aggression in fur seals; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what total number of unproved aggression from seals towards humans is her department aware of over the past 10 years; (3) whether there has been any identifiable increase in incidents of aggression from seals towards human in the past 10 years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether it is deemed necessary for her department to conduct any further assessment of seal behavior; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what date(s) and (b) where will the assessment be conducted?
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24 February 2023 - NW164
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What measures have been offered as relief to the small-scale fishermen in the Western Cape who were prejudice due to the outcome of the small-scale allocation process being overturned by the Cape High Court
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24 February 2023 - NW24
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1). With reference to her reply to question 3509 on 14 October 2022, what (a) steps will she be taking to protect threatened baboon sub-populations in KwaZulu-Natal from extinction and (b) has she found to be prevailing circumstances that let to the impending extinction of baboon sub-population in KwaZulu-Natal; (2) whether she intends ti raise the impending extinction of baboon sub-populations with the relevant Minister of Executive Council in KwaZulu-Natal; if not, why not; if so; on what date; (3) On what date is it envisaged that the SA National Parks will publish its Draft Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan ?
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24 February 2023 - NW38
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What (a) is the visitor statistics for (i) day visitors and (ii) more than one day visitors in each month at the Tsitsikamma National Park for the past three financial years and since 1 April 2022, (b0 amount was (i) generated in each month, (ii) budgeted for maintenance and repairs and (iii) spent in each month and (c) are the details of the expenditure in each month?
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09 December 2022 - NW4510
Kruger, Mr HC to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What steps has she and her department taken to protect the wetlands in the Wakkerstroom area against illegal mining activities?
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09 December 2022 - NW4596
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) With reference to Chapter 4 of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, Act 24 of 2008, what (a) measures has her department taken to identify estuaries and (b) are the qualifying identification criteria that are used in each province ; (2) whether Estuary Management Plans (EMP) have been established for all the estuaries in each province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) (a) what are the minimum requirements included in the EMP, (b) how does her department monitor compliance with the EMPs in each province and (c) what punitive measures have been taken against offending parties who have contravened EMPs in each province (i) in (aa) 2018, (bb) 2019 and (cc) 2020 and (ii) since 1 January 2021?
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09 December 2022 - NW4559
Hlonyana, Ms NKF to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Why has the drive to remove alien plants not been replaced with as afforestation drive in all the areas along the Mont-Aux-Source foothills?
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09 December 2022 - NW4521
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) (a) What number of meetings have been held by the Mintech Working Group, which is chaired by the SA National Biodiversity Institute, (b) (i) on what date and (ii) where was each meeting held and (c) on what date will the next meeting be convened, (2) what (a) is the core mandate of the Mintech Working Group and (b) are the intended outcomes (3) what were the potential stumbling blocks that were identified for the smooth functioning of the work group?
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09 December 2022 - NW4504
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether, after almost six years, her department has any plan to ensure that all 90 students who received the bursary to study towards the Environmental Science Technician NQF Level 6 course will have the opportunity to complete their studies; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is the plan and (b) is there an adequate budget. (2) What is the envisaged date that her department will ensure that all specified students will complete the specified course?
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21 November 2022 - NW4037
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment:
(1) With reference to her reply to question 2424 on 26 November 2021, wherein she stated that she \and her department, with support from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, had conducted a thorough investigation and had determined that the export referred to in the specified question were legal, and in light of the primarily commercial nature of the specified exports, as defined in the CITES Regulations and the CITES prohibition on export of Appendix I animal species for primary commercial purpose, (a) how has she found were the exports permissible under South African law and CITES regulations and (b) will she furnish Mr D W Bryant with relevant correspondence between her department and the CITES Secretariat;
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21 November 2022 - NW4039
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Considering that the organised land invasions at the forestry plantations in Grabouw and the inability of her department to prevent this from taking place, has led to the sites no longer being viable for forestry activities and her department having to hand them back to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, what is the closet estimate of both the (a) direct and (b) indirect jobs that have been lost as a result of the organised land invasions at the specified sites; (2) whether there are any similar sites in the Grabouw area where her department will be able to replicate the same scale of production and economic opportunity that has been lost on the invaded sites; if not, what is the position in this regard; what are the relevant details; (3) whether her department will provide all relevant information and evidence in their possession to the SA Police Service in terms of their new investigation into organisers of the land invasions as per case 1/09/2022 registered at the Grabouw Police Station; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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18 November 2022 - NW4106
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What contingency plans have been put in place to keep the mouth of St Lucia open?
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18 November 2022 - NW4038
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Following the commitment by a certain person (name furnished) to the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment that the 87 vacant posts in the Kruger National Park will be filled by the end of the 2023 financial year, (a) what total number of posts have been advertised, (b) on what dates were they advertised and (c) what total number of the specified posts have been filled at the end of October 2022; (2) by what date she envisage the relevant rangers will be trained and deployed; (3) (a) what total number of vacant posts remain for fence monitors and (b) by what date does she envisage the specified vacancies will be filled?
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18 November 2022 - NW4104
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What total number of persons from the surrounding communities are currently employed at SANParks through the Expanded Public Works Programme?
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04 November 2022 - NW3755
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment:
Whether User Acceptance Testing was done on the online application system that was developed for ther Fishing Rights Allocation Process; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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04 November 2022 - NW3807
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What structures, buildings and memorials were erected and/or constructed in the Kruger National Park in the past 12 months; (2) what processes were followed by her department (a) on its own and (b) in conjunction with other departments to consult stakeholders, including local traditional leaders, prior to the erection of the aforementioned structures, buildings and memorials; (3) whether objections were received in respect of any of the specified structures, buildings and memorials; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how were the objections responded to?
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04 November 2022 - NW3802
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What places, structures, memorials and sites in the Kruger National Park have been renamed in the past 12 months; (2) what processes were followed by her department and/or in conjunction with other departments to consult stakeholders, including local traditional leaders, prior to the naming and renaming of the specified places, structures, memorials and sites; (3) whether there were any objections received to any of the specified decisions; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how were the objections responded to?
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04 November 2022 - NW3756
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What was the total cost of the Online Application System for the Fishing Rights Allocation Process?
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04 November 2022 - NW3754
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What total number of appeals followed the completion of the Fishing Rights Allocation Process?
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23 September 2022 - NW3072
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
In light of how deep sea mining interferences with the carbon storage and climate regulation funanction, what is the policy position of her department on deep-seabed mining ?
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23 September 2022 - NW3073
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Given that a cast number of marine protected areas (MPAs) are vital fishing areas for indigenous and traditional fishing communities, what (a0 procedures are followed in order to consult with communities as part of the process of declaring and area an MPA and (b) criteria are used to determine if an area should be protected?
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23 September 2022 - NW3050
Sonti, Ms NP to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What proactive measures have been taken to prevent imminent damage as a result of above-normal rainfall during the months of spring in the (a) Eastern Cape and (b) Western Cape, with particular focus on townships and/or informal settlements?
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08 September 2022 - NW2570
Van Minnen, Ms BM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment:
(1) What steps is her department taking to combat the Shot Hole Borer beetle in the Republic ? (2) what (a) insecurities and (b) sprays are allowed to be legally applied to (i) plantations and (ii) domestic trees given that many current sprays are only licensed for certain plantation species and not for all trees; (3) (a) how long will it take to amend current legislation to allow sprays to be licensed for all trees and (b) what steps are taken to expedite the process?
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08 September 2022 - NW2667
Marais, Mr EJ to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) On what date did she last attend a meeting outside the structures of the Government to determine the deployment of personnel in public sector positions; (2) whether any appointment tp public sector positions were discussed and determined during her appearance at any forum that is private and external to the structures of the Government; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) are the details on which appointments were discussed and (b) other government matters were discussed during her last meeting at any such forum ?
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08 September 2022 - NW2585
Lees, Mr RA to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What are the details of any steps that have been and/or will be taken to ensure that the high number of disposable nappies, including the hundreds of thousands of nappies issued free to indigent person, are disposed of without polluting the environment, in particular in the rural areas, where there is no formal refuse removal service and where the used disposable nappies are thrown into the veld dams, water courses and/or rivers; (2) what are the details of any steps that have been taken and/or will be taken to ensure that general refuse is not dumped indiscriminatingly (a) in places such as streets, roads and urban public areas and (b) in rural areas where there are no municipal refuse removal services?
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08 September 2022 - NW2578
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether, in light of the number of buildings that were previously used as fishing facilities in the Hout Bay harbour which have fallen derelict over the past few years posing a health and safety risk to local residents and business owners, there has been a decrease in the fishing productivity in the Hout Bay area over the past five years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps are being taken to support the local fishing industry; (2) who is currently (a) contracted as a security provider for the derelict sites and (b) paying the contractor between her department and/or the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure; (3) whether she has recently met with her ministerial counterpart in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to discuss the future of the harbour; if not, why not; if so , what are the relevant details?
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08 September 2022 - NW2577
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether her department will construct additional launch areas for local small-scale fisheries who are facing serious challenges when launching boats into the ocean due to limited launch areas in Port Nolloth, Northern Cape, and have to travel long distance to find suitable launch sites and that is increasing their costs and impacting their catch; if not, why not; if so, where will the launch areas be located; (2) (a) what number of available launch sites currently exist for small-scale fisheries in the Northern Cape and (b) where are the sites located; (3) whether her department will investigate other options such as using launch sites located in privately managed areas such as the Alexcor sites in Alexander Bay; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details?
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08 September 2022 - NW2576
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether she will furnish Mr D W Bryant with the details in terms of the (a) number, (b) make, (c) age and (d) displacement of each marine protection and/or anti-poaching vessel that is in the service of her department and/or other relevant departments in order to face the significant challenges relating tto poaching syndicates in coastal marine areas; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) what (a) are the details of the seaworthiness status of each vessel, (b) was the annual expenditure for all such vessels in the (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21 and (iii) 2021-22 financial years and (c) is the budget allocated for the 2022-23 financial year?
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08 September 2022 - NW2527
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Given that wetlands have been identifies as playing a crucial role in climate change mitigation adaptation and biodiversity, what are the full, relevant details of the steps that have been taken by her department to ensure that wetlands in the Republic are adequately protected, sustainably managed and restored where necessary ?
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24 June 2022 - NW2265
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether, following the meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Forestry and Fisheries and the Environment held on 19 April 2022, minimum norms and standards for welfare are only being developed for the five species in the report of the High-Level Panel that was appointed to review policies, regulatory measures, practices and policy positions that are related to hunting , trade, captive keeping, management and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rihinoceros; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what norms and standards will apply for other animals; (2) by what date is it envisaged the norms and standards will be published for public participation; (3) (a) by what date is it envisaged the establishment of the Welfare Forum will be completed and (b) what is the role of the Welfare Forum, given that it is separate from the Wildlife Forum?
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24 June 2022 - NW2264
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Given that concerns have been raised regarding the potential negative impact of increased numbers of elephant on forested areas and indigenous raptors populations in Kruger National Park (KNP), what is the current estimated elephant population of the KNP; (2) Whether any scientific evidence has emerged from clearly identifiable negative impacts on forested areas and populations of high nesting bird species as a result of increased elephant populations in the KNP; if not, what is the population in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether the KNP still considers carrying capacities for animal species; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what would the capacity be for elephant?
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