Border deep-sea anglers are closely monitoring an investigation into three Gonubie anglers suspected of illegally catching almost 30 fish in the protected Gonubie-Nahoon marine area last Sunday.A photograph of the boat said to belong to the men and estimated to cost up R60000 was sent to the Daily Dispatch with a strongly worded statement by Border Deep-sea Angling Association (BDSAA) environmental officer John Rance.
The SA police were not able to comment on the investigation but the Dispatch reliably learned that Gonubie police were preparing a case docket for the Eastern Cape national prosecution office in Grahamstown.
The Dispatch also learned that the men are mostly in their 30s, live in Gonubie and have jobs.
Rance said the boat was “apprehended” on January 10 in connection with fishing in the marine protected area (MPA) by harbour police, who were alerted by the Gonubie Skiboat Club, an affiliate of BDSAA.
Rance said the vessel had 27 fish on board and was originally registered with East London Skiboat Club (ELSBC).
He said: “According to ELSBC officials, the vessel was sold by their club member in 2013 and hasn’t been registered for seaworthy since. When vessels are sold, the registrations are de-listed and registration numbers should be removed.”
He claimed the boat was “illegally and fraudulently” displaying an ELSBC registration.
He said: “BDSAA clubs are licensed to the shipping authority in terms of the Merchant Shipping Act to survey and licence vessels for sea-going operations. Unlicensed vessels are not allowed by law to proceed to sea, or to operate on any inland or estuarine waters.”
Rance said it had been a struggle to have the Amathole Marine Protected Area declared.
It was made up of three areas with boundaries extending 5.5km seawards of the high water mark from Kei River to Nyara river near Haga, Gonubie to Nahoon and Gxulu river to Christmas Rock.
“No off-shore fishing is allowed in those areas,” he said. “They were originally formed circa 1980 as voluntary sanctuaries by BDSAA-affiliated clubs to protect deep-sea fish species from over-exploitation. They were later upgraded and legislated to full MPA status and are under the control and management of Eastern Cape Parks.
“These MPAs are well-known and publicised and the public is outraged that their sanctity has been violated in this manner.
“They regard these MPAs as important conservation areas and jealously guard them from exploitation.”
Rance said severe penalties existed for anyone found transgressing the MPA regulations.
“We would like to see penalties enacted such as forfeiture of the fishing vessel to the state, banning guilty parties from obtaining fishing licences, and heavy fines.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Gonubie anglers facing sanction for illegal fishing
A photograph of the boat said to belong to the men and estimated to cost up R60000 was sent to the Daily Dispatch with a strongly worded statement by Border Deep-sea Angling Association (BDSAA) environmental officer John Rance.
The SA police were not able to comment on the investigation but the Dispatch reliably learned that Gonubie police were preparing a case docket for the Eastern Cape national prosecution office in Grahamstown.
The Dispatch also learned that the men are mostly in their 30s, live in Gonubie and have jobs.
Rance said the boat was “apprehended” on January 10 in connection with fishing in the marine protected area (MPA) by harbour police, who were alerted by the Gonubie Skiboat Club, an affiliate of BDSAA.
Rance said the vessel had 27 fish on board and was originally registered with East London Skiboat Club (ELSBC).
He said: “According to ELSBC officials, the vessel was sold by their club member in 2013 and hasn’t been registered for seaworthy since. When vessels are sold, the registrations are de-listed and registration numbers should be removed.”
He claimed the boat was “illegally and fraudulently” displaying an ELSBC registration.
He said: “BDSAA clubs are licensed to the shipping authority in terms of the Merchant Shipping Act to survey and licence vessels for sea-going operations. Unlicensed vessels are not allowed by law to proceed to sea, or to operate on any inland or estuarine waters.”
Rance said it had been a struggle to have the Amathole Marine Protected Area declared.
It was made up of three areas with boundaries extending 5.5km seawards of the high water mark from Kei River to Nyara river near Haga, Gonubie to Nahoon and Gxulu river to Christmas Rock.
“No off-shore fishing is allowed in those areas,” he said. “They were originally formed circa 1980 as voluntary sanctuaries by BDSAA-affiliated clubs to protect deep-sea fish species from over-exploitation. They were later upgraded and legislated to full MPA status and are under the control and management of Eastern Cape Parks.
“These MPAs are well-known and publicised and the public is outraged that their sanctity has been violated in this manner.
“They regard these MPAs as important conservation areas and jealously guard them from exploitation.”
Rance said severe penalties existed for anyone found transgressing the MPA regulations.
“We would like to see penalties enacted such as forfeiture of the fishing vessel to the state, banning guilty parties from obtaining fishing licences, and heavy fines.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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