Recreational fishing will be allowed in one of the three massively enlarged marine protected areas (MPAs) proposed for the East Coast by Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa.
Two Gxulu controlled (some fishing) and restricted (no fishing) zones (GOCZ and GORZ), which run a few kilometres offshore from Kenton-on-Sea down to Christmas Rock and into the ocean, will see recreational fishing taking place in the controlled zone (GOCZ), which is closer to the shore.
But no fishing will be allowed in the third area, the Kei Offshore restricted zone (KORZ), which runs from the Kei Mouth shoreline for a few kilometres and then into deeper ocean, where it makes a corner east of East London.
The roughly rectangular-shaped Kei Mouth zone, and roughly triangular-shaped Gxulu zones covering 3810m² of ocean, form the new Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area, and are in addition to three existing but tiny MPAs.
Anglers who break any of the 11 new regulations governing restricted areas, and five regulations governing controlled MPAs, face fines of up to R5-million or five years imprisonment, and a further R10-million or 10 years in jail for a second conviction. Permits will also be suspended, cancelled or amended if the regulations are breached.
Clarity on a list of 30 pelagic fish – published as an annexure attached to the regulations – which “may” be caught in the Gxulu controlled area came yesterday from Dr Kerry Sink, marine programme manager at the SA National Biodiversity Institute and a leading member of the Operation Phakisa technical team driving the MPA regulations.
She said the list was a “cut-and-paste” error and belonged to the KwaZulu-Natal MPAs. It would be removed. “The controlled zone will include recreational fishing and commercial line fishing .
“The intention in the controlled zone is not to exclude bottom fishing, but the inclusion of a fish list for a ‘controlled-pelagic’ zone has led to some confusion,” said Sink.
John Rance, environmental officer for Border Deep-Sea Angling, said: “Our members expect to be allowed to fish outside the MPA and within controlled zones inside the MPAs where limited sport and recreational fishing only will be allowed. We expect to be allowed to catch all species currently allowed.”
He said there was no reason for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to change the already-existing catch list, which was a fear raised at Wednesday’s hearing.
Rance said: “If the size of protected areas is increased, this should be sufficient to protect species without having to ban recreational fishing in these areas.”
Rance said sport and recreational fishing had an R18.8-billion economic impact in 2007, which was bigger than rugby and cricket combined, according to research conducted by the SA Deep-Sea Angling Association. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Fishing approval for proposed zone
Two Gxulu controlled (some fishing) and restricted (no fishing) zones (GOCZ and GORZ), which run a few kilometres offshore from Kenton-on-Sea down to Christmas Rock and into the ocean, will see recreational fishing taking place in the controlled zone (GOCZ), which is closer to the shore.
But no fishing will be allowed in the third area, the Kei Offshore restricted zone (KORZ), which runs from the Kei Mouth shoreline for a few kilometres and then into deeper ocean, where it makes a corner east of East London.
The roughly rectangular-shaped Kei Mouth zone, and roughly triangular-shaped Gxulu zones covering 3810m² of ocean, form the new Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area, and are in addition to three existing but tiny MPAs.
Anglers who break any of the 11 new regulations governing restricted areas, and five regulations governing controlled MPAs, face fines of up to R5-million or five years imprisonment, and a further R10-million or 10 years in jail for a second conviction. Permits will also be suspended, cancelled or amended if the regulations are breached.
Clarity on a list of 30 pelagic fish – published as an annexure attached to the regulations – which “may” be caught in the Gxulu controlled area came yesterday from Dr Kerry Sink, marine programme manager at the SA National Biodiversity Institute and a leading member of the Operation Phakisa technical team driving the MPA regulations.
She said the list was a “cut-and-paste” error and belonged to the KwaZulu-Natal MPAs. It would be removed. “The controlled zone will include recreational fishing and commercial line fishing .
“The intention in the controlled zone is not to exclude bottom fishing, but the inclusion of a fish list for a ‘controlled-pelagic’ zone has led to some confusion,” said Sink.
John Rance, environmental officer for Border Deep-Sea Angling, said: “Our members expect to be allowed to fish outside the MPA and within controlled zones inside the MPAs where limited sport and recreational fishing only will be allowed. We expect to be allowed to catch all species currently allowed.”
He said there was no reason for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to change the already-existing catch list, which was a fear raised at Wednesday’s hearing.
Rance said: “If the size of protected areas is increased, this should be sufficient to protect species without having to ban recreational fishing in these areas.”
Rance said sport and recreational fishing had an R18.8-billion economic impact in 2007, which was bigger than rugby and cricket combined, according to research conducted by the SA Deep-Sea Angling Association. — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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