Coastal guardians have no game plan
Confusion worse confounded as questions remain unanswered by DAFF on local coastline protection duties
A GENERIC ‘copy and paste’ response from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to clarify its role in protecting Zululand’s coastline after removing Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as watchdog, has further fuelled the Democratic Alliance’s fury over the matter.
Ezemvelo was in March informed its contract to monitor and patrol the 569km provincial coastline has been cancelled, with no reasons provided.
Since then, public confusion has reigned on whom to report illegal fishing activities to in northern KZN where poaching crimes are rife.
Last week, DA KZN spokesperson on Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ann McDonnell, did not mince her words in a letter to the media stating DAFF’s ‘arrogance knows no bounds’.
‘The decision to remove effective Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife rangers and Honorary Officers from KZN’s coastline at the end of July and replace them with a few untrained rangers, is causing havoc when it comes to our precious marine resources.
‘In a bizarre move it has now been left to local citizens along our coastline to remove gill nets, patrol after hours and report incidents of poaching to the SAPS.
‘These community members are offering their time and putting their lives at risk in the name of conservation.
‘This week alone saw Richard’s Bay residents and the SAPS remove seven kilometres of gill nets from the Richards Bay harbour, releasing approximately 700 fish.
‘The DAFF’s decision to change a system without consultation is bad enough.
‘But to then replace a good service with a handful of unskilled rangers who do not know the area, do not respond to calls after hours and barely know the difference between a sardine and a shad, is absurd.
‘Meanwhile, highly illegal gill nets, known as ‘Walls of Death’ are being strung across rivers, estuaries, bays and even in the Jozini Dam to catch indiscriminately, threatening the future of many valuable resources.
‘To date we have not received any satisfactory answers other than a reply that bases in Richards Bay, Ethekwini and the South Coast would undertake the role.
‘The DA condemns the cavalier attitude to our marine resources which flies in the face of the department’s much vaunted Operation Phakisa, which seeks to protect for the future.
‘If the DAFF do not up their game there will be nothing left to protect.’
Fishing for answers
The Zululand Observer posed nine questions to DAFF to shed light on the specific functions of the department and Ezemvelo in the area.
Unfortunately, the few vague (and otherwise blunt) responses received from the department offered little reassurance.
‘It is clear from the answers provided by DAFF that they have no clue what their new role and responsibilities are since taking over from Ezemvelo,’ said DA Chief Whip for uMhlathuze Municipality, Christo Botha.
‘In fact, DAFF has done nothing to protect the coastline other than quoting the Act under which they operate.
‘Ezemvelo honorary officers, like Henning de Wet and Jan Broderyk, are still patrolling the hot spots in an effort to root out the illegal fishing and to see to the removal of kilometres of gill nets.
‘Our marine resources are being plundered while DAFF cannot even provide simple answers posed to them by the ZO.
‘Like in many other instances, decisions like this taken by the government are ill considered, out of touch with reality, and very arrogant.
‘Ezemvelo should be reinstated and allowed to carry on with the sterling service they provided.’
Questions
ZO: What are the roles, functions and jurisdictions of DAFF and that of Ezemvelo?
DAFF: DAFF is responsible for compliance and enforcement in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act 18 (1998) between Alexandria Bay on the West Coast and Punto de’ Ora (sic), in addition to the 200nM EEZ. Cannot comment on Ezemvelo.
ZO: What have DAFF specifically taken over here?
DAFF: DAFF is responsible for compliance and enforcement in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act 18 (1998)
ZO: What will happen to Ezemvelo staff and staff houses?
DAFF: Cannot comment
ZO: What are the functions and status of Ezemvelo honorary officers?
DAFF: Cannot comment
ZO: On a practical level, who is going to check on matters such as fishing permits, bag limits, out of season fishing?
DAFF: DAFF Fishery control officers
ZO: Who’s responsibility is the monitoring and responses to gill netters and poachers? Who must complaints be referred to? Please supply contact details. There have been many reports that phones are not answered in serious situations.
(No answer provided)
ZO: Has DAFF informed local courts of changes and been liaising with the court system here?
DAFF: Yes
ZO: Has DAFF liaised with traditional leadership in northern KZN? A large portion of this region falls under traditional authorities and it could be vital for buy-in from these leaders to stop poaching.
DAFF: The process is ongoing
ZO: We have scores of fishing competitions during which Ezemvelo normally carries out the weigh-ins and checking of boat licenses. Will DAFF take over this process?
(No answer provided)
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