NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 9
DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2012 [IQP No 01 -2012] FOURTH
SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT
QUESTION 9 FOR WRITTEN REPLY
9. MR W F FABER (DA-NC) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND
FISHERIES
(1) Whether she has been informed that a certain person (details
furnished) has been long line shark fishing off the coast of St
Francis Bay since the beginning of 2012; if not, when will she launch
an investigation into the matter; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(2) (a) when was the said personâs fishing right awarded, (b) until when
is it valid and (c) how many of each types of shark have been caught
using this right since the right was first activated;
(3) whether, in cases where long line shark fishing is conducted close to
the shore, there are any requirements to warn bathers regarding the
possibility of increased shark activity in the area; if not, why not;
if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether she intends to continue granting long line shark fishing
rights in the future; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(5) whether this type of fishing can (a) kill, (b) threatened or (c)
endangered sharks; if not; how was this conclusion reached; if so,
what will be done to rectify the situation? CW9E
REPLY:
1) Yes. The company in question is a Demersal Shark Longline right
holding fishing company. The company was granted a right to fish in
the Demersal Shark Longline Fishery during the Long Term Rights
Allocation Process and is therefore entitled to harvest demersal
sharks using a longline method in accordance with the set permit
conditions.
2) (a) The fishing right was awarded in 2005.
(b) The fishing right is valid from 1 January 2006 - 31st December 2013.
(c) Table 1 Below: Catches in tons of headed and gutted demersal
(bottom dwelling) sharks caught by Fishermen Fresh between 2006 and
2011.
Year |Soupfin shark
(Galeorhinus galeus) |Smoothhound shark
(Mustelus mustelus) |White spotted smoothhound shark (Mustelus palumbes)
|Requiem sharks (Carcharhinus spp) |Dogsharks (Squalus spp) |Broadnosed
sevengill cow sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) |Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna
spp) |Skates |Total catch (t) | |2006 |7.21 |21.59 |0.00 |9.88 |0.00 |0.05
|0.17 |5.91 |44.81 | |2007 |7.85 |41.58 |0.03 |14.22 |0.10 |0.25 |0.11
|3.79 |67.92 | |2008 |1.40 |45.25 |0.00 |9.70 |0.02 |0.00 |0.50 |10.36
|67.22 | |2009 |4.47 |36.33 |0.00 |5.22 |0.00 |0.00 |0.28 |16.26 |62.56 |
|2010 |2.62 |62.17 |0.00 |20.94 |0.00 |0.00 |0.84 |31.24 |117.81 | |2011
|4.77 |50.63 |0.00 |6.30 |0.00 |0.00 |0.00 |1.04 |62.74 | |
3) The Department regulates fishing and fishing activities guided by the
Marine Living Resources Act, (1998) (Act No.18 of 1998) (âMLRAâ), MLRA
regulations, fishing policies and permit conditions. The Kouga Local
Municipality is the authority responsible for the safety of bathers
along the beaches.
4) Rights will continue to be allocated in the Demersal shark sector for
as long as the stock status remains biologically sustainable. The
allocation of rights and the setting of Total Allowable Effort in the
sector are dependent on a number of factors, including the status of
the fish stock as well as the sustainability of the resource, taking
into account that the current and future generations must enjoy and
benefit from the same resource.
5) The Minister is responsible for ensuring the long term sustainable
utilization of marine living resources, orderly access to exploitation
as well as the protection of threatened and endangered species. This is
done through implementation of the Regulations promulgated under the
Marine Living Resource Act, Act 18 of 1998, setting of fishing permit
conditions which prohibit targeting and landing of specific fish
species.