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Ref: 02/1/5/2
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 3328 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A draft reply to Mr G R Morgan (DA) to the above-mentioned question is
enclosed for your consideration.
Ms Nosipho Ngcaba
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 3328
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 35 NW3986E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 28 October 2011
Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) (a) What number of (i) boat-based whale watching and (ii) dolphin
watching permits have been awarded for each location during the most
recent round of permitting and for how many months of the season may
the specified permit holders conduct their operations;
(2) whether the Department of Environmental Affairs is investigating
opportunities to expand the number of (a) boat-based whale watching
and (b) dolphin watching permits along the (i) KwaZulu-Natal and (ii)
Eastern Cape coasts; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are
the relevant details in each case;
(3) whether she has found that climate change can be expected to have an
effect on the ranges of dolphins and whales along the coast; if not,
how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(4) what number of people is estimated to be employed in legal (a) boat-
based whale watching and (b) dolphin watching operations?
Mr G R Morgan (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
3328. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
1)
a) a total number of 23 permits, which provide for the viewing of both
dolphins and whales species, and, which is referred to as Boat Based
Whale Watching (BBWW) permits, have been awarded to operators in the
areas mentioned in Table 1 below:
b) These operators may operate all year round, since their permits are
issued annually.
Table 1: Number of BBWW permits allocated per area
|Area of operation |Province |Number of permits |
|Arniston/Struisbaa|Western Cape |1 |
|i | | |
|Cape Points to |Western Cape |1 |
|Kalk Bay | | |
|Cape Town |Western Cape |1 |
|Gansbaai |Western Cape |1 |
|Hermanus |Western Cape |3 |
|Hout Bay |Western Cape |1 |
|Kleinbaai |Western Cape |2 |
|Knysna |Western Cape |1 |
|Mossel Bay |Western Cape |1 |
|Plettenberg Bay |Western Cape |2 |
|Port Elizabeth |Eastern Cape |1 |
|Kenton on sea |Eastern Cape |1 |
|St Francis Bay |Eastern Cape |1 |
|Richard Bay |KZN |1 |
|Sodwana Bay |KZN |1 |
|St Lucia |KZN |2 |
|Durban |KZN |2 |
2) No. The Department of Environmental Affairs is not investigating
opportunities to expand the number of BBWW permits along the KwaZulu
Natal and Eastern Cape Coasts, since these were significantly expanded
during the permit allocation process. In the Eastern Cape there were
previously no BBWW exemption holders, and in KwaZulu Natal there
was only one exemption for St Lucia. Despite the increase in available
permits, applications were not received from 4 areas (Port St Johns,
East London; Port Alfred and Transkei) where permits were available in
the Eastern Cape. As a result, only 3 permits were allocated in the
Eastern Cape. In KwaZulu Natal, applications were not received from
the Shelley Beach area, and a total of 6 permits were allocated.
Furthermore, due to the low numbers of whales, and the migratory
nature of the species found in both KwaZulu Natal and in the Eastern
Cape, the potential for expansion of permits is limited. However, the
current operations will be monitored and the Department will review
the BBWW sector, based on scientific and other relevant factors linked
to the success of their operations, to ensure that an optimal number
of permits is used.
3) Currently there is not enough evidence to link climate change to the
ranges of whales and dolphins along the South African coast, although
changes could be expected. The range of the humpback and southern
right whales (the main species viewed in BBWW operations) lies between
their Southern Ocean feeding grounds and the South African east, south
and west coasts where they breed. Both species are showing increasing
numbers along our coast and that of Namibia, but as the species were
historically commercially exploited, this is likely to represent a
recovery of a population post protection, and not a climate change
response. On the other hand, international studies show that the
ranges of dolphins could already be affected by long-term
environmental changes including by shifts in the distribution of their
prey. To be able to resolve such potential climate change impacts
better, the Department and partner organisations are currently
embarking on a programme to monitor whales and dolphins over longer
time scales around the South African coast and the Southern Ocean.
4) The number of persons employed directly in BBWW operations varies
between 6 and 10 persons. Therefore using an average of 8 persons per
permit, the estimated direct employment is 184 persons. In addition
there are many closely linked jobs such as in the hospitality and
transport sectors.
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