The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has welcomed the anti-poaching interventions which have led to evident decline of illegal fishing activities and several arrests since October this year.
This follows the recent arrests and detention of several suspected fishers including a number of foreign vessels that were found fishing in prohibited fishing zones.
The Committee said the seizure of almost 10 foreign fishing vessels, more than 160 tons of fish, mainly tuna from suspected vessels that had illegally changed their names (something which remain a common practice when illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing practices are taking place) necessitates an immediate call for more investment and resources in the anti-poaching interventions in an effort to protect the seashores and preserve marine-living resources in South Africa.
The Committee Chairperson, Mr Lulu Johnson, has called for tougher penalties against all those arrested and involved in the recent incidents and described the involvement of foreign fishers in illegal activities as tantamount to acts of terrorism and mercenary against South Africa.
“As the Committee we equate all these illegal fishing activities by strong coalition of both local and foreign fishers to an act of terrorism, and have no reservations in the anti-poaching interventions by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies,” said Mr Johnson.
Mr Johnson said he believed that the rapid processing and implementation of the Marine Living Resources Amendment Legislation, which is currently before the National Council of Provinces, will further contribute to the decline of poaching and other illegal fishing activities in the country`s waters.
The Committee added that the discovery and shutting down of an illegal abalone processing establishment in Gauteng in October, which led to the confiscation of more than 7000 units (476kg) of dried abalone with an estimated value of R1.7 million, was an indication that the syndicates did not only operate along the seashore.
The Committee appeals to all coastal communities and security agencies to join hands with the government`s anti-poaching drive during the festive season to root out these unsavoury activities and secure our shores from unscrupulous acts of illegal foreign mercenaries.
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