announced
24 October 2006
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk,
has announced the new recreational season for west coast rock lobster and has
set the global total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2006/07 west coast rock
lobster season at 2 857 tonnes.
The Minister also gave approval for the small portion of TAC that could not
be landed by the Offshore and Nearshore Sectors in 2005/06, to be transferred
to the 2006/07 season. The commercial fishing season for Zone A (nearshore) has
opened already. The season for all other nearshore and commercial fishing will
open on Wednesday, 15 November 2006.
The new season for recreational fishing of west coast rock lobster will open
on 15 November 2006 and will close on 30 April 2007. From 15 November 2006 to
31 January 2007 fishing will be allowed every day of the week, but from 1
February 2006 to 30 April 2007 fishing will be restricted to weekends and
public holidays only.
The bag limit is four lobsters per person per day, and the size restriction
is 80 millimetres carapace length. Fishing time for West Coast rock lobster
will be from 08h00 till 16h00 for all periods. No person catching west coast
rock lobster with a recreational west coast rock lobster permit may sell it.
Any west coast rock lobster caught, collected or transported must be kept in a
whole state.
A maximum of 20 rock lobsters may be transported per day, on condition that
all the persons who caught the rock lobster are present during transportation,
and that they are in possession of recreational rock lobster permits.
West coast rock lobster permits will only be sold to persons above the age
of 12 years and is available from any Post Office.
Enquiries:
Blessing Manale
Chief Director: Communications (Acting)
Cell: 083 381 2939
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
24 October 2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
