The Department of Environmental Affairs has the noted with concern the recent seal attack on a child in Hout Bay and we want to ensure that this kind of incident is avoided in future.
The department wants to strongly discourage the practice of individuals feeding and encouraging seals within the local harbours to become habituated to people. This practice is illegal under the Seabirds and Seals Protection Act of 1973.
The department has placed highly visible signage, at the local harbours warning individuals against feeding the seals. Regrettably, it has now become necessary to prosecute those that ignore these warnings. We implore the public and tourist operators to co-operate with us in discouraging the practice of feeding seals in local harbours.
In order to encourage visitors to our harbours to observe the relevant laws and regulations, the marine and coastal management (MCM) staff will be handing out flyers to visitors and tourists encouraging them to stop the practice of feeding seals as their actions may result in innocent children or adults becoming victims of attacks by seals.
The harbour master at Hout Bay has fenced off the area where the seal is tempted with fish to climb onto the quay, only to have the fence vandalised on several occasions. We will once again repair this fence and we implore the public, business and visitors to report any persons causing damage to the fence.
For further information contact:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
Tel: 021 402 3094
E-mail: znqayi@deat.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
1 September 2009
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs (http://www.deat.gov.za/)
