arrests - Taiwanese vessel fined hefty fine of R1,5 million
6 April 2009
Officials from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism arrested
a man early this morning, Monday 6 April 2009, near Hermanus, after more than 5
000 units of abalone was found in the vehicle he was driving. The man is
expected to appear in the Hermanus magistrate court later this week.
Another person was arrested on Saturday 4 April 2009 in Hermanus after
inspectors received a tip-off from a member of the community. A vehicle and 1
300 units of abalone were confiscated. A man is expected to appear in court
today, Monday 6 April 2009.
In a separate development last week, the skipper of the seized Taiwanese
flagged fishing vessel the Chien Jui No 102, paid a R1,5 million fine for
contravening permit conditions for foreign vessels entering the South African
exclusive economic zone. This was the highest fine ever imposed for such a
transgression.
The confiscated shark fin and shark trunks were also forfeited to the state.
The Chien Jui No 102 entered the South African exclusive economic zone in March
this year. Inspectors confiscated more than 1,6 tons of dried shark finsand 5,1
tons of shark trunk from the Chien Jui No 102. The quantity of shark fin and
trunk reported was in excess of the 15% tolerance limit permitted by the permit
conditions
In addition, the permit conditions for foreign vessels entering the South
African Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) require such foreign vessels to conduct
fishing activities in accordance with the management and conservation measures
of the relevant regional fisheries management organisations, including the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). In
non-compliance with the conditions the Chien Jui No 102 had on board
approximately 1,6 tons of shark fins without there being the appropriate
corresponding quantity of shark trunks present on the vessel. The variance of
the shark fin to trunk ratio was more than 5% in contravention of ICCAT
recommendations.
Contact:
Carol Moses
Cell: 082 829 3917
Or
Maryke Brand
Cell: 082 650 4283
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
6 April 2009
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)
