Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy updates on measures taken in the sector during the national lockdown
National regulations identified food and hygiene products as essential goods. Accordingly, the fisheries sector is operating during this time. It includes the right of both commercial and small scale fishers/ interim relief to fish.
In previous communication we outlined extension with regards to fishing permits. Today we outline provisions that allow commercial and small scale/interim relief fishers in the Northern and Western Cape to take advantage of the snoek run in the Northern Cape.
Accordingly, fishers in the Northern and Western Cape may travel within and across the provinces to catch snoek in what is known as Zone A. At all times, fishing teams must adhere to prescribed hygiene provisions such as sanitising of hands, sanitising the insides of vehicles and equipment. Restrictions on the number of passengers in vehicles must be observed at all times.
In compliance with the existing regulations accommodation will not be opened in fishing villages and so fishermen will have to only concentrate on fishing in areas where they can move in and out within a single day. We understand that this might not be convenient but we are trying to make sure that the snoek run which is very important for household food security in the Western and Northern Cape people are able to benefit from but at the same time observing the regulations.
Fishers must at all times carry their exemption notices and permits issued to small scale and interim relief fishers. Fishers may not interact with local communities. They may only operate within the harbours which are closed to all other members of the public.
The Langana will need to be permitted by the municipalities as explained by my colleague the Minister of Small Business Development. We have also indications that the commercial sector is prepared on request from small fishers to buy, transport, process and market catches from small scale and interim relief.
Our work in the forestry sector continues to play a significant role in addressing basic needs during this lockdown down period. This include the production of essential goods like pulp for toilet paper and personal hygiene products as well as the production of plywood board or pellets for material linked to packaging in the fruit and pharmaceutical industries.
To ensure that fires do not destroy forests and vegetation and also do not threaten livelihoods particular in rural areas, our Working on Fire ground and aerial teams remain active for the rest of the summer season in the Western and Eastern Cape.
The teams that operate in the northern region where we have the winter fire season are stationed at home and they remain on standby for the beginning of the fire season in the northern provinces.
We also wish to inform all participants, principle investigators and support teams of the arrangements pertaining to the forthcoming Marion Island 2020 relief voyage, which will now depart in the last week of April 2020.
As a result of the lockdown and as per announcement of the President, the voyage planning and arrangements have to be reconfigured to minimise risks. We have taken decisions which we believe are in the best interest of existing participants and the overwintering team which we need to return from Marion Island to South Africa.
To this end, the Department together with key partners and specialist advisors have decided that the voyage will proceed but with a significantly reduced vessel crew and expedition complement. The expedition will include an essential support team for logistics, maintenance and overwintering. There will be no field science activities during the relief and overwintering periods.
The Department is facilitating quarantine and testing of all voyage participants. These would include personnel from Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, SA Weather Service, SA National Space Agency as well as our helicopter crew.
This decision was not taken lightly and should not be construed as a lack of priority assigned to the scientific activities. However we do believe it is essential to return the existing expedition from Marion Island as soon as possible and put in place a team that will look after the base until such time as we are able to return to full scientific activity on the island. Parties who will be participating in the voyage will be contacted either directly or through their respective focal points.
The other issue that I would wish to address this evening is the collection of recyclables which have not been included in essential service list and the consequence of this is the waste pickers cannot continue working under lock-down. Accordingly we do find that there are hundreds of waste pickers who are currently experiencing situations of extreme hardship.
Following consultations with the two main waste pickers’ associations we have taken a decision to submit a proposal for relief to the National Solidarity Fund. In the meantime to alleviate hunger we have approached the Consumer Goods Council and its members who are in the process of discussing an intervention that will see the provision of food parcels with immediate effect to waste pickers.
With regards to animal care and wildlife management we throughout the week been checking with zoos and sanctuaries on a regular basis to ensure that animals are cared for and fed. With regards to the unfortunate incident in the Bloemfontein Zoo, we can report that we have worked with the NSPCA to evacuate all animals to alternative licensed sanctuaries. The exclusion is buffalo that are being fed at the zoo until such time that we will establish their TB status in terms of the existing regulatory framework.
Ranger services and anti-poaching activities continue in all our national parks and we can report last week that we had a successful anti-poaching operation on the 26th of March that resulted in arrests on the Eastern boundary of the Kruger National Park.
It is also important to mention this afternoon that the planned United Nations Climate Change COP26 that was set to take place in Glasgow in November has been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Dates for a rescheduled conference in 2021, will be communicated in due course following discussion with parties. Our work on the review of our country NDCs to reduce Green House gases and the development of our climate change response strategies with municipalities and provinces continues.
For media inquiries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
