CONCERNS OVER INSHORE DEMERSAL SHARK LONGLINE FISHING IN THE EDEN DISTRICT

Dear Minister Senzeni Zokwana

PETITION FOR A REQUEST
TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (DAFF)
FOR A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS
IN THE EDEN DISTRICT AREA WITH RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS
AROUND THE PERMITTING OF INSHORE DEMERSAL SHARK LONGLINE FISHERY

Recently, companies from Port Elizabeth have moved their operations of inshore demersal shark longline fishery in the Eden District, day and night in the shallow coastal environment (no limit from coastline).

There has been no public participation process.

There are no independent observers on these boats (even though this is identified as essential at point 5.2 of the permit).

Therefore the discarded bycatch in terms of protected, commercial, vulnerable and endangered species, and thus the ecological impact, COULD be high if not properly monitored. The species concerned include: white sharks, Cape fur seals, black musselcracker, red steenbras, and hammerhead sharks.

We would like to request DAFF to set up a public participation process as these operations could impact:

• The livelihood of local fishermen


• The business of local fishing charters


• The ecological functioning of the entire area


• Tourism operators

Precautionary approach should be the driving force behind issuing permits, not just financial revenue for the applying companies. The public of the Eden District would not want to see the issue to be dealt with only if and when the damage has been caused. The Department of Environment Affairs (DEA) used this precautionary approach when protecting white sharks in 1991 as there was no data available on the population status of that species. The establishment of offshore marine protected areas, parts of the Operation Phakisa spatial planning, is another example of proper planning by DEA.

We would like a meeting with DAFF, to be held in the Eden district in June 2016, to discuss:

• Public information


• Long-term sustainability of this fishery


• Revenue shared with the local communities


• Ecological impact assessment of this specific fishery in this specific area


• Monitoring of the fishery

We believe these are main mandates of DAFF which should be considered and dealt with before (ideally) or at least not when it is too late.

YOURS SINCERLY,
CONCERNED CITIZEN OF THE EDEN DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY