NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 1156 / NW1394E
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES:
Dr M J Cardo (DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries:
QUESTION
(1) Is the ban on diving that came into effect in 2008, still in
place; if so, (a) in which areas and (b) what are the reasons,
given the conditional lifting of the ban on abalone fishing;
(2) is shore-based recreational diving allowed in the area between
Gansbaai and Quoin Point in the Western Cape; if not, why not;
(3) have any studies been undertaken to determine the impact of a
diving ban on abalone poaching; if not, why not; if so, what are
the relevant findings? NW1394E
REPLY
1) Yes, the diving ban is still in place.
a) (i). Bird Island Marine Protected Area as declared in Notice No. 696,
Gazette No. 26432 of 4 June 2004;
(ii). Quoin Point to Danger Point (from the west bank of the Ratel River
along the coast to the end of Gansbaai Harbourâs West Breakwater (34
degree 35â.12 S; 19 degree 20â.45 E), extending 2 nautical miles
seaward from the high watermark). At Gansbaai Breakwater the seaward
direction shall be taken as westward; at the Ratel River southward;
(iii). Dyer Island extending 1 nautical mile from the high watermark;
(iv) Venus Pool to Cape Point and from Cape Point to Olifantsbospunt
(extending 2 nautical miles seaward from the high watermark) but
excluding Bellows Rock (34 degree 23.35â S; 18 degree 29â.44 E; and
the area within 300m radius from it.) At Venus Pool and
Olifantsbospunt the seaward direction shall be taken as eastwards and
westwards respectively. Co-ordinates for Venus Pool and
Olifantsbospunt are respectively: 34 degree 17â.744 S; 018 degree
28â.020E and 34 degree16â.30 S; 18 degree 22â.822 E
(v). Robben Island, extending 1 nautical mile from the high watermark and
(b) Reasons, given the conditional lifting of the ban on abalone fishing;
Only the commercial abalone fishery has opened. The objectives of the
Regulations for the Protection of Wild Abalone (Haliotis) are to
establish measures for the protection of wild Abalone (Haliotis) and
to promote the recovery and rebuilding of the wild abalone resource.
(2) No recreational diving is allowed in the area between Gansbaai and
Quoin Point to establish measures for the protection of wild Abalone
(Haliotis) and to promote the recovery and rebuilding of the wild
abalone resource.
(3) No.