NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 737 / NW822E
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES:
Ms Z Jongbloed (DA) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries:
QUESTION
1.     What mechanisms and processes are in place in his department
that informs him of the movements of the vessels of his
department;
2.     what information did he rely on when he stated on 16 July
2014 that the Sarah Baartman was operational?              Â
NW822E
REPLY
1. The mechanisms and processes that are in place in the Department to
deal with the movement of the vessels are the official Sailing Orders
which informs the period, the area of operation, the objectives,
schedule and responsible officials; and secondly, the officialsâ
sailing reports and their attachments as completed after each and
patrol(s) and research survey(s).
2. The Sarah Baartman was operational as per the Sailing reports that
confirm that patrols were completed and also that the vessel was out
at sea. Further evidence from the Sarah Baartman is that on 05 May
2014 and 12 May 2014, two vessels were seized at sea and six suspects
were arrested for illegally fishing for West Coast Rock Lobster off
Cape Point. A further two vessels were seized for illegally fishing
for West Coast Rock Lobster within the Overberg at midnight on 29 July
2014. Nine suspects were arrested in this incident.
It should be noted that the Sarah Baartman and the other vessels will,
from time to time, undergo maintenance procedures as planned or as per
necessity.