Pretoria – A Taiwanese vessel has been instructed to sail to Cape Town Port after entering South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without a permit from the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries.
The department, through its vessel monitoring system, spotted the Taiwanese vessel Chin Jen Wen on 7 September 2016 entering South African EEZ sailing from the Mossel Bay direction towards Cape Town.
It was established that the vessel did not apply for any permit from the department.
Fishery Control Officers (FCOs) who were on board the fisheries protection vessel Victoria Mxenge in the Overberg region were alerted and they intercepted the Taiwanese vessel in the morning of 8 September 2016.
“The FCOs boarded and inspected the Taiwanese vessel and established that it had fishing gear and bait on board without a permit. The vessel was instructed to sail to Cape Town Port for thorough inspection,” the department said.
According to the department, initially the vessel complied and moved towards Cape Town Port direction but after a short while it stopped.
“It was again instructed to proceed but it did not cooperate. Another fisheries protection vessel was dispatched with FCOs and police officials to go and assist in ensuring that the vessel sails to Cape Town Port as instructed. The Taiwanese vessel eventually cooperated and sailed to Cape Town Port,” said the department.
A thorough inspection will be conducted by all relevant law enforcement stakeholders in Cape Town Port on 9 September 2016 and relevant charges will be laid against the Taiwanese vessel in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act.
The Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana has undertaken to intensify the fight against any form of illegal fishing in the exclusive economic zone to ensure that resources are utilised for the benefit of the country to reduce poverty and ensure food security for all.
“South African waters remain a sovereign jurisdiction and its marine living resources will be protected by the department,” said Minister Zokwana. – SAnews.gov.za
