Pretoria – A joint force of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the South African Navy conducting sea patrols along the South African coastline has resulted in the capture of three foreign vessels.
Last Friday, the joint patrol spotted two foreign fishing vessels from the automated identification system on board a navy vessel around the Eastern Cape coastline. It was established that the vessels had gear on board and that they had not applied to enter into the Exclusive Economic Zone.
The department’s fishery control officers instructed the vessels, through radio communication, to sail to East London Port but those on board did not cooperate.
“The department’s patrol vessel and the SA Navy vessel had to increase speed in order to intercept the foreign fishing vessels, which were speeding off but [they] managed to intercept them,” said the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana.
According to the Minister, the vessels stopped and they switched off their engines at about 2am on Sunday, 22 May.
“The foreign fishing vessels started their engines and within no time and with no communication with the inspectors, they started steaming towards the east. The two foreign vessels were followed throughout the early hours of the morning and they were intercepted again, and the fisheries inspectors and the SA Navy officials boarded the foreign vessels.
“Inspections were conducted, whereby fish and gear were found on both foreign vessels, both with no permits. The vessels were again instructed to sail to the nearest port, which was East London.”
En route to East London, another foreign fishing vessel was spotted crossing between the fleet in a different direction. The inspectors conducted an inspection on board this vessel. The vessel did not have any permit and was also instructed to go to East London Port.
The foreign fishing vessels were found to have about 340 tons of squid with 36 crew; about 60 tons of squid with 34 crew and about 200 tons of squid, as well as other species of fish with 26 crew, respectively.
“Currently, all the fish holding cabins have been sealed off as required by investigation standards. As part of further investigations of the vessels, all fish will be taken out of the vessels for further identification, counting and weighing,” said Minister Zokwana.
The department and SA Police Service are now registering a docket, which will be handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority.
Possible charges include possession of gear on board without a gear permit, not complying with a lawful instruction from a fishery control officer, possible infringements in terms of the International Conservation and Management Measures inside or outside South African waters.
Further investigations may lead to further charges. - SAnews.gov.za
