More rangers to control angling
SANParks relying on community cooperation after controversial Tsitsikamma permits issued
SANParks has appointed more marine rangers to police the controversial new Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) angling permits and plans new efforts to spread the message about compliance.
That is the word from SANParks regional spokeswoman Nandi Mgwadlamba in response to questions from about the management of the MPA in the wake of the environmental affairs minister’s ruling.
Mgwadlamba said various methods were being employed to ensure proper management of the new system and the 171 anglers who had been issued with recreational permits to fish in the MPA.
“We have employed more rangers to monitor and patrol and are also looking at better ways to police the area,” she said.
“We need to emphasise that creating a rapport with both the communities and the scientists is key.
“In addition to policing, we have planned intervention workshops to spread the message about compliance, the significance of the MPA and that anglers must fish within designated areas [only].”
Mgwadlamba said the new recruits were experienced marine rangers and were also receiving ongoing training.
“They are equipped to hand out [fines] and to enforce them.”
She said no arrests had yet been made under the new permit regime “and there have been no incidents of anglers looking to break the law”.
“The importance of local community support has been identified as a key factor in determining whether an MPA is able to successfully meet its objectives.
“Where there is sustained or increasing resentment against protection measures, it is important for government to develop solutions with those directly impacted, as well as the wider public,” Mgwadlamba said.
Marine scientists have slammed the minister’s ruling as a political move aimed at winning local votes for the embattled ANC at the expense of an MPA that has proved highly successful in stabilising populations of South Africa’s most threatened coastal fish.
With this success, the Tsitsikamma MPA has provided a continuing top-up to fisheries along the coast.
Rhodes University fish scientist Professor Peter Britz said the lack of focus on only subsistence fishermen in the granting of permits made the situation doubly unacceptable.
Asked how SANParks viewed a decision to allow recreational angling in Africa’s oldest MPA, Mgwadlamba said it was about balancing needs.
“It is about balancing the needs expressed by the community where the MPA was declared without their say and they were barred from fishing, and our need to protect the fish and the coastline.”
Tsitsikamma anglers were not well-off or even middle income, Mgwadlamba said. “The Tsitsikamma Angling Forum, a longstanding forum set up to advance the interests of anglers from the Tsitsikamma area, requested reinstatement of [recreational] access with consideration of what they had historically,” she said.
“It should be noted however that while the access is recreational, and the fishers are not able to sell their catch, they are able to keep their catch and this does therefore assist with food security in the area.”