Creecy grants three-month extension for fishing licences

The government has granted a three-month exemption for owners of fishing rights whose permits are up for renewal so that they will not have to come into contact with officials.

This was said on Tuesday by environment, forestry and fisheries minister Barbara Creecy during a media briefing by the economic cluster of ministers.

The briefing was to expand on what the government is doing in various sectors of the economy after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the three-week lockdown from midnight on Thursday. Creecy said the exemption will be reviewed at the end of the three weeks. As part of the food value chain, fishing is exempt from lockdown provisions, as are harbour, shipping and docking services related to fishing.

The forestry sector is also exempt, including sawmills; clearing of state and commercial forests; fire services; nursery services for saplings; and, if necessary, activities related to spring planting.

Also to continue are departmental support services to municipalities in waste management, licensing and enforcement of all disposal of dangerous and toxic waste substances. The 19 national parks, botanical gardens and the Tshwane zoo, which fall under the department’s control, will be closed to visitors, but ranger services and wildlife management will continue in national parks. Tshwane zoo animals will continue to be cared for. International visitors from high-risk countries at the national parks have been placed in isolation.

Creecy said that other departmental services that would continue were enforcement activities relating to poaching; air quality; and spills of oil, chemicals and sewage.

Weather services, including weather forecasting, would also continue to operate.