There were many major competitions held this year, including the
Richards Bay Bonanza, Richards Bay 21 Species, Durban Ski Boat Festival and the National Light
Tackle Competition which hosted 840 boats and over 3,010 anglers.
1.3 Arrests and
Prosecutions
In terms of our set objective in creating an effective deterrent to
persons wishing to contravene the MLRA, all transgressions of the Act are dealt with by a variety
of penalties, these range from warnings to appearance in court.
All court cases are closely monitored by EKZN Wildlife’s Prosecutions
Officer, who assists the field staff in the collection and presentation of evidence and
statements. This has resulted in numerous excellent convictions.
Table 5: List of Prosecutions
|
Type of Offence
|
Prosecutions
|
Total Admission of Guilt
|
Concluded Court Cases
|
| Line Fish Shore |
47
|
R20 250
|
-
|
| Line Fish Light Tackle |
8
|
R3 400
|
R3000 (R3000 suspended)
|
| Line Fish Shad |
181
|
R96 500
|
R71 900 (R35 750 suspended)
|
|
Linefish
|
29
|
R 20 100
|
R 1220 000
(R1100 000 suspended)
|
|
East Coast Rock lobster
|
44
|
R 25 000
|
R 191 500 (R135 000 suspended)
|
|
Inter-tidal mussel
|
33
|
R 16 200
|
R 6 500
|
| Inter Tidal Other |
48
|
R29 150
|
R6000
|
|
Fishing Permit
|
466
|
R 95 350
|
-
|
|
Beach Vehicles
|
141
|
R 100 000
|
-
|
|
Line fish net
|
15
|
R 2 100
|
R7 650 (R2000 suspended)Nil
|
|
Other
|
28
|
R 7 450
|
R 151 200 ( R1167750 suspended)
|
Totals 2006/2007
|
1040
|
R 415 500
|
R 1657750 (R1275750 suspended)
|
In respect of monies paid into the MLRF resulting from successful
convictions to the Marine Living Resources Act, the following were completed during this year.
Admission of Guilt
= R315 500 (R415 500-R100 000 Beach
driving)
The R100 000 in respect of Beach driving is in terms of the NEMA
and therefore is credited to the Provincial funds.
Court Convictions
= R382 000 (R1657750-R1275750 suspended
fines)
1.4 Control of Vehicles in the
Coastal Zone.
Within the Province of KwaZulu-Natal there is only one registered Recreational Use Area (RUA), which is
at SodwanaBay.
Since the implementation of the legislation EKZNW staff have strictly
enforced this law and admission of guilt fines issued to date total 74.
To date 29 launch sites have been licensed in the Province (including
the G.S.L.W.P.). Records of Decision have been issued by the Provincial Authorities,and it has been agreed with Province that EKNW staff will have a major
role to play in ensuring compliance at the launch sites.
Compliance check lists for each launch site have been implemented, as
have the launch and catch registers.
EKZNW staff monitor all launch sites on a regular basis (twice per
month), and any contravention in terms of launch site management are reported to the Provincial
authority, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA) who then deal directly with
the launch site licence holder.
2. Monitoring
EKZN Wildlife record all patrols and inspections done on catch and
effort data forms designed to contribute to the National Marine Linefish Management System
(NMLS). This information is submitted to ORI as hard data who are then contracted by M &CM
to process the data into the NMLS.
The data is used in many forms and plays a pivotal role in management
decisions making and recording fishing effort. Data for the invertebrate and linefishing
sector are recorded.
Annual Reports are produced by ORI each calendar year which briefly
analysis the data gathered and comments on trends. The data reports are only published in June
of the following year by ORI and as per calendar year is therefore only possible to provide
detailed accurate report back for the preceding calendar year.
2.1 Recreational Linefish
Data
The tables that follow are directly extracted from information
supplied by the Oceanographic Research Institute, who are responsible for collating all NMLS data
collected by EKZNW staff, for the National programme.
Table 1
Inventory of EKZN Wildlife marine and estuarine shore patrol data during period 1999 – 2005.
|
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
|
Number of shore patrols
|
4990
|
5 832
|
9 163
|
10 528
|
11 985
|
12 479
|
14 539
|
|
Distance patrolled (km)
|
37 586
|
36 188
|
54 732
|
54 665
|
49 801
|
45 562
|
50 336
|
|
Time of patrols (hrs)
|
19 078
|
18 643
|
20 399
|
22 322
|
21 363
|
21 194
|
22 774
|
|
No. of anglers checked
|
120 312
|
122 146
|
152 615
|
133 558
|
152 943
|
138 440
|
155 167
|
|
No. of rods counted
|
145 108
|
157 359
|
189 342
|
159 400
|
