Protea MPA meeting to be held

THE Protea Banks Task Team has asked for constructive comments ahead of a meeting it is hosting to discuss the draft regulations for the management of the Protea Banks Marine Protected Area (MPA).

These draft regulations have now been published and will be available for public comment until May 3. The task team is asking members of all ski-boat clubs and other ocean users to examine the regulations and map of the proposed area, paying particular attention to the co-ordinates and target species.

The public meeting will be held at the Shelley Beach Ski-Boat Club on Tuesday, March 1 at 6pm.

Protea Banks is one of 21 proposed new MPAs that are part of Government’s fast-track development programme,

Operation Phakisa, the first stage of which is the unlocking of the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans. Virtually all of the unconserved ocean offshore from KwaZulu-Natal could be given over to gas and oil exploration and mining enterprises. The task team has been told that this, together with South Africa being a signatory to a global agreement to increase conserved areas on land and at sea, makes it vital that existing MPAs be extended and new ones created.

The task team has been involved in decisions regarding the Protea Banks MPA and its proposed boundaries. It is made up of representatives of the charter and commercial fishing industries, spearfishing and other marine activity groups, Ugu South Coast Tourism, business, the South Coast Business Chamber and other interest groups.

The MPA will be divided into zones allowing or banning different activities within these zones. It has been proposed that the Protea Banks MPA will consist of one offshore controlled zone, one offshore controlled-pelagic zone and one offshore restricted zone. The proposed regulations forbid the mooring or anchoring of any vessel in the Marine Protected Area except under certain stated conditions.

No one will be able to fish or attempt to fish, in the Protea Restricted Zones and regulations will apply to how fishing gear onboard a vessel in this zone should be stowed. Anglers with recreational fishing permits may only fish for certain specified species in the Protea Controlled Pelagic Zone. Anglers will not be able to catch sharks in either the Protea Controlled Pelagic Zone or the Protea Controlled Zone. No one will be able to operate a scuba diving business in the MPA without a permit.

For information about the meeting or on how to obtain copies of the proposed regulations, including the co-ordinates for the proposed boundaries and zonings and information about target species, contact the Shelly Beach Ski-Boat Club at 039 3151476.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033