Three more fishing boats nabbed
The vessels had a combined weight of about 600 tonnes of fish on board.
IN spite of rough seas and apparent attempts to evade their pursuers, three illegal Chinese fishing vessels were hunted down and captured in a joint Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) and South African Navy operation last weekend.
This follows the apprehension of another foreign fishing boat two weeks ago. Now berthed in Cape Town it was the only one captured when a fleet of nine vessels fled the fisheries patrol boat Victoria Mzenge.
On Monday this week, fishing boats Fu Yuan Yu 7880, with 36 crewmen aboard, Fu Yang Yu 7881, with 34 crewmen aboard and Run Da 617, with 26 crewmen aboard, were escorted to East London by Daff vessel Sarah Baartman and the SA Navy vessel SAS Drakensberg.
Although the crews could not produce permits, all three vessels had fishing gear and a combined total of about 600 tonnes of squid and other fish on board.
The foreign vessels are now berthed in East London.
According to a joint statement issued by the department of fisheries, the South African National Defence Force and the South African Maritime Safety Authority the high seas drama began when Daff joined forces with the South African Navy to conduct a sea patrol along the South African coastline last week. A fishery control officer was deployed aboard the navy vessel.
On Friday the navy boat’s Automated Identification System picked up two foreign fishing vessels. The patrol verified that the boats had fishing gear aboard and that the vessels had not applied to enter into South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The rough seas made it impossible for inspectors to board the vessels. The fishery control officer therefore ordered the foreign vessels to East London but the crews did not cooperate.
The patrol vessels had to increase speed in order to intercept the foreign fishing vessels as they were were speeding away. Then the crews switched off the engines of the foreign vessels and remained stationary until Sunday morning at around 2am. Without communicating with the inspectors, they then started speeding away towards the east.
The patrol continued to follow the two fishing vessels throughout the early hours of the morning and was eventually able to intercepted them.
By then the weather had improved and fisheries inspectors and navy officials were able to board the foreign vessels. Inspector found fish and fishing gear but no permits for either and the crews were again instructed to sail to East London, the the nearest port.
En route to East London, the patrol spotted another foreign fishing vessel heading in a different direction. When this was boarded and inspected it was also found to have fish and gear aboard with no permits. Its crew was also instructed to go to East London.
In port the captured vessels were thoroughly inspected by representatives from the South African Police Services (Saps), South African Revenue Services (Sars), Customs and Immigration and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa).
Fish holding cabins were sealed and all fish will later be taken out for further identification, counting and weighing.
Thobile Gqabu, the principal officer for the Centre for Fishing in East London, said Samsa would conduct a survey of the vessels, with inspectors considering crew safety, pollution threat, vessel safety standards and all related matters in terms of International Conventions and South African Maritime Law.
Possible charges that the crews face include possession of gear on board without a gear permit; not complying with the lawful instruction from the fishery control officer; and possible infringements in terms the International Conservation and Management Measures inside or outside South African waters. Further investigations may lead to further charges.
“The capturing of these vessels indicates our seriousness as a country to protect our territorial and exclusive economic zone.
We cannot tolerate the plundering of our marine resources – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana.
They are a source of food security and play a huge role in realising our goals in Operation Phakisa. We are also looking into the sudden influx of these vessels in our waters,“ said Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana.
Defence force spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini said the navy in particular was mandated to protect South Africa’s maritime routes and resources.
Daff and the Saps are registering a docket that will be handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority.
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