COMMENTS LEFT From 12 Jan 2012 - GO BACK TO LEAVE YOURS OR SCROLL DOWN BELOW
Rox Bradnick
Much as this news saddens me, it doesn''t shock me. Conservation to the government seems to only mean ''controlling'' our precious natural resources as a way to make more money. Maybe it''s just an ignorant and corrupt ministry, but considering the state of our marine life and wildlife, it''s sad to think that we are killing off our planet, one protected area after another.
Elzabe Kleynhans
Wildlife and Sealife are our children and need our protection! Unlike Ministers, they could become extinct! To quote Mahatma Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Shame on the Government for employing unethical Ministers (murderers)!
Lucy Jamieson
Fish stocks are perilously close to collapse. We need to extend the coverage of MPAs, to ensure the long term sustainability of fish stocks and consequently the survival of the fishing industry. This short-term thoughtless approach is reprehensible. What is Hon Molewa doing to ensure that such illegal activities are curbed?
Veerle Roelandt
Our oceans are already in danger due to overfishing, gillnets are a very destructive method of fishing. Please reconsider giving permit to use them.
Clarke Fullerton
Please understand how important sharks are to the marine envoronment.I urge you to show leadership and take advice from the concerned scientific community on this important issue.
Cameron Johnston
Is this another case of lining ones pockets being more important than a national asset? Bloody disgusting.
Marie Levine
To allow gill nets in this sensitive area is NOT supported by science or the Precautionary Principle -- the standard of sound management of a highly vulnerable area.
Dr Brian W Darvell
Appalling! Where''s the kickback? Nepotism? Or is the (ir)responsible person simply unfit for purpose? Whichever way, that head should be made to roll.
Alisa Schwartz
Incompetent bureaucracy at it''s finest here at the expense of already dwindling shark populations & fish stocks! Shame!
Maurene Schlosz
Is there not enough fraud, corruption, dishonesty and crime prevalent in our country already? Please all of you who are in power to stop this then do s. What goes around comes around
Laurens Koen
It is just unbelievable in this day & age that people whom are suppose to protect do the opposite. these people are destroying what is left and do not care about anything or anybody but themselves. it is time for goverment to smell the roses and replace these so called ministers with people who can & want to make a difference. it is not a colour or race thing but conservation for the future. we require the right person for the job!
Graham Holmes
Get out of this (and all) MPA''s!
Astri Leroy
Gill netting is bad enough but gillnetting in a nursery area like the Langebaan Lagoon is not only irresponsible, it is downright dangerous to food security. If the Minister can''t understand that then she ought not to have that post.
Pauline Heath
we need safeguard to our dwindling shake populations and fish stocks and put stop to over fishing
Diane Tait
Shame on you, you are helping to kill our oceans for no other reason than profit.Stop this before it is too late.
Dawn Zegledi
Please do not allow gillnets to be used in your waters. Please support responsible fisheries practices, the oceans depend on it. Thank you.
Twyla Douaire
How can you allow this illegal fishing. A protected area should remain a protected area with NO fishing allowed, no matter what.
Isabella La Rocca
I am outraged by the plundering of the MPA. There was no consultation by the Fisheries Branch on the decision to permit fishing in the MPA. Our legal advisor, Shaheen Moolla of Feike explains that the Fisheries Branch and its Minister does not have any legal jurisdiction over MPA management as this authority vests with the Department of Environmental Affairs. It would clearly appear that the rule of law, legality and responsible fisheries practices are simply of no interest to the Fisheries Branch and its increasingly woeful, absent and irresponsible Minister. The Minister and her department''s illegal decision is clearly not supported by the scientific component of the Fisheries Branch. Furthermore, it is reported that this sensitive nursery area of the smoothhound shark has subsequently been plundered.
Andrea Drummond
This should not be allowed!
Adrian Galley
It is sickening: those who are charged with creating legislation are consistently placing themselves above the law. Where will this end?
Kirsten Grish
STOP and think this through. If lining your pockets is your only priority, then you are even jeopardizing that, because this kind of "management" will only result in a dead ocean with NO resources. A collapsed ecosystem serves NO one. I can''t make you appreciate the beauty of the ocean and it''s value from that perspective, but for you to even keep your business running you MUST educate yourself on how ecosystems work. You are depleting yourself of your own resources and revenue.
David Crawshaw
Is this for the dirty $$$ ?
Karen Stone
To allow gill nets in when fish stocks are dwindling and sharks are disappearing is ludicrous. Dont let the money win!
Simon Thomas
Leave this protected area alone
Alerie Buisson
Nothing justify illegal fishing.
Terry Corr
Shocking Minister! Please explain?
Johan Anderson
WTF! (OK, you can delete that part if you like :) But seriously, WTF man!?
TRISH RICHARDS
The time has come to say a resounding NO to unsustainable fishing practices.... will we only be happy when the sea is devoid of life?
Fran Hoef-Bouchard
The Minister should resign from her post. This was clearly illegal and it would be interesting to find out how much money she made on this little deal.
George Stadnik
Please Stop Commercial Fishing in Marine Protected Areas.
EUGENE SMIT
TYPICAL ILL-CONSIDERED ACTION BY CLUELESS BUREAUCRATS WHO HAVE NO INTEREST OR IDEA OF WHAT THEIR JOBS ENTAIL
Emma Rooney
This is so sad, short-sighted and ignorant of all those concerned. People, what is the matter with you? Stop doing things that cause so much harm to this planet!!
Peter Lunt
There must have been a back hand for this to happen.
JP Blumenthal
This is disgraceful. It would be great to know what the agenda of the relevant authorities at DEA are? Smacks of corruption or nepotism?
KatrienVandevelde
It''s a disgrace that even the MPA''s are now overrun with fishermen robbing them of our last resources!
Angela Walker
This is disgusting and absolutely deplorable that such a stupid decision can be made in a sensitive nursery area of the Smoothhound shark. I am absolutely dumbfounded! Shame, shame shame on the Department of Fisheries
Christopher Porter
This situation calls for action. If any impropriety has occurred then the responsible persons must be brought to justice, and if guilty, lose their positions of responsibility and even their freedom. These officials need to refocus and have a look at the fast-degrading environment beneath the ocean surface. They are responsible for this sorry state. Take the time, Minister, to evaluate your actions and then do your duty. In the meantime, prepare your answer. You stand accused.
Heidi Hawkins
DAFF, do your duty of law enforcement!
Petrus Van der Walt
Once again the "elected and nepotistically appointed have become a law unto themselves, disenfranchising the fishing communities in favor of big co-ops,lining their own pockets and further showing their incompetence,greed, ignorance and inability to do what is right for our people and country. It is time to get rid of ineffective, lazy, malfunctioning, costly government leeches, and appoint the right person for the job, regardless of colour, creed or sex.
Dr Pete Fielding
Management of our fisheries is supported by very good scientists and scientific advice but the individuals who populate the levels at which decisions such as this (langebaan and other interventions to fish in MPAs) are made, display an abysmal ignorance of the most basic elements of fish population dynamics. These decisions are being made to score local political points but the great tragedy is that these decisions have a severe impact on the conservation estate of all people of South Africa (and very often further afield as well).
Vina MacGillivray
This is the result of Govt policy employing cronies who ae hopelessly inadequate to fulfill the jobs they fill. Exacerbated by the "couldn''t care less" attitude and no culpability nor fear of losing their job due to lack of delivery.
Philip Pearton
Excuse the lengthly cut and paste but I think this adequately illustrates the shambles in the department... M&G 2011 rating:E (do us a favour and resign) Previously rated as one of the best-performing ministers, this is a year to forget for the former Northern Cape MEC. Observers describe Joemat-Pettersson as “very hands-on, although it’s not clear what exactly she is doing”. She is the subject of an investigation by public protector Thuli Madonsela after racking up a bill of almost R1.6-million in hotel stays. The Democratic Alliance laid the complaint as the minister pleaded ignorance of the astronomical bill and blamed her staff for submitting the wrong information to Parliament. Last week, in a written reply to a parliamentary question, Joemat-Pettersson admitted that she had also chartered flights over 20 months to the tune of R1.6-million. She is the only Cabinet member, apart from International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to have chartered flights. It is believed she wants to remove her director general, Langa Zita, whom she allegedly blames for a series of blunders in her department. This includes the failure to approve a R420-million tender for the provision of tractors to black emerging farmers as part of Zuma’s Masibambisane rural development programme. Joemat-Pettersson first advertised the tender in May last year, but has since cancelled and advertised it again more than three times. Meanwhile, shipping company Smit Amandla, which stands to lose out on a R1-billion state fisheries tender, has accused her department of running an “unfair, unreasonable and irrational” procurement process with technically poorly qualified officials. Smit Amandla held the contract to manage, crew and operate the state’s environmental and fisheries vessels for 11 years. But last month Joemat-Pettersson announced a new R1-billion, five-year deal with a consortium led by listed company Sekunjalo, a majority stakeholder in Premier Fishing. The announcement sparked fierce criticism, primarily because Sekunjalo itself holds substantial fishing interests that are policed and monitored by the very vessels the company has been contracted to manage. The contract could give the company an edge in knowing the quantity of fish the state would allow it to catch during the following season and inside knowledge of the activities of fisheries patrol vessels. Mmmm..!! Joemat-Pettersson is also one of three government ministers who are appealing the Competition Tribunal’s decision to allow Walmart to take over Massmart.
Kay Steglich
I urge those responsible to live up to their responsibility in ensuring a sustainable environment that supports all species. Foresight is of advantage to all of us. How will your children live in this world if you continue exploiting natural resources. Shortterm profit will not protect anyone from the problems that will arise from this practice of greedy and thoughtless action.
Arnold Kressnig
This is just plain absurd
Matthew Mulholland
I do not know how people with children can refuse to consider the long term effects of their actions, other than
Guy Pringle
Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Now what? MPA''s under threat, fish stocks under threat, seals murdered, sharks hacked to pieces and left alive, rhinos massacred...when are we going to get an EPA in place with real teeth...for pete''s sake...
Allen Walker
Every day I thank the lord for being a South African and being able to live in such an amazing and stunning country with a heritage so rich, every evening pray that idiots that make decisions like these get "FIRED"!! Mr. Minister (Fisheries), please wake up! What you are allowing is an atrocity and insult to all South Africans
Kathy Carrillo
It is unacceptable for this to go unpunished. Laws were established for a reason. When violated those in authority have the responsibility to enforce said rules and regulations. Do the job they are paid for and violators need to be taught this will not be tollerated!
Annie Brown
When will the South African government realise that part of MPA means "protected" and take action against these thieves!
Dave Ball
Whats the point of having an mpa if your going to let people fish with gillnets. this is an important nursery area and the nets will catch and kill smoothhound and other endangered sharks. PLease stop this fishing now.
Dieter Becker
This is absolutely and the plunder of our oceans should be stopped and offenders dealt with using the full force of the law. Offenders should include custodians such as officials and members of government , including the minister who MUST be held accountable and on whos shoulders lie the responsibility of caring for the protection and conservation of our oceans and our natural resources.
Glenn Seiler
This is so sad to see the complete mis-management of our resources once again.... DAFF = DOFF ! Get It? F*** You !
Staci-lee Sherwood
I''m appalled at the thought of illegal fishing or any fishing in these areas. The use of Gillnets is extremely destructive not only to sharks but ALL marine life. Million of animals are slaughtered every year simply by being caught in these nets. Please ban the use of nets in all areas and please stop allowing any fishing to be the Zone B of the Langebaan Marine Protected Area. Our oceans are being over fished as it is. Please protect our marine life not exploit it. Thank you
Lorraine Saunders
This should not even be considered at any cost!! It is clearly a case of just more corruption at government level!
Giel De Kock
Please bring dedication and passion back to the management of our precious natural assets.
Susan Usher
Anything that severely effects the environment should not be allowed. As a frequent visitor to SA I like to see all on the wildlife on lannd and especially at sea. This needless slaughter can not be justified.
Wallis Buchan
This is a disgrace! They are raping and pillaging our beautiful oceans - which can never be replaced.
Garth Thomas
If we do not look after our Oceans what will be left for our children and grandchildren when we have finished plundering what is there now. We need to protect the hatchery area''s and have fishing free zones where fish stocks can replenish from. It does not make sense to allow fishing in these areas that threatens the long term servivability of fish species and habitat.
Stuart pringle
This type of incompetence needs to stop. Ministers should be held accountable and fired immediately.
Calvin Cunniffe
Our fisheries minister has undermined the purpose of having protected areas and such is a display of gross misconduct. A minister of fisheries allowing such netting of protected areas clearly doesn''t side with the principles of conservation and is thus not competent for the position of power he holds.
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