ROB DAVIES, Johannesburg | Monday 3.00pm.
THE proposed issuing of 20 whale-watching licences to boat-based opearators by the environmental affairs and tourism department in order to capitalise on the tourism value of southern right whales off the Southern African coast has caused a stir in environmental circles.
Environmentalists like Nan Rice director of Save the Whales are fearful that whales may be adversely affected by the planned licences, and say that it is possible that the whales will stop mating because they will be harrassed by the boats, or will spend their time investigating the vessels.
Speaking to the eM&G Rice said that the animals come to the South African coast “to court, mate and calve, and the whales must be given their privacy in order to perform these vital tasks.”
However, if the licences are issued, they will bring in a substantial amount of money that can be used to the benefit of communities like Gansbaai and Hawston, places where fishing is no longer bringing home the bacon, and whales frequent on a regular basis.
But Rice feels that this is “rubbish”, saying that “the only people who will benefit will be the boat owners.” Rice also said that “Sea Fisheries does not have the funds or manpower to monitor the boats and to see that people stick by the regulations.”
The operators have stressed the need for a strictly controlled system, and the department of environmental affairs and tourism hopes that the licences will have a self-regulating effect on the operators. Rice also disagrees with this, saying that the operations will escalate as soon as people see that there is money to be made.
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