In a further effort to protect South Africa’s fast-diminishing perlemoen stocks, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk has imposed a ban on scuba diving and snorkelling in certain areas along the Cape coast.
The envisaged prohibition, subject to a process of public comment, will take effect from February 1 next year, environmental affairs spokesperson Mava Scott told the South African Press Association on Tuesday.
The ban comes in the wake of the suspension of commercial perlemoen fishing, which is set to start on the same date.
According to a statement issued by the department, the areas in which diving will be prohibited include:
- within the Bird Island Marine Protected Area;
- from Quoin Point to Danger Point, extending from the west bank of the Ratel River to the eastern boundary of Gansbaai Harbour’s main breakwater wall, and extending two nautical miles seaward from the high-water mark;
- around Dyer Island, extending one nautical mile from the high-water mark;
- from Venus Pool to Olifantsbos on the Cape Peninsula, extending two nautical miles seaward from the high-water mark;
and
- around Robben Island, extending one nautical mile from the high watermark.
The prohibition appears to be aimed at stopping perlemoen-poaching syndicates, who are known to use divers to illegally harvest perlemoen from the seabed.
According to Scott, the legislation bans the use of certain types of equipment — including underwater breathing gear, masks, flippers and snorkels — within the listed areas.
Draft legislation on the prohibition was published in the Government Gazette on Monday. Scott said interested parties had until 4pm on January 15 next year to comment on the matter. — Sapa