Three foreign vessels have been captured off the Eastern Cape coast and are now being held in East London harbour following a joint operation by government departments and the army and navy that included a chase at sea.
Three foreign vessels have been captured off the Eastern Cape coast and are now being held in East London harbour following a joint operation by government departments and the army and navy that included a chase at sea.
According to a joint media release, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) joined forces with the South African Navy to conduct sea patrol within the South African coastline and a Fishery Control Officer was deployed on board the South African Navy vessel.
On 20 May 2016 the joint patrol spotted two Foreign Fishing Vessels just off Port Elizabeth, according to the media release. This was done using the Automated Identification System on board the Navy Vessel.
The patrol established that the vessels had fishing gear on board and established that they had not applied to enter into South Africa's Exclusive Economic Zone.
"The seas were rough which made it impossible for our inspectors to board the vessels. Our Fishery Control Officers instructed the vessels through radio communication to sail to East London Port but they did not cooperate."
A chase followed.
"DAFF’s patrol vessel and the SA Navy vessel had to increase speed in order to intercept the foreign fishing vessels which were speeding off, but managed to intercept them.
"The vessels stopped and they switched off their engines."
Then in the early hours the vessels tried to sneak off under cover of dark.
"At 2am, on Sunday morning 22 May 2016, the foreign fishing vessels started their engines and within no time and with no communication with the inspectors, they started steaming towards the east."
The patrols followed the two vessels throughout the early hours of the morning and intercepted them again.
"Fortunately this time the weather had improved and the fisheries inspectors and the SA Navy officials boarded the vessels."
Following inspections, fish and gear were found on both foreign vessels, neither with permits. The vessels were again instructed to sail to the nearest port which was East London.
"En route to East London, another foreign fishing vessel was spotted crossing in between the fleet going in a different direction, and the inspectors launched to go and conduct an inspection on board this vessel.
"This vessel did not have any permit and was also instructed to go to East London Port."
All the law-enforcement agencies were activated to participate in a thorough inspection of the vessel on their arrival in the Port.
The foreign fishing vessels were found to have the following on board:
* Fu Yuan Yu 7880 – about 340 tons of squid with 36 crew
* Fu Yang Yu 7881 – about 60 tons of squid with 34 crew
* Run Da 617 – about 200 tons of squid and other species of fish with 26 crew
The three foreign vessels are currently berthed in East London harbour.
"The vessels arrived at the Port last night accompanied by the DAFF vessel Sarah Baartman and the SA Navy vessel SAS Drakensberg," the media release said.
In East London, a thorough inspection was done on all three vessels by all law-enforcement agencies: South African Police Services, SARS Customs, DHA Immigration and the South African Maritime Safety Authority.
"Currently all the fish-holding cabins have been sealed off as required by investigation standards. As part of further investigations of the vessels, all fish will be taken out of the vessels for further identification, counting and weighing."Possible charges include possession of gear on board without a gear permit; not complying with the lawful instruction from the Fishery Control Officer; infringements in terms of 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, which 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 DAFF Minister Senzeni Zokwana.
“The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) will be conducting a survey of the vessels today. The inspection will consider crew safety, pollution threat, vessel safety standards and all related matters in terms of International conventions as well as South African maritime law” Thobile Gqabu, Principal Officer, Centre for Fishing, in East London.
“The mandate of the South African National Defence Force and in particular the South African Navy is to ensure that we protect the maritime routes and the resources of our country as we protect the territorial integrity of the Republic" said Siphiwe Dlamini, Head of Communication South African Defence Force.
DAFF and SAPS are busy with registration of the docket, after which it will be handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
