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The pilot permitted by the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, is to test the implementation of the draft regulations as published in the Government Gazette (19 November 2015). Information obtained from the pilot will contribute towards decision making and will also assist to garner support from local communities for conservation. Communities approached authorities claiming fishing rights for recreational, historical and cultural purposes were taken away from them more than 50 years ago when the MPA was proclaimed without a public participation process.

Approval for the pilot phase was granted based on the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003, section 50(1b) – “the management authority of a National Park, Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site, may, despite any regulation or by law referred to in section 49, but subject to the management plan of the Park, Reserve or Site: b) may enter into a written agreement with a local community inside or adjacent to the Park, Reserve or Site to allow members of the community to use in a sustainable manner biological resources in the Park, Reserve or Site and c) set norms and standards for any activity allowed in terms of paragraph (a) or (b).

Only localized components of the MPA, namely 4 areas totaling 20% of the coastline, will have fishing access in terms of the pilot phase. Thus by far the larger portion of the MPA coastline will remain untouched by shore fishing; and the entire area of the MPA will also remain off limits to boat fishing. So in this respect the offshore area under protection is being increased. SANParks is currently exploring the possibility of expanding the MPA offshore (to the West).

The draft regulations (published on the 19th November 2015) are to withdraw the existing Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) declared in stipulation 2(19) of Government Gazette 21948, Notice 1429 of December 2000, and to declare under section 22A of the National Environment Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No.57 of 2003), the Tsitsikamma National Park Marine Protected Area Act as set out in the Schedule hereto.

The public has 60 days to comment on the regulations from the date of publication (19th November 2015).

The exemption to grant fishing rights from the 15th December until the commencement of the final Declaration Notice and final regulations for the management of the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) to allow for sufficient data collection against a 50-year data set.

“We are serious about the dual function of providing benefits for society and of ensuring that such benefits are protected for future generations. The trade-offs between the flow of benefits and the protection of resources that provide benefits are complex and subject to continuous change as human needs evolve and as new knowledge accumulates. SANParks therefore has to be prepared to continuously reassess these trade-offs in consultation with its various partners” says Mketeni.

The Mayor of Koukamma, Sam Vuso and Henrico Bruiners of the Tsitsikamma Angling Forum (TAF) expressed their willingness to work hand in hand with SANParks in managing the interim process. “The operational plan will be managed by SANParks but community involvement is key and controls are better managed when agreed upon with communities and not enforced” says Bruiners.

More information about the pilot project

Q: How long will the pilot last?

A: The pilot is scheduled to start on the 15th December 2015 and shall terminate upon commencement of the final Declaration Notice and final Regulations for the Management of the Tsitsikamma National Park Marine Protected Area published in terms of NEMPAA to facilitate fishing in the MPA.

Q: Where is the exact location for the pilot phase?

A: In the four areas stipulated in the Government gazette: www.gpwonline.co.za

Q: Are we not meddling with fish stocks/ populations which are protected under an MPA?

A: 4 areas totaling 20% of the coastline, will have fishing access in terms of the proposal. Thus by far larger portion of the MPA coastline will remain untouched by shore fishing; and the entire area of the MPA (which is being expanded offshore in the west) will also remain off limits to boat fishing. So in this respect the offshore area under protection is being increased.

Fish stocks in the MPA are better protected by cooperation with local communities than by attempting to exclude them from having access at all.

Q: How will ecological sustainability be maintained?

A: There will be impacts on fish stocks in the controlled areas where fishing is allowed, and catch-rates will decrease, but these effects will be different for different species. But in order to reduce the impacts a number of new measures are being introduced:

These include:

• Tighter control to ensure access to registered anglers (Any person who wishes to register must apply to the management authority for registration and submit proof of the following as part of the application: That they live in a Tsitsikamma community, a copy of their SA ID, a copy of a valid recreation angling or bait permit issued in line with the the Marine Living Resources Act).
• Limiting the number of days per month an individual may fish to 4
• Limiting fishing times to daylight hours
• Reduced daily bag limits for most species (approximately half)

In addition there will be active monitoring of catches.

Q:Plan to protect fauna, flora, invertebrates during and after the pilot project?

A: Here (in addition to the above measures) communication, monitoring and compliance efforts will be very important. Additional staff will be made available through the Departments Environmental Programmes Branch.

The fish stocks in the controlled (fishing) areas, and the fully protected areas will be monitored. The four fully protected coastal areas will still each be bigger than a number of entire small MPAs, and should provide effective protection, particularly to resident (non-migrating) fish species.

Group picture of SANParks management, management of the Koukamma Municipality and the Tsitsikamma Angling Forum.

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