19 May 2000
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa today announced that a whale sanctuary is to be established in Walker Bay, Hermanus, in the Western Cape during the whale breeding season.
Speaking during his Budget Vote in the National Assembly today Minister Moosa said: “Walker Bay in the Southern Cape is a highly significant breeding area for whales, which come in from the southern seas.
“It is one of the few sites in the world that provide the opportunity to engage shore-based whale watching. In the recent years, owners of recreational boats and other crafts have tended to ignore regulations aimed at protecting the whales. It is therefore my intention to prohibit boats and other vessels from entering the bay during the whaling season from July to December.’
Today’s Government Gazette announced that the Minister’s intention under Section 43 of the Marine Living Resources Act (Act No 18 of 1998) to declare an area of Walker Bay a Marine Protected Area to serve as a whale sanctuary. The proposed declaration will apply from 1 July to 15 December each year. The co-ordinates and map of the proposed area are available from Jeremy Davids at Marine and Coastal Management head office (021) 402 3164.
In addition to the provisions of Section 43 of the Act, regulation 58 of the regulation published under Government Notice No R 111 of 2 September 1998 (Gazette No 19205), which pertains to the protection of whales, will also be applied.
Furthermore, no person shall operate any fishing boat, vessel, jetski, kayak or craft of any kind within the Marine Protected Area without written permission, with the exception of any legally permitted boat-based whale watching vessels, which may operate subject to the relevant permit conditions and the closed areas for boat-based whale watching, as published in Government Notice No 417 of 18 February 2000 (Gazette No 20877).
Comments on the above proposal are invited in writing from all interested and affected parties to reach the Chief Director: Marine and Coastal Management, Private Bag X2, Roggebaai, 8012; Fax: (021) 425 2920 within 30 days of this notice.
Issued by the Ministry for Environmental Affairs and Tourism
For More Information Please contact:
Onkgopotse JJ Tabane
Media Liaison Director
Ministry for Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Cell: 082 465 6166
E-mail: tabane@iafrica.com