Ensuring strict compliance of the prescribed fishing regulations was one of the focus points of Operation Phakisa that was executed during the Easter weekend on the Northern Cape coastal area, including Port Nolloth, Kleinzee, Groenrivier, Alexander Bay and Hondeklip Bay.
During this period the public was authorised to engage in recreational fishing, permitting them to possess and transport a prescribed amount of fishing resources that include mussels, limpets and oysters, and a maximum of four West Coast rock lobsters per permit.
Sgt Timothy Sam, police spokesperson, said a number of operational successes were achieved by the multi-disciplinary team: 110 fishing permits were inspected at harbours, camping sites and launching pads and fines to the value of R18 000 were issued for the contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act and the National Environmental Management Act; a number of road traffic offences fines to the value of R5 300 were issued; dagga and tik to the value of R4 808, and R1 020 cash that is believed to be the proceeds of crime, were seized; three suspects were arrested for dealing in drugs; and undersized rock lobsters to the value of R2 500 were seized.
Actions and activities also included compliance inspections, vehicle check point, stop and searches, foot patrols along the coastal areas and raids at identified houses for illegal drugs and other commodity smuggling.
Nine vehicle check points were conducted on the Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay Road, and the Port Nolloth and Kleinzee Road during which 214 vehicles and 504 persons were stopped and searched.
The operation was executed under the overall command of Col. Kholakele Sontsi, provincial commander for Public Order Police and Tactical Response Team units, supported by Thulani Mthombeni of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment; Errol Swartbooi of the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, assisted by the tactical commander, Capt. James Peters.
Teams of different departments and entities, including the Department of Water and Sanitation, South African Revenue Services’ Customs unit and SANParks executed the disruptive actions.
Sontsi thanked all members and stakeholders involved in the protection of the marine resources and environment.
He expressed his appreciation to the public, including tourists, who fully co-operated with the inspecting law enforcement officials.
He also warned those intending to break the law to desist from tempering with essential infrastructure as signage and notice boards erected at the coastal sites were removed or vandalised.
