AR-News: Media Release: South Africa Draft Policy for Seals, Seabirds etc...

[Barry Kent MacKay]

 MEDIA RELEASE

 DRAFT POLICY FOR SEALS, SEABIRDS AND SHOREBIRDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

 On the 26th March 2004, the SA Government gazetted the new Seal,
 Seabirds and Shorebirds Draft Policy. Written Public Comment must be
 submitted by the 31st May 2004, to Ms. Linda Staverees at Fax (021) 425
 7324 or Private Bag X2, Roggebaai, 8012 or http://staveree@deat.gov.za
 or Tel (021) 402 3911. The draft document is available at
 www.deat.gov.za

 Seal Alert-SA in general is very pleased with this document. In
 particular the issues related to Seals and the newly protected
 Shorebirds.

 In 1893, the first legal control over Seals and Seabirds were
 promulgated under the Cape Fish Protection Act. This stipulated that no
 seals may be harvested on islands without a government permit. In 1973,
 Sealing was managed under the Sea Birds and Seal Protection Act. In
 1990, a moratorium was introduced which placed a ban on sealing in South
 Africa only, pending further research.

 For the past 111-years, Seals were harvested and killed under an
 Apartheid system, in the most barbaric of ways, the rounding up and
 clubbing to death of 6-10 month old seal pups and the shooting of bull
 seals.

 In this is newly released draft, history is being made and for the 1st
 time Seals will no longer be Exploited or Harvested for Commercial Gain.
 It
 states:-
 Schedule 1 - will be expanded to include all islands and islets along
 the SA coast were breeding of seals, seabirds or shorebirds takes place,
 as well as mainland breeding sites for seals and penguins. Including all
 non-breeding locations, haulout sites and roosts for seals and seabirds,
 whether on islands or on land. 

 Conservation - Policy will have as its
 prime objective the conservation of Seals, Seabirds and Shorebirds in
 SA. 

 Incidental Capture by fisheries - Policy will adopt plans of action
 for reducing the incidental mortality of Seals and Seabirds caused by
 fishing operations. Fishing of gill nets in the vicinity of seal and
 seabird breeding colonies will be restricted. Training of crew abroad
 trawlers in the disentanglement of seals caught in nets so that they may
 released alive. Restrictions will be implemented on the use or carrying
 of firearms, ammunition and explosives abroad fishing vessels, with a
 view to control of the illegal shooting of seals at sea. 

 Starvation -   
 Starvation is a major cause of mortality. Policy will aim to ensure
 sufficient availability of food in the wild to sustain populations.
 

 Killing of Seals and Seabirds - Policy will generally prohibit the
 killing of seals and seabirds. All killing, except that for humane
 reasons, should be controlled by a permit. All killing should be
 humanely undertaken. Accurate records should be kept of numbers of seals
 or seabirds killed. The killing of seals or seabirds for profit will
 generally not be sanctioned. Insufficient food - Policy will ensure
 adequate availability of food for seals and seabirds, which will
 necessitate providing for sufficient escapement of food from fisheries.
 Policy will make provision for the prohibition of specified types of
 fishing in the vicinity of seals and seabird breeding localities.
 

 Disturbance - Policy will aim to minimize unnecessary disturbance to
 seals and seabirds. 

 Ecotourism - Tourism to Seal and seabird colonies
 has exhibited remarkable growth in SA in recent years. A co-ordinated
 plan for development of tourism to Seal and seabird colonies nationwide
 seems desireable. 

 Job Creation - Jobs will be created for guides.
 Introduction of observer programme on fishing vessels to monitor
 by-catch of seals and seabirds. 

 Captive Populations - Policy will
 require permits for holding seals and seabirds in captivity. Policy will
 further require permits for the feeding of seals and seabirds and for
 possession of seals and seabirds or parts thereof. A permit system for
 the transportation of seals within SA should be introduced 

 Education -
 Policy will promote the public understanding of seals and seabirds and
 their role in the marine ecosystem. Seals and Seabirds have considerable
 public appeal, which should be enhanced through increased media
 exposure. There is a need to educate fishers on the harmful effects of
 fishing on seals and seabirds. Provision to allow DEAT to issue permits
 to control the making of educational films and documentaries on seals
 and seabirds. 

 Funding - Policy will make provision for appropriate
 funding for monitoring, research and management of SA's Seals and
 seabirds. Possible sources of income include, a levy on tour operators,
 a tax on shipping, support from the Marine Living Resources Fund, ad hoc
 contributions from business and industry who are offered tax breaks as
 incentives. 

 Rehabilitation and Rescue - It will aim to have in place and
 support contingency plans, networks and/or rehabilitation facilities for
 rescue. Policy will aim to assist with funding of Seabird
 Rehabilitation, but will not fund Seal Rescue or Rehabilitation, but
 will encourage privately-funded rehabilitation facilities, which will be
 required to follow protocols determined by government. 

 Seal Alert-SA,
 wishes to applaud the Government and DEAT/MCM in the drafting of this
 policy, and wishes to point out with regard to Seals, and Seabirds it
 could not have come at a moment too soon. With less than 1% of the
 offshore island land area still colonised by seals. With whole islands
 once named after seals extinct. With 11 out of 20 islands already
 extinct. With 6 of the remaining 9 seal colonies, having declined by 62%
 in just the last 30-years. With the East Coast seal colonies declining
 by 82% in the last 11-years and with possibly more seals being illegal
 drowned or shot by fisheries, than are being born. Environmental stress,
 starvation and inappropriate haul-out habitats, causing increasing
 incidents of mass mortality.

 Finally, I wish to thank the media, for their vital contribution to
 creating the awareness around these marine species, and who in no small
 part assisted in bringing this policy into reality - Please take a bow.

 For the Seals
 Francois Hugo - Seal Alert SA
 http://sasealion@wam.co.za
 021-790 8774

 _________________________________________________________________


  Barry Kent MacKay
  Canadian Office 
  ANIMAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE 
  www.api4animals.org