[LISTEN] Minister suspends octopus exploration amid whale outcry
Operators will now start removing their gear from False Bay, focusing initially on those areas identified as most sensitive and with the highest number of interactions.
The Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, has temporarily suspended exploratory fishing for octopus in False Bay with immediate effect.
This follows a public outcry over the entanglement of a number of whales in octopus traps in the area.
The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) earlier called for an end to the trapping, saying that the operator involved was not maintaining their traps.
Creecey met with fisheries industry roleplayers two weeks ago and indicated that she is seeking independent scientific advice on practical measures that can help prevent entanglement incidents in the future.
She has now enacted a suspension in False Bay, which will remain until such time as scientists can investigate the matter further and explore possible mitigation measures to reduce entanglements.
"In 2014, the Department established an octopus exploratory fishery that is operating in Saldanha, False Bay and Mossel Bay. This programme aims to gain scientific knowledge regarding octopus harvesting," said Creecy.
Listen to Creecy below:
The Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries says it has been working with permit holders to implement measures to minimise the entanglement of whales in fishing gear.
After special sinking lines with extra weights were introduced in 2017, there were no recorded whale fatalities in 2018.
Following the Minister's decision on Friday, operators will now start removing their gear from False Bay, focusing initially on those areas identified as most sensitive and with the highest number of interactions.