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South Africa to crash illegal fishing along coastline
28th March 2003
(Xinhua via COMTEX)
JOHANNESBURG -- South Africa is to launch a special fishing vessel to patrol its coastline in efforts to control illegal fishing, an environmental affairs official said on Friday.
Phakamani Buthelezi, chief director of environmental affairs and tourism department, said that the Eagle Star, a fishing vessel built at a cost of 15 million rand (about 1.8 million US dollars), would be deployed along the southern coast.
South Africa is surrounded by the ocean on three sides to the west, south and east and has a long coastline of about 3,000 km.
Buthelezi was speaking at a function during the handing over of the vessel to the department by national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka and the head of the asset forfeiture unit Willie Hofmeyr at the Cape Town harbor.
Buthelezi said the vessel would also be used to train their fishery control officers.
The Eagle Star was forfeited to the state in 2001 as part of a plea bargain in the case against Hout Bay Fishing Industries (Pty) Ltd, which was found guilty of illegal fishing in the country's waters.
Ngcuka said the success of the case indicated the importance of cooperative governance in fighting crime collectively.
"Forfeiting of this vessel demonstrates our commitment to take profit out of crime and seize assets that are used to perpetuate criminal activities."
Previously used for South Coast Rock Lobster fishing, the vessel can operate in excess of 200 nautical miles offshore and has an engine capacity of 750 kilowatt, making it a capable patrol vessel.
The Eagle Star will also be made available for training of Southern African Developing Community (SADC) fisheries officers. This forms part of the SADC Monitoring, Control and Surveillance training initiative.
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