Kogelberg IMP - 2nd SH meeting Report.pdf - Anchor Environmental

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BC – you can also provide feedback on the draft KCIMP in writing. Please look at the plan and raise any comments or concerns by January next year. Strategies: BC – the strategies are a proposal of how to put the objectives into practice. The diagram of objectives and strategies indicates that all the objectives are interlinked and essentially underpin one another. Zonation: BC ‐ this is likely to be the most contentious section. A proposal that was supported in the focus group meetings was the proclamation of one large zoned Marine Protected Area (MPA) similar to that of the Table Mountain MPA which has no take zones and controlled areas in which a blanket exemption has been granted. A similar initiative is proposed for the Kogelberg however it will be designed to benefit local communities through exemptions for the exploitation of inshore resources, like kelp, abalone and rock lobster, in controlled zones by local small‐scale fishers only. It is proposed that a general exemption be passed for all recreational fishers to fish in the controlled zones so as not to impact on the tourism industry in the area. Exemptions will also be granted for the exploitation of offshore and migratory resources by large scale commercial rights holders where applicable. All exemptions will be granted within 80% of the coastline of the MPA, the remaining 20% will be a no take sanctuary area. This no take area is necessary so to ensure that the inshore resources (which are to be utilized exclusively by local small scale fishers and recreational fishers) can be sustained from within the MPA. We need to identify 20% of the coastline to be declared no take. The zones still need to be identified and negotiated. What we need from this meeting is in principle support for the idea before we invest effort in determining where the no take zone/zones will be located. The Bot Estuary Management Plan (EMP) has been integrated into this draft plan, but we acknowledge that the Bot EMP is still not finalized. We hope that it gets carried forward and incorporated in this KCIMP. It is important to understand that the one large zoned MPA is at this point only a proposal and that if you support it in principle we can take it forward and present it to Marine and Coastal Management. Comment 5 – The Betty’s Bay MPA is the only section of the Kogelberg coast that is safe for angling from the shore. Rooiels has a dangerous coastline. Angling must be allowed in Betty’s Bay MPA as it attracts visitors and is the only area where geelbek can be caught. Anglers are not the only culprits on the coast. Visitors scramble over rocks and allow dogs on beaches. If you close a section of coast to angling you must close it to all users. Response BC – We are not here to discuss where the no take zones will be located. This will be taken up in negotiations next year once we have in principle support from you for a large zoned MPA with 20% of the coast no take. The negotiation process will be a long process to be initiated next year. One issue brought up in a focus group meeting regarding the closure of the Betty’s Bay MPA was that of equity. Currently small scale fishers are not permitted to fish here while recreational fishers can from the shore.
Comment 6 – the visitors will drown if not allowed to fish from the shore in Betty’s Bay and there are large sections of the coast which cannot be accessed as there is private land adjacent to the coast. Response BC – The KCIMP is trying to facilitate access to coastal public property in line with the vision and objectives of the Integrated Coastal Management Act. Comment 7 – Do we just need to agree on the principle of the one large zoned MPA in this meeting Response BC – We are trying to get the word out and correct message out through this meeting. Comment 8 – Why was the map put up Has Colin Attwood’s plan been discarded Response BC – The map was put up to stimulate discussion. Comment 9 – What species are protected by the Betty’s Bay MPA Response BC – Inshore resources and biodiversity Comment 10 – Why not prevent access to species like Geelbek and Kabeljou on a seasonal basis Response BC – It is difficult to manage an MPA on a seasonal basis Comment 11 – Does “local” include visitors from Johannesburg Response BC – No, but all recreational fishers will be allowed to fish in the controlled zones. Comment 12 – Are offshore commercial fishers going to be allowed in the MPA Response – Ken Hutchings (KH)– The offshore industry will be kept offshore as they have depth limits. No trawlers will operate within the MPA, however commercial traditional line fishers will most likely be allowed. Comment 13 – But the commercial Snoek fishers are not local. Response KH – The fishery is not viable if it is not nomadic as snoek are a migratory species. Comment 14 – What about commercial fishers that harvest two or more species (dual harvest) Response KH – This is not allowed. Comment 15 – Will commercial fishers be allowed in the no take zones Response KH – No, the no take zones are no take for everyone. Comment 16 (Geoff Harris) – I was misquoted in the minutes from the recreational fishers focus group meeting. I DO believe tourism plays a major role in the economy of the area. This being the case, I did not make the ridiculous comment to the effect that “only a few rich people benefit from tourism” which was credited to me at the focus meeting. Comment 17 – The maps in the draft KCIMP and the presentation are different. Response BC – I acknowledge the differences. The zonation plans are by no means final and this one (in the presentation) was presented to stimulate thinking, which is why there are
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Kogelberg IMP - 2nd SH meeting Report.pdf - Anchor Environmental

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