The agriculture, forestry, and fisheries department (DAFF) and other government agencies are in the process of seizing an illegal foreign fishing vessel that fisheries department officials boarded and captured on Thursday and various prosecutions may follow.
The Lu Huang Yuan Yu 186 berthed in Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. She could not berth earlier in the day, as planned, due to heavy fog, ministry spokesman Bomikazi Molapo said.
“The rummaging of the captured vessel was conducted and completed this afternoon [Saturday] by the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African Revenue Service (SARS), the department of home affairs (immigration), and DAFF,” he said.
The ship had nine crew members on board. No fish were found on board but fishing equipment was found.
“The crew claim to have been travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo where they claim they were going to fish and claim to have the necessary permits to do so. We have also established that this fleet of nine vessels is related and belongs to the same company,” Molapo said.
Although no fish were discovered on the vessel they had contravened the Marine Living Resources Act by entering the South African exclusive economic zone (EEZ) without a valid permit; the master or crew members had failed to comply with the lawful instructions as given by a fisheries control officer; and further did not facilitating the safe boarding, entry, and inspection of the vessel.
A formal DAFF seizure notice in terms of the act was drafted in respect of the vessel and this included seizure of its gear, equipment, stores, and cargo. This notice was in the process of being issued and would be concluded on Saturday.
“This vessel shall not leave the Port of Cape Town or relocate to any other berthing space within the port unless written authorisation in this regard is provided by the DAFF. Security in terms of the SAMSA [South African Maritime Safety Authority] agreement was arranged in this regard,” Molapo said.
The SAMSA infringements identified, which involved all nine vessels turning off all navigational lights to facilitate their escape and endangering/compromising safety of lives at sea, would be taken up with SAMSA during the investigation process. Evidence in this regard would be provided by the DAFF.
SARS also issued a fine of R8000 for tobacco and cigarette-related charges. The SAPS was also following up and investigating the health and inhumane keeping of dogs on board the vessel.
“A case docket in terms of the above charges will be completed and presented to the National Prosecuting Authority. Namibia and Mozambique are on high alert as they have been informed about these vessels. DAFF has notified and registered an intention to get all the nine vessels red flagged with regional fisheries management organisations,” Molapo said.
The DAFF spotted the nine vessels suspected to be fishing illegally in South African waters earlier this week.
The vessels were spotted around Durban, Port St Johns, and Cape Recife near Port Elizabeth. Upon monitoring the vessels, their activity seemed suspicious and the fisheries patrol vessel Victoria Mxenge was sent to search for them.
The vessels were discovered on Thursday. They co-operated and agreed to be escorted to the Port of Saldanha for proper inspection. However, during the night these vessels started dispersing in different directions.
“This made it harder for our vessel to give chase. Our vessel kept trail of one of the [fishing] vessels and captured and boarded it, escorting it to the Port of Cape Town,” the department said in a statement.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had instructed the South African Navy to assist with the chase of the vessels.
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