Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
- Whether his Department has in the past experienced periods when abalone and crayfish poaching were more prevalent; if so, which months have seen above-average marine poaching activities;
- to what extent is information regarding poaching hotspots and times during the year that see increased poaching activities used to plan anti-poaching actions;
(3) (a) to what extent do anti-poaching actions influence applications for holiday leave and (b) what percentage of staff involved with law-enforcement activities is not allowed to take holiday leave over the December to January festive season?
(1) The response to abalone and crayfish poaching is a national competency, led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) under the auspices of Operation Phakisa. Operation Phakisa involves multiple law enforcement agencies and departments. CapeNature’s participation is one of collaborator and the entity contributes to the planning and implementation of joint operations in various coastal hotspots, whereby CapeNature’s specific participation is focussed in and adjacent to areas under CapeNature’s control. From CapeNature’s perspective, poaching is linked to ocean conditions, with a prevalence in poaching when sea conditions are clean and calm.
- While the response to abalone and crayfish poaching is a national competency led by DFFE, CapeNature officials survey and gather intelligence in and adjacent to areas under CapeNature’s control, and based on weather conditions, CapeNature may call for a specific joint operation via the relevant DFFE Phakisa Operations coordinator or participate in weekly joint operations planning in DFFE led focus areas.
(3) (a) and (b) The response to abalone and crayfish poaching is a national competency led by DFFE. Furthermore, the festive season coincides with the fire season in the Western Cape. As such, CapeNature officials are on stand-by for the fire season primarily. Leave is planned in advance to ensure presence during the festive period.
