Port Elizabeth - Authorities will on Friday conduct a thorough inspection of a Taiwanese fishing vessel which was ordered to dock in Cape Town.
The Department of Environmental Affairs said its Vessel Monitoring System spotted the vessel, Chin Jen Wen, entering South Africa's exclusive economic zone on Thursday.
Spokesperson Bomikazi Molopo said the vessel was sailing from Mossel Bay in the direction of Cape Town. She said the vessel, which docked in Cape Town on Friday morning, did not apply for any permit from the Department. “Fishery Control Officers (FCOs) boarded and inspected the Taiwanese Vessel and established that it had fishing gear and bait on board without a permit. The Vessel was instructed to sail to Cape Town Port for thorough inspection. Initially the vessel complied and moved towards Cape Town port direction but after a short while it stopped.”
“It was again instructed to proceed but it did not cooperate. Another Fisheries Protection Vessel was dispatched with FCOs and Police officials to go and assist in ensuring that the Vessel sails to Cape Town Port as instructed. The Taiwanese Vessel eventually cooperated and sailed to Cape Town Port,” said Molopo.
She said an inspection would be conducted and relevant charges would be laid against the Taiwanese Vessel in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act.
“The Minister has undertaken to intensify the fight against any form of illegal fishing in our exclusive economic zone to ensure that our resources are utilised for the benefit of the country to reduce poverty and ensure food security for all. South African waters remain a sovereign jurisdiction and its marine living resources will be protected by the Department,” said Molopo.
African News Agency