Cape Town South Africa

[deep thinker]

Scuba divers can go there, they just require a special permit and need to inform the necessary agents of where and when they will be diving, so its not like nobody gets to see it.
Ok I know Im sounding like I am all for this issue, the more I think of it the more I am in fact... Allthough, I would not think a complete ban is necessary for who knows how long. I do however think that a 3 year closure of certain areas is a good idea. This gives reefs the necessary time to repopulate and the fish in a area a chance to grow and inhabit previously fished out areas. If it is closed for diving it should also be closed for fishing though. Create no removal areas for a time period of 2 to 4 years and Im all for it. It will be like paradise once those areas are reopened . By closing areas I mean no fishing as in none, even the guy who has the netting liscense for smitswinkel should no be allowed to continue fishing for the said period. I do honestly think that something like this will bring back much needed life to certain areas that is completely barren at the moment.
Close it for 3 years and open it for a year and I think you mite be able to reach a ecologically sound way for people to use the oceans natural resources. A kind of harvest and sow tipe of management mite be exactly what we need in this country where everything gets removed by everybody and in the end all pulls up their shoulders saying eish we didnt knou. It will also in a way stop the if its not gonna be here in a years time Ill get my share while I can attitude I see in alot of people.

 

[deep thinker]

Ok I just read the articel, its not what I thought it would be, what they are proposing is just plain stupid. It wont work and I think they will have alot of angry people on their door step after that one...

 

[Faizy]

Henre I think you must reread the proposal.I have a copy of the Gazette.mail me and I will send you a copy.All I can tell you if my child of 9 snorkel in any of these areas he will be inprisoned or pay a fine of R500000.

 

[Swedish Jim]

Expensive pastime this!:rcard

 

[Lenny]

Scuba divers can go there, they just require a special permit and need to inform the necessary agents of where and when they will be diving, so its not like nobody gets to see it.
Ok I know Im sounding like I am all for this issue, the more I think of it the more I am in fact... Allthough, I would not think a complete ban is necessary for who knows how long. I do however think that a 3 year closure of certain areas is a good idea. This gives reefs the necessary time to repopulate and the fish in a area a chance to grow and inhabit previously fished out areas. If it is closed for diving it should also be closed for fishing though. Create no removal areas for a time period of 2 to 4 years and Im all for it. It will be like paradise once those areas are reopened . By closing areas I mean no fishing as in none, even the guy who has the netting liscense for smitswinkel should no be allowed to continue fishing for the said period. I do honestly think that something like this will bring back much needed life to certain areas that is completely barren at the moment.
Close it for 3 years and open it for a year and I think you mite be able to reach a ecologically sound way for people to use the oceans natural resources. A kind of harvest and sow tipe of management mite be exactly what we need in this country where everything gets removed by everybody and in the end all pulls up their shoulders saying eish we didnt knou. It will also in a way stop the if its not gonna be here in a years time Ill get my share while I can attitude I see in alot of people.

Sorry, the story I heard from was that they where gonna ban all diving. But even so ifthey are going to make special allowences for scuba divers to be fair, they should also make for spearos.

Don't get me wrong I completely agree with you. That would be the ideal, if they would temporarily ban ALL FISHING. I've often thought "if only they would do that!'. They could close one section and open another side for 4 years and then switch over again. But the problem is that they would never do that! They would never place bans on traditional fishing, trek netting, etc. And the trek netters are huge culprits in the stock shortage! You see in reality the government doesn't give a shite about the enviroment! Their only concern is what the political implications are.

That guy down at smits with a netting license has a license because of one of two reasons. 1) His father fished, his grand father fished and his great grandfather fished, he knows nothing else and if you take that away he has no livelihood. The second possible explanation is that he is the recipient of affirmative action. Either way the government is not going to take away his permit because the political ramifications are too great. Once again politics take preference over the enviroment! The government is itself the greatest rapist of marine resources!

 

[deep thinker]

Ja I read the other article after my previous post...
I dont agree with the way they are doing it, I do think though that something needs to be done to protect certain areas. We see it every time we go diving and come home after a whole days diving with a few small or no fish at all. Look when you go dive in areas that does not have a very large supply of spearos and rec divers. Take Stilbaai area for example and see the difference in sea life quantity and quality between there and here.

 

[Lenny]

by the by, Faizy those are some freaken monster kreef!! nice one dude! So when's the next trip to Grotto boys?

 

[Capespearo]

Guys,there is a petition on the net for this,please sign and forward to all you know who have an interest in this.Otherwise next thing you know the areas are being enlarged or diving completely banned !

Go to :
Sign the Ban on all diving in Cape Point Nature Reserve!! Petition

Cheers,
Dean.

 

[Swedish Jim]

Nice work! Been there signed that!

 

[Lenny]

I signed it, but I'm always a bit sceptic about internet petitions, In that I wonder if the Government will even take them seriously. I really think we must petition. But How do they know that this petition is not computer generated. But then again at least it's worth a try. What I suggest is that we get as many people to sign this petition, but also get as many people as you can to write letters to the Department.

I noticed this guy mentioned the Navy's use in combating poaching:
Well here is the truth: The Navy's strike craft don't patrol the waters for poachers, I know that firstly because I know a Captain of a Strikecraft. Secondly I lived in the area and have never seen one leave the harbour in the last three years! Thirdly the Navy is using them as accommodation as they have a huge shortage of that on land.

The people who are doing poacher patrols are a newish fleet of ships (The Ruth first, Sara Bartman, etc.) that are owned by Smit marine, who are employed by the department of environmental affairs. I know this cos my late father in law was an engineer on these vessels. The great thing about these vessels is that they are super fast and can get from cape town harbour to struisbaai in record time! The problem is that doing so is a complete waste of time and fuel because of there is corruption somewhere in they system. And the poachers are tipped off every time they leave the harbour. When I say corruption I mean high up, because the crew are only told where they are going once they have left the harbour!

So frankly I think the department should do a little more introspection before it starts blaming everybody else for the poaching crisis!

 

[Lenny]

Hey Reece what do you think the water is looking like at seapoint. I perhaps we could do an early morning dive some time. I was at Soetwater/Kommetijie and the water was nice and clear, and apparently it was even cleaner on Sunday, but I'm just wondering if this northerly is gonna worsen conditions. Oh and you need to pm me your new cel no.

Is it just me or has this thread gone dead! Where is Covert, Bluecape, Miles, Romek, Hunlee etc..? Good to see Faizy here thou. But even these last two weeks, did nobody dive?

Oh yeah and I don't know I've said this yet, Swedish Jim, Nice to meet you dude! I take it you stay in Cape Town, what side of the city are you? Where do you like to dive and what do you dive for?

 

[capetownguy]

I didnt get in the water on saturday (had a bad babalas) but michael and other greg both went to hangklip....they said the water was cold but the viz was 30m+ they got their kreef withing half an hour....but didnt see any fish....
Sunday they went again (i had to go to a christmas lunch in langebaan) the viz was still good, michael shot 8 hotties, got 8 kreef, and some alikreukel. Greg got a fat 'braai fish' and 12 kreef.... (they only kept 4 each but just shows how many there were....apparently they had 16 kreef in the first 20 mins....)

 

[capetownguy]

My elandsbaai trip this weekend has been cancelled! but we going to Stilbaai instead! woohooo! anyone know how the viz is up there....or anyone gna be joining me for a dive or three?!

 

[Lenny]

Hectic! Who are you going with?

 

[capetownguy]

going with my gfriend, and 2 buddies of mine...but they dont dive...so it looks like im diving alone unfortunately

 

[Lenny]

Man would love to join you for some dives, but I gotta work on Sunday. However I am definately planning on going to jongensfontein after X-mas and youre welcome to join us.

DT, are you going to the club tonight, what time does it start again?

 

[capetownguy]

no worries man....suppose im just gna have to take the sshield with and stick to the shallows...

 

[Swedish Jim]

Apart from here and on the beach, do you guys meet anywhere else? (Spearo clubs etc..)

 

[deep thinker]

Myself and coverts members at BUC, Bellville underwater club.
We meet every wednesday at 8 but I wont be there tonite. Got a few things to finish before the year end :friday

 

[Faizy]

Hi Guys
I am the competition officer at BUC.I will be there tonight.Just ask for me (Faiz) then I will introduce you to some hardcore spearos.If needed DT can pm you my mobile number.NB.you don't have to bring your own XYZ.Also there maybe not so much of a crowd because of the holidays starting.