FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS IN SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS
FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS IN SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS
NEW REGULATIONS TO REGULATE FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS
MARINE LIVING RESOURCES ACT 18 OF 1998:
CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS INTO SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS
Due date for comments: Monday, February 19, 2024
19 January 2024 - Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, has recently published for public comment, the draft Regulations relating to the entry of foreign fishing vessels into South African Waters.
The draft regulations seek to create a discreet notification and permitting procedure applicable to foreign fishing vessels that wish to traverse South African waters or enter into port and simultaneously to domesticate relevant aspects of the Agreement on Port State Measures, to which South Africa is a party.
The draft regulations provide that the master of a vessel which does not intend to enter a port, may not traverse South African waters unless the Minister has been notified of the intention to enter and traverse South African waters at least 24 hours prior to entry.
This notification must include, among others, the reasons for the entry.
The Minister may refuse a vessel entry into South African waters where the vessel is, on reasonable grounds, suspected of being involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing), or is listed on an IUU vessel list by any country or in terms of any international agreement.
The regulations further provide for a permit application procedure.
The Draft Regulations can be downloaded HERE.
The due date for comments is Monday, February 19, 2024 .