Chronology of Reported Sightings of Offshore Vessels kitted with, and illegally setting, Traps for West Coast Rock Lobster within 500 metres around the Rooiels Shoreline

Page 8, Article 3.5 Zone E: Area 11: The area north of a straight line drawn from the lighthouse at Cape Point to the lighthouse at Cape Hangklip excluding the area within 1 nautical mile from the high-water mark

The Policy Gazetted on 16^th November, 2015 confirms the limitation of fishing trawlers with traps to outside of 1 nautical mile from shore.
In the early reporting names and boat numbers were not given just information of the occurrence

Recorded reports made to DAFF:

30^th November a report was made about a vessel that had been setting and clearing pots from 5 a.m. and was still active at 1900 hours

1^st December a report was made about 2 vessels that had left traps in overnight

December 3^rd and 4^th there were several large vessels reported

Reports made to Inspector Fouche and Insp de Bruin of Kleinmon among others Atlantic Blessing and Western Debbie were recorded names and on 4^th December at 0430 the Western Debbie was reported setting and lifting traps using lights that woke one resident.

5-th 13^th Numerous reports were made on a number of vessels including the Western Debbie (DTC 3579C SW 13) and then also on the Laylas (DTC 8084C) but all reported sightings by individuals and the Boat Club Chairman were advised as legal by Seawatch and by the local DAFF inspectorates
However when calculating that each of these boats is taking between 3000-15000 rock lobster per day¹, the residents decided something would need to be done and independently a few began to record what was happening on camera and we then accessed the Gazetted Policy and Subsequently the Permit Conditions – which is when we discovered that these vessels are indeed operating illegally and we need to do something to support DAFF to bring them to account.
RECORD of Sightings Reported by Phone or SMS to DAFF local inspectorates and record of available Photographic Evidence

14^th December, photo of the Western Debbie

15^th December, photo of Western Debbie

17^th December, good, clear time-marked photos of both Western Debbie and Laylas showing the dropping and retrieving of traps clearly

In addition to reports to local inspectorates, an email was sent to the Deputy Director Inshore Fisheries (dennisf@daff.gov.za)
21^st December photo of Laylas

email sent to Special Investigations Unit

22^nd December photos of Laylas and Western Debbie sent
There were no vessels reported during the Christmas Break
3^rd January 2016, vessels were seen by different residents with the following documented and reports made to DAFF:

2 p.m. Atlantic Blessing (DDF 356K) was reported as setting traps off Rooiels on the northwest side, within 200 metres of shore (photos are available)

5 p.m. Emily Marie (DTC 8247A) was reported as setting traps between 100-500 metres off Rooiels (good photos available)

7 p.m. SMS Report made that the Emily Marie was moving off but that it had left traps in the sea

0600 – Emily Marie reported arriving (0700-0900 good photos available)

0900 - Atlantic Blessing reported and 1000-1200 good photos available

1200 – Both vessels moved from northwest side, but Emily Marie left a few traps