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Restricted Activities in the Addo MPA

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The newly expanded area of the Addo Marine Protected Area (MPA) comes into effect on 1 August 2019.

From that date SANPARKS rangers in the employ of Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) will be policing the newly declared Marine Protected Area.

Essentially the area stretches from Bird Island to just short of the Nqura Harbour Wall and includes all islands in Algoa Bay. The area also includes the navigable reaches of the Sundays River.

Staff from the Addo Elephant National Park have hosted two roadshows answering affected parties questions ahead of 1 August 2019.

At the session held in Cannonville on Tuesday 30 July 2019 residents and fishermen were most concerned with the following issues:

  1. New boat licensing price structure
  2. Jetties
  3. Fishing

1. New Boat Licensing Price Structure

  • 0-30 hp: R271.00 pa
  • 31-50 hp: R356.00 pa
  • 51-100 hp: R411.00 pa
  • 101-150 hp: R470.00
  • 151-200 hp: R541.00

No jetskis are allowed in the area. Current Metro boat registration permits are valid until June 2020. Boat permits currently available at Addo’s Matyholweni Rest Camp.

Please Note: You will still need a boat permit for any other river outside of the MPA.

2. Jetties

There are currently 172 structures on the river (jetties, slipways). The management of these structures will be decided upon by an Estuary Management Committee (still to be formed). The sentiment from SANPARKS is that these structures will not be privatised and nor will te ‘owners’ be told to remove structures in good order.

3. Fishing

Fishing is allowed from Sunrise to Sunset. No cast nets are allowed.

The meeting started on a heated note with the community largely supporting the MPA but expressing concern at a lack of communication and poor attitude of officials towards stakeholders and community at large. “We expect to be properly engaged on issues going forward,” said Leon De Villiers.

With respect to tourism by Boat Based Whale Watching and Scientific expeditions into the area, officials from Addo have indicated that in the the first year of existence concessions will be made on a written application basis to bona fide registered operators.

As it stands the St Croix Offshore Restricted Zone’s regulations state:

  • No Fishing
  • No Anchoring
  • Minimum Vessel Speed of 5 knots
  • Fishing Gear Stowed
  • Scuba Diving only with a SANPARKS Permit
  • Keep a distance of 300m away from the island.

At present there are two licensed Boat Based Whale and Dolphin Watching operators in Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth: AB Marine Charters and Raggy Charters. It would appear that their expenses will now increase slightly.

Spokesperson for AB Marine, Alan Straton, said; “AB Marine and Expert Tours are in full support of the newly declared MPA and it’s conservation goals.”

“AB Marine has submitted in writing a request for permission to continue approaching the islands closer than 300 metres. AENP have indicated that our favourable BEE status, extensive CSI contributions to stakeholders such as Masifunde, SANCCOB and the Wilderness Foundation as well as a proven track record in conservation will stand us in good stead when considering our application,” concluded Straton.

AENP will be monitoring the area from land based vantage points and have access to vessels for at sea inspections when required.

8 Zone Types have been identified within the MPA:

  1. Sundays and Cannon Rocks Inshore Controlled Zones – SICZ and CRIZ
  2. Cape Padrone Inshore Controlled Zone – CPICZ
  3. Sundays Inshore Restricted Zone – SIRZ
  4. St Croix Offshore Restricted Zone – StCORZ
  5. Bird Island Offshore Restricted Zone – BIORZ
  6. Sundays and Cannon Rocks Offshore Controlled Zones – SOCZ and CROCZ
  7. Sundays Estuary Controlled Zone – SECZ
  8. Sundays Estuary Restricted Zone – SERZ

The regulated activities in these zones are:

Sundays and Cannon Rocks Inshore Controlled Zones – SICZ and CRIZ

  • Swimming and Snorkelling Allowed
  • Dogs on Leads
  • Fishing with Permit – MLRA
  • No fishing from vessel

Cape Padrone Inshore Controlled Zone – CPICZ

  • Swimming
  • No diving, snorkelling or prohibited gear
  • Dogs with permit (apply at Woody Cape)
  • Fishing with Permit – MLRA
  • No fishing from vessel

Sundays Inshore Restricted Zone – SIRZ

  • No entry without permit – SANParks
  • No fishing or spear guns
  • No diving, snorkelling or prohibited gear

St Croix Offshore Restricted Zone – StCORZ

  • No Fishing
  • No Anchoring
  • Minimum Vessel Speed of 5 knots
  • Fishing Gear Stowed
  • Scuba Diving only with a SANPARKS Permit
  • Keep a distance of 300m away from the island.

Bird Island Offshore Restricted Zone – BIORZ

  • No Fishing
  • No Anchoring
  • Minimum Vessel Speed of 5 knots
  • Fishing Gear Stowed
  • Keep a distance of 300m away from the island.
  • No diving, snorkelling or prohibited gear

Sundays and Cannon Rocks Offshore Controlled Zones – SOCZ and CROCZ

  • Fishing with permit – issued under the MLRA (Marine Living Resources Act 1998)
  • No firearms

Sundays Estuary Controlled Zone – SECZ

  • Fishing with permit – issued under the MLRA (Marine Living Resources Act 1998)

Sundays Estuary Restricted Zone – SERZ

  • No fishing
  • No Skiing
  • No wake zone
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.