REFUSE ON BEACH : HELP!

We have had really strong north-westerly winds which have deposited the first load of refuse from across the bay. Conditions have been aggravated by very heavy seas and refuse has been ground to fine bits, lying on the sand and mixed up in mountains of kelp that have washed up on the "small beach" to the west of the slipway.

Some folks have already been picking up big plastic bottles which are still whole, but:

APPEAL:   We need all who can to take black bags down there and pick up / rake together the small bits of plastic and polistyrene. If the bins are already full, please take your bag home with you. Rooiels and all the animals in the ocean thank you in anticipation of helping to clean up.

MINUTES OF THE ROOIELS CONSERVANCY AGM
 HELD AT 17H00 ON 19 DECEMBER 2015

1.  OPENING AND WELCOME:  Anuta Scholtz welcomed everyone.
2. APOLOGIES:  Du Toit Viljoen,  Di and Janne Dagh, Jan Glazewski, Linda and Duncan Hiles, Mr and Mrs Waddell, Helen Jones, Alison Ayre,  Janette Yeats, Koos Smit, Doris Jansen, Lynn Fryer, Tom and Bob Baigrie, Lynn Harris, Ivan and Lee-Ann Becker.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF 29.12.2014 : proposed by Sandra Yeo and seconded by Jill Lockley.
4. FINANCIAL REPORT:  See enclosed.  A donation was received from BotSoc for hack equipment.   Mark Butler is retiring after 4 years – huge appreciation extended to him.
5. ANNUAL REPORT:   See enclosed
6. PROJECT REPORTS:

6a.  Leopards:  Jill, Wolfgang and Duncan have regularly monitored the cameras in the cave, frequently capturing pics of Scott during his visits there.  The otters were captured on camera on the concrete path to the river but the camera was subsequently stolen.  Plans are being made to secure another camera at that site.  Thanks expressed for donations received.
6b.  Wolfgang reported on the seals;  their numbers have been reduced from approximately 170 to 30, probably due to Orcas or sharks.  He regularly organises walks to view the seals.  A lot of tortoises have been spotted through RE – pamphlets available in the eco-centre.  Klipspringers have been sighted on the rocks along Roella Rd with red wing starlings acting as tick birds!

1. MANDATE TO INVESTIGATE AMALGAMATION OF REC WITH RERA:  Anuta explained that should such a merger occur, REC’s status with CapeNature will not be affected.  A show of hands confirmed this proposal.Geoff Harris made the following formal proposal: “ I want to formally propose that the incoming committee investigate and pursue the amalgamation of REC with RERA.  There are so many overlapping areas which can (and have in the past) become bones of contention between the two entities.  If a way can be found that accommodates both entities under one umbrella organisation, it is my belief that our Rooiels Vision will be better served in future.  The other factor is very simply that RE has a dearth of willing volunteers to serve on both organisations and avoiding duplication is almost impossible.”

The following question was asked:  What precipitated the breakaway from RERA?  The thinking was that RERA was more political and conservation matters should be separate.  Both organisations have approximately 78 members with almost 100% duplication between two organisations.  Geoff Harris cautioned that we maintain our status in the Biosphere Reserve and that we still have two voices on the various local bodies.  A number of people volunteered or were proposed  to serve on a working committee to ensure the above and to drive the amalgamation process:  Estelle Raymond, Jenny Stark, Kay Leresche, Geoff Harris, Debbie de Vries, Maurice Boshoff.  It was also proposed that the Pringle Bay Ratepayers be consulted as they have gone through this process.  Decisions taken at this AGM should be taken to the RERA AGM on 22 December 2015.

1. ROOIELS WEBSITE:  Eneth Kruger and Anuta met with Jeremy who runs the RE website and owns the domain name and who is not a RE resident which has time implications in uploading new content. There are a lot of practical problems;  bottlenecks, cumbersome navigation, ease of use etc.  Eneth proposed that we start up a new community website so that local organisations can have freer access and let the other one be used for tourist purposes. Costs could be shared by all village organisations who would be responsible for uploading their own content. After much discussion, Mark Butler proposed that we first investigate with the current website holder whether the current website can be rejuvenated before we split off and form a new site. Marti Louw offered to investigate the status of the domain name she has with an eye to transferring it to the community.
2. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION.

9a.  Maurice Boshoff asked what happened to the waste station.  Anuta replied that it was a municipality initiative to remove it as far back as 2011.  REC was involved as they had to clean up and also deal with the baboon problems resulting from the station.  Keith Moir congratulated REC on the process.  Rats were becoming a problem and baboons frequently raided it.  Flies have been considerably reduced at the local businesses since the removal.  Maurice mentioned that the bins at the slipway are now overloaded.  Anuta replied that every transition has problems but they can and will be overcome.
9b.  Geoff proposed a vote of thanks to Jan Glazewski for taking down the pine trees on his property with Pierre Kruger’s able help.
9c.  Jenny Stark commented on the increase of bottlebrush and fountain grass in the area.  Kay Leresche proposed that we raise funds to get these two above removed.  SANBI refused us permission to go in and remove the bottlebrush but a team of theirs has recently been working on the area of infestation.  Anuta proposed that we prioritise which alien species are the worst before tackling them.  Jenny recommended that everyone get involved and remove seed heads as they go on their walks. Hakea and pine trees are spreading over the smallholdings. An appeal for younger hackers to join us.

1. VOTE OF THANKS:  Three members are leaving – Mark Butler (Treasurer), Mary Comrie (Secretary),  and Margie Ellis.  Grateful thanks to all three for their service on REC.  Thanks were also given to Wolfgang Steinbach for his work on many projects, to Jill Lockley for her continuing work on the public gardens, to John Charalambous  for his contributions both artistic and practical, to Sandra Yeo for the many jobs she undertakes, to Janette Yeats (who is very ill at present), for her immense info, knowhow and hard work - REC couldn’t function without her - (an email to be sent to her), to Evette Weyers for keeping the hack group going, to Keith Moir for filling the bottles of poison for the hacks, to Kay Leresche for advice and getting the Nature Reserve weeded.
2. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE:  The following people indicated their availability:  Jill Lockley, John Charalambous, Janette Yeats, Sandra Yeo, Marieta Human, Anuta Scholtz, Marti Louw, Evette Weyers, Estelle Raymond.  It was proposed  that the above be elected en bloc, and this was approved.  A vote of thanks was proposed for all the excellent work done by Anuta this past year.  The 2015 edition of the Breeze was highly commended.
3. ADJOURNMENT: the meeting was adjourned at 18h45.

Dear Rooielsers

At the RERA AGM a report was made on the trawlers which have been fishing very close to the Rooiels shore since late November.
 
The attached summary gives you details of the situation.  Rooielsers were making reports to Seawatch and various DAFF offices but were being told that it is legal.  However given the scale of the problem we decided to investigate more closely and from all the legal documentation it is apparent that:
 
a) Nearshore permit holders (usually those in small boats) can only fish for kreef (West Coast Rock lobsters) with Hoop Nets and not Traps (the metal cages)
 
b) Offshore permit holders can use Traps and they are allowed to fish in False Bay but they are NOT allowed to do so within 1 nautical mile of the shore.
 
Therefore what has been happening is illegal and it is very serious for the marine resources.
If a vessel is here from 0500-1900 (14 hours) sets 30 traps, removes 10 kreef over 75mm and raises them once per hour, each vessel is taking 4200 per day. We have seen them set 50 traps, and we are told it is more likely 20 kreef harvested per net raised.
 
We ask you to please REPORT sightings of these Vessels.  We are not sure if they have stopped coming because of the holidays this week, or because we have forwarded evidence to the Director of Inland Fisheries and the Special Operations Unit, thanks to contacts with a Fisheries expert who works internationally and also has a base in Bettys Bay.  We thank him for his assistance and everyone who has been reporting and sending photos.
 
Please take note of Boat Name, if possible also get the Number, number of traps set, how long it is here and take a photo.  But the most important is to phone or sms Kleinmond to report that the vessel is here and give the name.  Also please can you email information on what you saw and who reported to, to  [email protected]  or  [email protected] .
 
Numbers:
1.       DAFF Kleinmond   028 271 4768
Insp Johan Fouché 084 408 6159   or Insp J P Kruger  082 570 6389
and/ or to Gordons Bay where those vessels offload : Jozi Tel 073 264 5953 (or if no reply to Titi 078 975 0272) 
 
PLEASE send information on who reported to and copies of photos if taken to:
[email protected]  so that we can compile all the evidence and use it to put pressure for action, if none is taken.



Fishing Trawlers plundering our seas: Report to RERA AGM
 
There has been much concern among Rooiels residents with the appearance of ocean going fishing trawlers trapping for kreef (West Coast Rock lobsters) in close proximity to our shores using square cage traps.  Many residents (Helen and Alison, Piet Uys, Graham McCleland and many others) have made various reports to different DAFF offices in Kleinmond and Hermanus and also to Seawatch.  The response of those receiving the reports is that there is nothing that can be done and it is out of their jurisdiction and that it is legal.
 
However this is a very serious problem and we felt we could not just ignore it.  The West Coast Rock Lobster is considered to be under threat with data available on the decline in numbers, the change in occurrence and in considerably slowing in the rate of growth per year in the size of the kreef.  This is the reason given for reduction in recreational fishing access and for almost no increase in the Nearshore small boat permits.  The Offshore permits have increased. (sorry I have lost where I saw that table so cannot give the exact data.)   Offshore vessels are removing probably somewhere between 2000 and 14000 per day per vessel from around Rooiels. (Estimates depend on assumptions of number of traps, number of 75mm kreef harvested per trap, frequency of clearing and length of time out here fishing:  50 traps, 20 size kreef per trap lifted, lifted once an hour from 0500-1900 hours = 14000).
 
Further investigation (with assistance of contacts through Estelle) has shown that the regulations and permit conditions allow Offshore boats access in Zone E (False Bay) but they are not allowed to fish within 1 nautical mile of the shore.   The Offshore vessels are allowed to use traps (the square cages) but the boats with Nearshore permits only allow Hoop nets. 
 
It is possible that some kind of exception to these Regulations and Permit Conditions has been given but it is highly unlikely since the Gazetted Policy was on 16th November, 2016.  For now we proceed on the assumption that it is illegal activity.  We are working on the assumption that because the Offshore vessels are allowed into False Bay, there has been a misunderstanding by the local authorities that this gives them access to the shoreline which is the reason when reporting everyone has been told it is legal.
 
Email letters with photographic evidence has been sent to the Director Inshore Fisheries and also to contacts in the Special Operations Unit.  A conversation with one officer indicated that they are interested and requested the information, but said that we must make reports every time through our local Fishing Inspectorates.  He said that if they have the names, dates and times, this can be checked and tracked through their Vessel Monitoring Unit. These vessels land at either Gordons Bay or Kalk Bay and so it is also important to alert Gordons Bay.
 
What we can do:

1.  We need to compile detailed records that give the name of the boat, the number, the time and the place that it is seen and an estimate of the number of traps

 

1. These reports need to be sent to our local Kleinmond Inspectorate 028 271 4768

(Insp Johan Fouché  0844086159 or Insp J P Kruger  0825706389)
or to Gordons Bay where those vessels offload (Jozi Tel 0732645953 or if no reply to Tit 0789750272). 

1.  If possible it would be really helpful to take photographs.  Even if you do not have a long lens, it is possible to zoom in on the computer – and if you have the facility, please record that date and time and location on the photo (that will only be necessary if DAFF need to use the evidence in court).

If you have photos please email them to RERA
or if you prefer to do it yourself,  to [email protected] in Gordons Bay, or to [email protected]  (Kleinmond, marked for the Attention of Mr. de Bruin)  with a request for them to forward this to the appropriate unit but please copy RERA.

1. Please, if possible, also send an email of any sightings, together with when and who you reported this to, to [email protected] for the RERA designated person to collate, record, and pass on.  If action is not being taken, we will periodically forward all photos and details of reports to the Special Operations Unit and we will press for action.  The more sightings there are, the more support there is to trigger action. Also report any strange action, like when they go rushing off into the sea because they may be offloading to a rubberduck or another boat!

 

1.  If anyone has sighting of the names and dates of Vessels  - other than Western Debbie, Laylas or Atlantic Blessing – please let us have those names.  Even if you cant remember any other details or when they were here, we can add it to those they check through the VMS.

 
Chronology of Reported Sightings of Offshore Vessels kitted with and using Traps within 500 metres around the Rooiels Shoreline
 
Permit Conditions West Coast Rock Lobster (Offshore) Fishery  2015/2016, Approved on 30th September, 2015.  Valid until 29 February 2016
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  
 
In the early reporting names and boat numbers were not given, just information of the occurrence and we do not have a record of all the reports that were made.  But we know reports were made to DAFF in Kleinmond and Hermanus and also to Seawatch by different people.
Recorded reports made:
30th 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
1st December a report was made about 2 vessels that had left traps in overnight
December 3rd and 4th there were several large vessels reported
                Reports made to Insp. Fouche and Insp. de Bruin of Kleinmond among others
                Atlantic Blessing and Western Debbie were recorded names
4th December at 0430 the Western Debbie was setting and lifting pots using lights that woke one resident and this was reported to both Kleinmond and Hermanus
 
Thereafter numerous reports were made on the Western Debbie and then also on the Laylas
Western Debbie (DTC 3579C SW 13)
Laylas (DTC 8084C).