Biodiversity bill generates wild discussion

SUBMISSIONS on the Western Cape Biodiversity Bill were discussed by the standing committee on agriculture with comments that varied from supportive to contentious.

Submissions were made by Birdlife SA, the City, the Department of Community Safety, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transport and Public Works, SA National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi), Western Cape Biosphere Reserves NPC, Wildlife Ranching SA, Agri WC, Salga, Drakenstein, Whale Coast Conservation, Wildlife Animal Protection SA and Wildlife Ranchers’ Forum.

Biodiversity and Coastal management director Marlene Laros said they received varying comments on the draft framework bill, ranging from language used to arrangements of the sections set out.

A few of the submissions suggested they increase marine protected areas (MPAs) both offshore, coast and estuary and that the framework ban all blood sport of competitive wild fish in the deep sea, coast or estuary.

To this, Laros said MPAs and the implementation of the Marine Living Resources Act were the exclusive legislative domain of national government and that CapeNature was currently appointed as management authority by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for some MPAs in the province.

Whale Coast Conservation said they strongly believed the commercial exploitation of wild animals confined to small encampments for breeding and close interaction with tourists should be regulated.

“It is effectively the third time we are getting public comment and input and we think it strengthened the work significantly,” said Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning chief director Karen Shippey.