Scuba Diving Banned in Cape Coast Abalone Areas

In a bid to protect the fast- diminishing perlemoen [abalone] stocks, Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk has imposed a ban on scuba diving and snorkelling in areas along the Cape coast.

The prohibition will take effect from February 1, environmental affairs spokesman Mava Scott said yesterday.

It comes in the wake of the suspension of commercial perlemoen fishing, which is to come into effect on the same date.

According to the department, the areas in which diving will be prohibited include: within the Bird Island marine protected area; Quoin Point to Danger Point, from the west bank of the Ratel River to the eastern boundary of Gansbaai harbour’s main breakwater wall; from Venus Pool to Olifantsbos on the Cape Peninsula, extending two nautical miles (3.7km) seaward from the high watermark; and around Robben Island, extending one nautical mile from the high- water mark.

The prohibition is believed to be aimed at stopping perlemoen poaching syndicates, who are known to use divers to illegally harvest perlemoen from the seabed.

According to Scott, the legislation bans the use of certain types of equipment — including underwater breathing gear, masks, flippers and snorkels — within the prohibited areas.

Draft legislation on the prohibition was published in the Government Gazette on Monday. Scott said interested parties had until 4pm on January 15 to comment.