Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition

montyg · 13th December 2007, 03:47

Hi all

The South African government want to ban all forms of diving (scuba, spearfishing, free diving and snokelling) in certain areas because the government has been unable to stop the poaching of wild abalone.

The problem is that this measure will not make a difference to poaching! It will only punish the law abiding, tax paying citizens for the crimes of the poachers.

There is no point in making new laws if exsisting laws are not enforced. Some of the ineffective measures to try and stop poaching in the past which has also impinged on the rights of recreational divers was banning night diving, requiring scuba divers to buy permits, demarcating large areas as Marine Protected Areas, closing the recreational abalone fishery, and shortening the recreational rock lobster fishery. None of the these measures made a real difference.

Government used to have some effective measures but they just can't leave a good thing alone. They cancelled Operation Neptune and they disbanded the Overstrand Marines which were excellent anti-poaching units. They also abolished the Green Courts which had a 85% conviction ratio for environmental crimes.

Please help us to fight off these bans and to compel government to take effective measures against poaching like involving the army and the navy in marine law enforcement like they used to do many years ago.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/420829084

Thanks very much!

Regards
Monty Guest
Chairman, Underwater Africa
"The voice of the diver"
Underwater Africa - Legislation affecting recreational scuba divers

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 13th December 2007, 04:50

Done. I hope they will consider the ideas of non-residents.

mortenkjerulff · 13th December 2007, 08:27

Done. Hope it helps!

MGC · 13th December 2007, 08:46

Done.

**Dsix36** · 14th December 2007, 00:09

signed, hope for the best.

montyg · 24th December 2007, 07:14

Thanks very much for your support, everyone!

rgds
monty

sasmedic · 24th December 2007, 08:25

HI Monty

Did they specify the areas like the MPA's or is it a huge chunk fo coastline??

nicolite · 24th December 2007, 09:41

Submitted my petition too. Hope for the best.

Mikealfa · 7th January 2008, 17:02

Have submitted mine too.
Any news about the final decission yet?
mikealfa

montyg · 8th January 2008, 05:52

Hi Mike

No news yet - it looks like we will have more than 3000 signatures on the petition (there's a paper based one as well)

I am also waiting to see what happens with the commercial abalone industry's court action against Government about the imminent closure of the industry

We have another meeting with MCM today, and the spearfishermen have appointed a good maritime lawyer with lots of experience in this type of matter. The strategy for today's meeting is different and I am curious to see what's going to come of it.

There's also a public meeting in Gansbaai on Thursday which I think will get quite heated. Local communities, businesses, tourism authorities and property developers are fuming about the proposed bans.

Holiday makers are up in arms and since wetsuits and fins are banned it affects surfers and boogie boarders as well...

If the Government gets this one right I think the next thing will be the closure of the recreational rock lobster season.

Regards

--
Monty Guest
Chairman, Underwater Africa
"The Voice of the Diver"
Website : Underwater Africa - Legislation affecting recreational scuba divers
Cell : 082 456 1982
Fax : 0866 175 463
Postal Address : P.O. Box 362, Century City, 7446

13th December 2007, 03:47	#1 (permalink)
montyg Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 224	Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Hi all The South African government want to ban all forms of diving (scuba, spearfishing, free diving and snokelling) in certain areas because the government has been unable to stop the poaching of wild abalone. The problem is that this measure will not make a difference to poaching! It will only punish the law abiding, tax paying citizens for the crimes of the poachers. There is no point in making new laws if exsisting laws are not enforced. Some of the ineffective measures to try and stop poaching in the past which has also impinged on the rights of recreational divers was banning night diving, requiring scuba divers to buy permits, demarcating large areas as Marine Protected Areas, closing the recreational abalone fishery, and shortening the recreational rock lobster fishery. None of the these measures made a real difference. Government used to have some effective measures but they just can't leave a good thing alone. They cancelled Operation Neptune and they disbanded the Overstrand Marines which were excellent anti-poaching units. They also abolished the Green Courts which had a 85% conviction ratio for environmental crimes. Please help us to fight off these bans and to compel government to take effective measures against poaching like involving the army and the navy in marine law enforcement like they used to do many years ago. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/420829084 Thanks very much! Regards Monty Guest Chairman, Underwater Africa "The voice of the diver" Underwater Africa - Legislation affecting recreational scuba divers
(Online)

13th December 2007, 04:50	#2 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 2,066	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Done. I hope they will consider the ideas of non-residents. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
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13th December 2007, 08:27	#3 (permalink)
mortenkjerulff Customise Me! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 136	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Done. Hope it helps!
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13th December 2007, 08:46	#4 (permalink)
MGC New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nr Whitby Posts: 20	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Done. __________________ Life is way tooo short
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14th December 2007, 00:09	#5 (permalink)
Dsix36 Going Down? Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 974	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition signed, hope for the best. __________________ THE MORE THAT I LEARN, THE MORE THAT I STILL NEED TO LEARN!!!!!!
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24th December 2007, 07:14	#6 (permalink)
montyg Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 224	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Thanks very much for your support, everyone! rgds monty
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24th December 2007, 08:25	#7 (permalink)
sasmedic New Member Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 15	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition HI Monty Did they specify the areas like the MPA's or is it a huge chunk fo coastline?? __________________ The best cure for fear is knowledge!!!
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24th December 2007, 09:41	#8 (permalink)
nicolite New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Leuven Posts: 19	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Submitted my petition too. Hope for the best. __________________ Perfection is simplicity* in disguise*
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7th January 2008, 17:02	#9 (permalink)
Mikealfa New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cape Town, S. Africa Posts: 5	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Have submitted mine too. Any news about the final decission yet? mikealfa
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8th January 2008, 05:52	#10 (permalink)
montyg Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 224	Re: Diving bans in South Africa - please sign our petition Hi Mike No news yet - it looks like we will have more than 3000 signatures on the petition (there's a paper based one as well) I am also waiting to see what happens with the commercial abalone industry's court action against Government about the imminent closure of the industry We have another meeting with MCM today, and the spearfishermen have appointed a good maritime lawyer with lots of experience in this type of matter. The strategy for today's meeting is different and I am curious to see what's going to come of it. There's also a public meeting in Gansbaai on Thursday which I think will get quite heated. Local communities, businesses, tourism authorities and property developers are fuming about the proposed bans. Holiday makers are up in arms and since wetsuits and fins are banned it affects surfers and boogie boarders as well... If the Government gets this one right I think the next thing will be the closure of the recreational rock lobster season. Regards -- Monty Guest Chairman, Underwater Africa "The Voice of the Diver" Website : Underwater Africa - Legislation affecting recreational scuba divers Cell : 082 456 1982 Fax : 0866 175 463 Postal Address : P.O. Box 362, Century City, 7446
(Online)

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