Fishing from piers: warning - Durban · and Blue Lagoon. Parks, Recreation and Cul-ture Unit Head...
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THE ENVIRONMENT Page 6 8 October 2010 THEMBA KHUMALO THE Municipality’s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department held a day of theatre and entertainment at the Botanic Garden’s Amphitheatre recently. It was to mark the second anniversary of the Durban Biodiversity Commitment, an international agreement signed in 2008 by the eThekwini Municipality and 20 pioneering local governments around the world to protect and enhance biodiversity in cities. The Department’s Jo Boulle said, “It was about celebrating the commitment made by the city. It was a day to have fun and enjoy the play.” Well-known Actor Ellis Pearson staged a play, Man up a Tree, which highlighted the importance of biodiversity and the role people can play in preserving our natural resources. Dillon Mather, a Grade 7 pupil at Pelham Senior Primary in Pietermaritzburg, said, “The play was very interesting and entertaining. “I learned a lot about biodiversity.” Cast member Loyiso MacDonald said, “The play was originally written for the wetlands project in Inanda. It relays the message about the importance of conserving nature. Development is good, but not at the expense of our natural environment. We hope the play was able to drive that point home to everyone who attended.” Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo ended the programme by signing the Durban Citizens Commitment which commits residents to protecting biodiversity. Everyone who attended the event was encouraged to sign. [email protected] S’CELO KHUZWAYO ANGLERS who flout the ban on fishing from certain beach- front piers will face tough action, the Municipality has warned. The by-laws prohibit fishing from any pier unless specific- ally permitted with an official notice or sign. North pier has for many years been off-limits to fishermen but the ban was extended to other piers before the start of the World Cup. In a recent report to the Council’s Exec- utive Committee (Exco), City Man- ager Michael Sut- cliffe said a flexible signage system was in place on the Dairy Beach and Bay of Plenty piers which lets the city allow fishing when circumstances permitted. “With the upgrade of the piers and beachfront, my management teams and I discussed the overall policing, by-laws enforcement and management of the beach- front area,” said Sutcliffe. He said they decided that fishing would only be allowed on four of the seven beach- front piers: Snake Park; Batt- ery Beach, which is currently being extended, Country Club and Blue Lagoon. Parks, Recreation and Cul- ture Unit Head Thembinkosi Ngcobo said that anyone breaking the by-laws risked prosecution. “We have to control fishing as there is always conflict between swimmers and people who are fishing,” Ngcobo said. According to Regulation 9 (2) of the Durban Sea-Shore Reg- ulations, “no person shall fish from any pier, groyne or storm water outfall or have in his poss- ession or control on any pier, groyne or outfall any fishing tackle or equipment or any other thing designed or intended for use for the purpose of fishing, including bait, unless fishing from such pier, groyne or outfall or portion thereof is permitted as indicated by a notice or sign displayed in terms of regu- lation 16 and except between such hours as may be specified in such notice or sign and in accordance with such discretions or prohib- itions as may be conveyed thereby”. Ngcobo said this law had long been there but they have been too lenient. He said in the past swimmers had been injured as a result of fishing from the piers. [email protected] Fishing from piers: warning Play gets audience thinking about conservation MEN WITH A MESSAGE: Ellis Pearson and Loyiso MacDonald in the environmental awareness play, Man up a Tree, hosted by the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department Picture: THEMBA KHUMALO SOHANA SINGH THE Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) of the eThekwini Municipality and landowners in the Giba Gorge area have launched the Giba Gorge Environmental Pre- cinct. It’s said to be the first environmental Special Rating Area in South Africa. Department Deputy Head Debra Roberts said, “A con- certed effort is needed from stakeholders if we are to ensure the protection of what remains of our open spaces. “This initiative has drawn attention for a number of reasons: It is pioneering and shows the increasingly impor- tant role communities can play in protecting and man- aging their natural environ- ment for future generations.” In 2005, concerned resi- dents got together to tackle the environmental threats to the gorge. With the collabor- ation of landowners, the Municipality and others, a special rating area was form- ed, the first environmental SRA in the country. The EPCPD and members of the Giba community head the project. All landowners contri- bute to the management of the area through an additional levy on their rates bill. The Municipality has also contributed significantly to ensure the sustainability of a spectacular forest in the gorge. The project will help protect the KZN sandstone sourveld grasslands and scarp forests, which have been classified as endangered and vulnerable respectively. The gorge is also home to a number of rare plants species and animals and aids residents by puri- fying water and limiting the impact of floods. Guests who attended the launch were treated to a short walk through the forest, guid- ed by Giba Gorge Environ- mental Precinct Conservation Manager, Thuthuka Majola. Councillor Jacob Pienaar, who represented Mayor Obed Mlaba at the launch, said, “It is the Municipality’s responsi- bility to identify areas like this and to find appropriate means to conserve and man- age them for the benefit of citizens. Residents also have to take action to protect and manage their natural environ- ment. For us to be successful, a joint effort is needed. Benefits of projects like this go way beyond what meets the eye.” Mike Lohrentz, a co- found- er of the precinct and com- mittee member, said, “This gorge belongs to the children of Durban. “One of our aims is to educate them about natural heritage and make them more aware of the environment.” [email protected] Effort to protect Giba Gorge W EEDBUSTER Week, led by the Department of Water Affairs, and supported by the Municipality, represents the annual highlight of the campaign aimed at managing and containing invasive alien species (IAS). Why it is important? IAS have a detrimental impact on biodiversity, natural resources, economies (agricultural pests, costs of control) and public health (disease outbreaks, consumption of toxic plants). In South Africa, IAS decrease water runoff, reduce stream flow and available water, reduce grazing, increase the costs of fire protection, and increase damage from wildfire. Ecosystems suffer a loss of biodiversity due to invasions by alien species as plants and animals that are introduced into new areas no longer face the natural enemies or competition found in their place of origin. They then tend to spread prolifically. What is being done this year? The Municipality has many projects and programmes dedicated to controlling invasive alien plants. This year, to celebrate WeedBuster Week the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) is running a workshop for staff who deal with invasive alien plants. The EPCPD also helps homeowners and residents to identify IAS on their properties through the “Beautiful but Dangerous” poster series which highlight some of the most problematic invasive alien plants. The educational “Attracting Urban Wildlife” series helps residents to select indigenous plant species that should preferably be planted. Campaign theme The theme for this year’s Weedbuster Week is “My River, My Life”, and in keeping with this the public are encouraged to become familiar with the many aquatic invaders that must be controlled. They include: water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), Kariba weed (Salvinia molesta), red water fern (Azolla filiculoides), parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), spiked water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), dense water weed (Egeria densa), Canadian water weed (Elodea candensis) and Mexican water lily (Nymphaea Mexicana). Schools’ competition To raise awareness on invasive alien species, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa has compiled a WeedBuster school activity pack for teachers to use for Grade 8 and upwards. Contact [email protected] . Need help? Anyone with invasive aquatic weeds in their garden pond or dam who needs help eradicating it may call Working for Water, toll-free,, at 0800 005 376 for advice. If the invasion is small enough for you to cope with, remove it manually and allow it to dry out and die before placing in a black plastic bag in the sun. Once it has decomposed, it is good compost. Keep an eye open for any re-growth. For more information, visit www.durban.gov.za/durban/s ervices/epcp or www.agis.agric.za or www.invasives.org.za . [email protected] National Weed Buster Week, from 4 to 10 October is part of efforts to grow awareness about weeds and alien vegetation. Sohana Singh reports Why weeds need whacking PRETTY UGLY: Water hyacinth, water lettuce, pickerelweed and Kariba weed are just a few of the more common aquatic invaders choking our waters
Transcript of Fishing from piers: warning - Durban · and Blue Lagoon. Parks, Recreation and Cul-ture Unit Head...
THE ENVIRONMENTPage 6 8 October 2010
THEMBA KHUMALO
THE Municipality’sEnvironmental Planning andClimate ProtectionDepartment held a day oftheatre and entertainment atthe Botanic Garden’sAmphitheatre recently.
It was to mark the secondanniversary of the DurbanBiodiversity Commitment, aninternational agreementsigned in 2008 by theeThekwini Municipality and20 pioneering localgovernments around theworld to protect and enhancebiodiversity in cities.
The Department’s Jo Boulle
said, “It was about celebratingthe commitment made by thecity. It was a day to have funand enjoy the play.”
Well-known Actor EllisPearson staged a play, Manup a Tree, which highlightedthe importance ofbiodiversity and the rolepeople can play in preservingour natural resources.
Dillon Mather, a Grade 7pupil at Pelham SeniorPrimary in Pietermaritzburg,said, “The play was veryinteresting and entertaining.
“I learned a lot aboutbiodiversity.”
Cast member LoyisoMacDonald said, “The play
was originally written for thewetlands project in Inanda. Itrelays the message about theimportance of conservingnature. Development is good,but not at the expense of ournatural environment. Wehope the play was able todrive that point home toeveryone who attended.”
Deputy Mayor LogieNaidoo ended theprogramme by signing theDurban CitizensCommitment which commitsresidents to protectingbiodiversity. Everyone whoattended the event wasencouraged to sign.
S’CELO KHUZWAYO
ANGLERS who flout the banon fishing from certain beach-front piers will face toughaction, the Municipality haswarned.
The by-laws prohibit fishingfrom any pier unless specific-ally permitted with an officialnotice or sign.
North pier hasfor many yearsbeen off-limits tofishermen but theban was extendedto other piersbefore the start ofthe World Cup.
In a recentreport to theCouncil’s Exec-utive Committee(Exco), City Man-ager Michael Sut-cliffe said a flexible signagesystem was in place on theDairy Beach and Bay of Plentypiers which lets the city allowfishing when circumstancespermitted.
“With the upgrade of thepiers and beachfront, mymanagement teams and Idiscussed the overall policing,by-laws enforcement andmanagement of the beach-front area,” said Sutcliffe.
He said they decided thatfishing would only be allowedon four of the seven beach-front piers: Snake Park; Batt-ery Beach, which is currentlybeing extended, Country Cluband Blue Lagoon.
Parks, Recreation and Cul-
ture Unit Head ThembinkosiNgcobo said that anyonebreaking the by-laws riskedprosecution.
“We have to control fishingas there is always conflictbetween swimmers andpeople who are fishing,”Ngcobo said.
According to Regulation 9(2) of the DurbanSea-Shore Reg-ulations, “noperson shall fishfrom any pier,groyne or stormwater outfall orhave in his poss-ession or controlon any pier,groyne or outfallany fishing tackleor equipment orany other thingdesigned or
intended for use for thepurpose of fishing, includingbait, unless fishing from suchpier, groyne or outfall orportion thereof is permitted asindicated by a notice or signdisplayed in terms of regu-lation 16 and except betweensuch hours as may bespecified in such notice orsign and in accordance withsuch discretions or prohib-itions as may be conveyedthereby”.
Ngcobo said this law hadlong been there but they havebeen too lenient. He said inthe past swimmers had beeninjured as a result of fishingfrom the piers.
Fishingfrom piers:warning
Play gets audience thinking about conservation
MEN WITH A MESSAGE: Ellis Pearson and Loyiso MacDonald in the environmentalawareness play, Man up a Tree, hosted by the Environmental Planning and ClimateProtection Department Picture: THEMBA KHUMALO
SOHANA SINGH
THE Environmental Planningand Climate ProtectionDepartment (EPCPD) of theeThekwini Municipality andlandowners in the Giba Gorgearea have launched the GibaGorge Environmental Pre-cinct. It’s said to be the firstenvironmental Special RatingArea in South Africa.
Department Deputy HeadDebra Roberts said, “A con-certed effort is needed fromstakeholders if we are toensure the protection of whatremains of our open spaces.
“This initiative has drawnattention for a number ofreasons: It is pioneering andshows the increasingly impor-tant role communities canplay in protecting and man-aging their natural environ-ment for future generations.”
In 2005, concerned resi-dents got together to tacklethe environmental threats tothe gorge. With the collabor-ation of landowners, the
Municipality and others, aspecial rating area was form-ed, the first environmentalSRA in the country.
The EPCPD and members ofthe Giba community head theproject. All landowners contri-bute to the management ofthe area through an additionallevy on their rates bill.
The Municipality has alsocontributed significantly toensure the sustainability of a
spectacular forest in the gorge. The project will help protect
the KZN sandstone sourveldgrasslands and scarp forests,which have been classified asendangered and vulnerablerespectively. The gorge is alsohome to a number of rareplants species and animalsand aids residents by puri-fying water and limiting theimpact of floods.
Guests who attended the
launch were treated to a shortwalk through the forest, guid-ed by Giba Gorge Environ-mental Precinct ConservationManager, Thuthuka Majola.
Councillor Jacob Pienaar,who represented Mayor ObedMlaba at the launch, said, “It isthe Municipality’s responsi-bility to identify areas like thisand to find appropriatemeans to conserve and man-age them for the benefit of
citizens. Residents also haveto take action to protect andmanage their natural environ-ment. For us to be successful,a joint effort is needed.Benefits of projects like this goway beyond what meets theeye.”
Mike Lohrentz, a co- found-er of the precinct and com-mittee member, said, “Thisgorge belongs to the childrenof Durban.
“One of our aims is toeducate them about naturalheritage and make them moreaware of the environment.”
Effort to protect Giba Gorge
WEEDBUSTERWeek, led bytheDepartmentof Water
Affairs, and supported by theMunicipality, represents theannual highlight of thecampaign aimed at managingand containing invasive alienspecies (IAS).
Why it is important?IAS have a detrimental
impact on biodiversity,natural resources, economies(agricultural pests, costs ofcontrol) and public health(disease outbreaks,consumption of toxic plants).
In South Africa, IASdecrease water runoff, reducestream flow and availablewater, reduce grazing,increase the costs of fireprotection, and increasedamage from wildfire.
Ecosystems suffer a loss ofbiodiversity due to invasionsby alien species as plants and
animals that are introducedinto new areas no longer facethe natural enemies orcompetition found in theirplace of origin. They thentend to spread prolifically.
What is being done thisyear?
The Municipality has manyprojects and programmesdedicated to controllinginvasive alien plants. Thisyear, to celebrate WeedBusterWeek the EnvironmentalPlanning and ClimateProtection Department(EPCPD) is running aworkshop for staff who dealwith invasive alien plants.
The EPCPD also helpshomeowners and residents toidentify IAS on theirproperties through the“Beautiful but Dangerous”poster series which highlightsome of the mostproblematic invasive alienplants. The educational“Attracting Urban Wildlife”
series helps residents to selectindigenous plant species thatshould preferably be planted.
Campaign themeThe theme for this year’s
Weedbuster Week is “MyRiver, My Life”, and inkeeping with this the publicare encouraged to becomefamiliar with the manyaquatic invaders that must becontrolled. They include:water hyacinth (Eichhorniacrassipes), water lettuce(Pistia stratiotes), Karibaweed (Salvinia molesta), redwater fern (Azollafiliculoides), parrot’s feather(Myriophyllum aquaticum),spiked water-milfoil(Myriophyllum spicatum),dense water weed (Egeriadensa), Canadian water weed(Elodea candensis) andMexican water lily(Nymphaea Mexicana).
Schools’ competitionTo raise awareness oninvasive alien species, the
Wildlife and EnvironmentSociety of South Africa hascompiled a WeedBusterschool activity pack forteachers to use for Grade 8and upwards. [email protected] .
Need help?Anyone with invasive
aquatic weeds in their gardenpond or dam who needs helperadicating it may callWorking for Water, toll-free,,at 0800 005 376 for advice.
If the invasion is smallenough for you to cope with,remove it manually and allowit to dry out and die beforeplacing in a black plastic bagin the sun. Once it hasdecomposed, it is goodcompost. Keep an eye openfor any re-growth.
For more information, visitwww.durban.gov.za/durban/services/epcp orwww.agis.agric.za orwww.invasives.org.za .
National Weed Buster Week, from 4 to 10 October is part of efforts togrow awareness about weeds and alien vegetation. Sohana Singh reports
Why weeds need whackingPRETTY UGLY: Water hyacinth, water lettuce, pickerelweed and Kariba weed are just a few of the morecommon aquatic invaders choking our waters
