Department concerned over seal attacks at harbours

By Ofentse Mokae
02 September 2009

The Department of Environmental Affairs has the noted with concern the recent seal attack on a child in Hout Bay.

Now the department wants to ensure that this kind of incident is avoided in future.

The Department has placed highly visible signage, at the local harbours warning individuals against feeding the seals.

Atlhough the attempts by the department it has now become necessary to prosecute those that ignore these warnings.

In a media statement Zolile Ngayi from the department says they want to implore the public and tourists operators to discourage the practice of feeding seals in local harbours.

“In order to encourage visitors to our harbours to observe the relevant laws and regulations, the Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) staff will be handing out flyers to visitors and tourists encouraging them to stop the practice of feeding seals,” said Ngayi

Ngayi added that The Harbour Master at Hout Bay has fenced off the area where the seal is tempted with fish to climb onto the quay, only to have the fence vandalised on several occasions.
The department will once again repair the fence and implore the public, business and visitors to report any persons causing damage to the fence.