CAPE TOWN, South Africa (7 Sep 2004) -- Scuba divers are angry with new regulations that dictate they will soon have to buy permits if they want to dive in marine protected areas. The scuba divers say they have been unfairly targeted by the new regulations, under the Marine Living Resources Act, which do not require any other sport to hold permits. From January next year, scuba divers will have to apply for annual permits to dive in marine protected areas - at Aliwal Shoal and from Mouille Point to Muizenberg in the Cape, at Bird Island near Port Elizabeth and in Pondoland. The minister now has the power to regulate the number of divers who will receive permits, which cost R75 for divers and R10 000 for diving operators. Cleeve Robertson, an appointed representative for South African scuba divers, has written a letter to Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk requesting a meeting with Marine and Coastal Management (MCM). The divers are also seeking legal advice. Robertson said the divers had made submissions when the regulations were first published for comment in May, but they were all ignored. "They say scuba divers have caused damage to reefs. We've asked to see the research they claim to have done, but they have never passed it on. "To say we cause damage is disingenuous. One winter storm destroys more marine wildlife than a million scuba divers in 100 years," he said. | | Robertson said the divers had initiated meetings with MCM and SA National Parks in an attempt to seek clarity on the draft regulations, but MCM had given no scientific reason why they should be permitted. MCM scientist Colin Atwood said yesterday that unlike surfers or yachtsmen, scuba divers benefited from the marine resources because they dived to enjoy the environment. Fishing had been excluded from marine protected areas, which benefited scuba divers. It was expensive to keep fishermen out of these areas, so divers should pay towards it. Atwood said there was plenty of evidence to prove that scuba divers caused accidental or malicious damage to coral reefs. The money from the permits would be used to monitor the effects of scuba divers and to employ staff to be on the water to ensure divers did not cause damage. Atwood said there had been no studies done on the impact of scuba divers on the peninsula, where there were fewer divers because the water was colder. The permit money there would be used to monitor the impact of scuba divers. SOURCE - Mercury |
