Opposition to declaring Robben Island Marine Protected Area

This is not making any sense and is unreasonable' Where will I be able to go fishing now!! This is not a breeding area for Snoek or Yellowtail!!!!!

This is unreasonable just to propose to close down an area without any proper consulting.With that being said come to the community(Commercial and Angling clubs in the western cape) and present your case and face the community after all this impact the community or is it just I do it because I can? type of thing. I do not see any reasons to close down that area.

I really don't see the reason for this taking place. Spearfishermen are already not allowed withing 1nm from the island, due to Abalone poaching and what what.... To close it down now for fishermen isn't making any sense. They are making the area to fish very small, which will have a big effect on especially the Hottentot(fish) numbers in the area. Snoek and Yellowtail travel, but are usually caught at most around the island. I can't see any explanation for this

Should rather police the existing reserves and rest of the ocean better

It is not going to work! The same way as closing Pearly Beach and the Cape Point area. They are still poaching without any problems.

How does this benefit fish stocks? Recreational fisherman are soft targets.

Banning fishing in this area just means the already small open area gets fished more. Keep Robben Island open for fishing. This ban makes no sense.

Please do not do this to us

closing this area is not justified as most fish caught here are predatory and are migratory.

Please dont close our fishing spot this is all we have to show our kids how to fish

Oppose

why not properly enforce the laws we already have, and not introduce new legislation which will only increase fishing pressure on all other fishing areas

This is a stupid decision

I do believe that we as recreational fisherman should stand together and ensure our fisheries remain open to us.

They are killing the recreasional fisherman. Stop the commercials and take the nets away and you will see a difference

I fail to see the point of this proposed MPA. The only commercially resident species around Robben Island is Hottentot, Perlemoen and Crayfish to a lesser extent as they can move. The proposed night fishing limitation is suggestive that the goal of the MPA is to limit illegal poaching of Crayfish and/or Perlemoen. What is ironic, when Robben Island was a prison in Mandelas days, nobody was allowed to fish within one nautical mile, now the opposite will be true, at least to the west of Robben Island. Provide the scientific reasons for the MPA, furthermore engage with the people.

This seems to be part of a series of limitations on recreational fishing. First perlemoen, Then kreef from Melkbos to Yzerfontein. Now Robben fishing. What next. If it keep on like this we will have nothing left.

The species being targeted in the area highlighted are all pelagics and therefore non-resident in the area. The efforts of the marine authorities are honerable but misdirected.

Recreational fisherman do not harm the fish population, commercial fishing and poachers does.

This petition is 100% valid and spot on. Trek netters take more fish on one day than all recreationals in months at Robben island. I've been stopped plenty of times, asked for permit, but not once asked to show fish size.