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MosselbayonTheline | First With The News

While the biggest worldwide campaign in recorded history took place this weekend to protect the planet and its natural resources from irresponsible and heedless industrialization for capital gain, Mossel Bay is also at a crossroad between conservation and risky industrialization . . . and the twines shall never meet when nature's laws are deliberately ignored and defied.

Dolfyne in Boggomsbaai albie spies

Dolphins frolic next to bathers at Boggomsbaai. Photo: Albie Spies

Regular beach cleanups, awareness talks and even the annual celebration of World Environment Day on 5 June with the theme Eat, Think, Save seem to be nothing but a condescending and hypocritical farce when the organisers of these events are the main culprits and the same governments, politicians and policymakers whose decisions and legislation pose the biggest threat to the environment.

The greater Mossel Bay coastline is one of the few pristine coastal areas in the country that still boasts a healthy marine life and eco-system. Maybe it is time that Mossel Bay's leaders and residents take a stance and walk the talk to conserve and protect this priceless heritage for generations to come.

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Bottlenose dolphins swimming at Dana Bay. Photo: Pierre Conradie

While persistent talks and plans for a fish meal plant and aquaculture zone in Mossel Bay's waters (similar to that in Saldanha Bay) continue behind the scenes, West Coast residents are heading for the Cape High Court to save the Langebaan Lagoon from the devastating impact of an "experimental" industrial-scale aquaculture development zone (ADZ) of 884 hectares a mere km from the lagoon.

The latter is a coveted watersport and tourist Mecca and an accredited Ramsar wetland site of international importance in recognition of its immense biodiversity value. 

Kitesurfing Langebaan1

The Langebaan Lagoon is a tourist magnet and one of the best kitesurfing spots in the world.  

The action group Save Langebaan Lagoon is hoping to have the authorization of these ADZ plans in Saldanha Bay (part of former pres. Jacob Zuma's notorious Operation Phakisa project) reviewed and reversed in the Cape High Court.

They claim open cage farming of alien salmon and rainbow trout, as well as mussel and oyster cultivation on giant floating rafts and long lines, poses an untenable risk of irreversible damage to the wild populations of migratory birds, fish, marine mammal and plant life.

The group stated that apart from the proven negative environmental impact on a sensitive marine ecosystem and indigenous fish species, the developers have failed to weigh their unsubstantiated claims of job creation against the considerable job losses if the tourism-based economy collapses. It will also impact on the livelihood of the local fishing community if they are denied access to the fishing waters which sustained them for generations.  

Langebaan seals in cages

The seal population in the Saldanha Bay area has allegedly already tripled since the first aquaculture cages for alien salmon and rainbow trout were installed despite strong public objections and a pending court case. 

The outcome of the pending court case is considered to be a watershed ruling to determine the future of huge sea-based aquaculture operations along South Africa's coastline.

This comes after a contentious proposal to build a salmon farm in Betty's Bay was withdrawn earlier this year due to the sensitivity of the marine ecosystem and amid a renewed flurry of international exposure of and objections to irregularities and shocking governance scandals in this lucrative, but very contentious industry. These include the excessive use of antibiotics, a dependence on wild fish stocks for feed, misrepresentation of chemical use, data rigging and poor governance.

The latest scandal in the industry is "greenwashing" - a tendency to cut corners and to give products a veneer of sustainability. An example is the Chilean salmon-farming company, Nova Austral, whose biggest marketing line was that its salmon is antibiotic-free (a great selling point), while it deliberately misreported its fish mortality data to regulators. Its salmon were dying in alarming numbers that had been hidden from the public.

 https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-08-01/patagonia-fishery-rigs-data-and-sparks-a-crisis

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The pristine coastline at Betty's Bay. A proposal to build a sea-based salmon farm here was withdrawn due to the sensitive marine ecosystem and strong public resistance. 

Is Mossel Bay next?

While international concern is steadily growing regarding the nutritional value and health risks of aqua-cultured products, the sustainability of the paradoxical industry by killing healthy wild fish to feed caged fish and the undisputed ecological damage it causes, the economic risks are equally daunting - especially in South Africa where it is still a rookie-business and the coastal conditions not suited for large-scaled sea-based finfish farming. We have warned in previous articles that the proposed fishmeal and oil plant in Quay1 in the harbour may well be a planned precursor to an aquaculture "experiment" with cod, but at what cost to the environment and who is to gain? 

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“We thought that farmed fish would save our wild stocks in the oceans, but now it’s coming to the fore that we are using wild-caught fish to feed our farmed fish – and that is causing real problems.”

"Nearly one-fifth of global fisheries production is used for fishmeal and fish oil production."

"Investors should be aware of the sustainability risks in the aquaculture sector before they wade in too deeply. From effluents to emissions, this sector must address significant environmental and public health challenges if it is to prosper over the long term.”

* Sewage and wastewater discharged from fish farms is also associated with toxic algal blooms and polluted drinking water. Earlier this year, Norway suffered its worst algal bloom in 30 years, with 8 million salmon killed so far. Algal blooms caused an estimated $800m in damage to the Chilean salmon industry in 2016, killing nearly 27m fish, about 20% of the country’s annual production, according to a report.

* Hotspots of antibiotic use in fish farming accelerate antimicrobial resistance, the report found, with some countries taking action against importers. In January this year, the US Food and Drug administration denied entry to 26 shipments of Indian shrimp, after detecting banned antibiotics.

Furthermore, most experts agree that the South African coastline is not suited for sea-based fish farming and that there are indeed only a very few "ecologically less sensitive coastal areas" that might be suited for such a risky industry on a pilot-scale IF strict regulation and environmental management are enforced. Rough and unpredictable sea conditions, the prolific presence of orcas, whales, sharks and seals, as well as the frequent occurrence of red tide, are just a few of the problems.

Orcas Mama and babe

 In an interview on Cape Talk Radio, prof. Peter Britz admits that the South African coastline does not have the right conditions for industrial-sized aquaculture farming in the sea. (Scroll down to listen to the voice clip.) 

There's a myriad of issues that the potential fish farmer faces that can impact on the farm and the potential impacts of the farm on the environment.

Peter Britz, Professor in the department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science at Rhodes University

He advises that farmers rather start on a pilot scale before becoming commercial because of the risks involved.

Aquaculture guru Prof Peter Britz explains the challenges of fish farming after the bid for a Betty's Bay salmon farm was pulled.

Aquaculture and fisheries specialist Professor Peter Britz says regulation and environmental management is crucial in growing the fish farming industry in South Africa.

A contentious proposal to build a salmon farm in Betty's Bay has been withdrawn and a more suitable and less environmentally sensitive site has apparently been identified.

Read: Langebaan locals outraged by proposed fish farms on the lagoon

Prof Britz says there are very few suitable environmental sites for aquaculture on the South African coast, despite the growing need for farming fish in the country.

This, he argues, is because the coastline does not have the right conditions which are suitable for aquaculture

Potential fish farmers have to be aware of environmental issues caused by the use of artificial upwelling for fish farming include low oxygen conditions, diseases and red tides.

 

Peter Britz, Professor in the department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science at Rhodes University

 http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/334956/here-s-why-fish-farming-in-sa-can-be-tricky-business?

 

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Save Langebaan Lagoon's pending court case against the department of forestry, agriculture and fisheries (DAFF) is the culmination of an epic battle since February 2017.

Save Langebaan Lagoon logo

SLL, a registered NGO, has challenged,  objected, educated, researched, organised and mobilised tirelessly throughout the initial public participation and  Environmental Impact Assessment processes with scientifically-supported evidence against DAFF's application. Notwithstanding, in January 2018, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) granted authorisations to the applicants to proceed with the industrial-scale fish-farming development. 

In response thereto, SLL submitted an unsuccessful appeal against such authorisations to the late Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa.

SLL has now taken the bold step of pursuing a judicial review of the Minister’s decision, in the Cape High Court.

In addition to DAFF’s application for authorisation from the Department of Environmental Affairs, two private fishing consortiums, Molapong Aquaculture and Southern Cross Aquaculture also successfully submitted applications for commercial aquaculture operations within the ADZ.

  

This important fight for environmental and socio-economic justice is not only a critical issue for all sectors of the Langebaan community, but is equally a pressing issue of provincial and national importance.

 

Kitesurfing Langebaan

 * Save Langebaan Lagoon

NPO No. 212-102
HIGH COURT ACTION TO SAVE ICONIC LAGOON FROM ECOLOGICAL DISASTER

Extract from our media briefing held at the Bay Hotel - 30th August 2019

No fish farming in Langebaan Lagoon – Not Now, Not Ever!

Cape Town, August 2019 – A “David vs Goliath” battle is set to unfold in the Cape High Court when local public interest group Save Langebaan Lagoon takes on the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). Save Langebaan Lagoon is launching a colossal bid to save the pristine Langebaan lagoon from commercial fish farming that is set to destroy this treasured jewel of the West Coast.

The Langebaan Lagoon was designated as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on the 25th April 1988, in recognition of its immense biodiversity value.

Only 90 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, the lagoon is a burgeoning tourist hotspot, driving economic growth in the region. This unique natural heritage site is now under threat of irreversible, ecological degradation by plans to develop an industrial scale (884 hectares), sea-based Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ).

The ADZ will be located a mere kilometre off Langebaan’s pristine coastline, in the bay waters shared by Langebaan and Saldanha Bay, which co-mingle with the waters of the Langebaan Lagoon. This sea-based ADZ is a project that falls under the auspices of former pres. Jacob Zuma's notorious Operation Phakisa (Oceans Economy), a National Development Plan initiative to accelerate economic growth and prosperity.

In addition to DAFF’s application for authorisation from the Department of Environmental Affairs, two private fishing consortiums, Molapong Aquaculture and Southern Cross Aquaculture also successfully submitted applications for commercial aquaculture operations within the ADZ.


The developers have failed to weigh their unsubstantiated claims of job creation against the considerable job losses that will occur when the tourism-based economy of Langebaan collapses, due to the negative impacts of fish farming on this protected marine ecosystem.

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Moreover, the proposed development overlaps significantly with the area traditionally fished by Langebaan’s indigenous small-scale fishers. The development will compound the economic vulnerability of the local fishing community, preventing them from accessing the waters that have provided their livelihoods for generations.

Despite Save Langebaan Lagoon’s scientifically-supported opposition throughout the Environmental Impact Assessment process, in January 2018, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) granted authorisations to the applicants to proceed with the industrial-scale fish-farming development.

In response thereto, SLL submitted an unsuccessful appeal against such authorisations to the Minister of Environmental Affairs, (the late Minister Edna Molewa). SLL has now taken the bold step of pursuing a judicial review of the Minister’s decision, in the Cape High Court.

What will fish farming do to the Lagoon?

Open cage farming of alien salmon and rainbow trout, as well as mussel and oyster cultivation on giant floating rafts and long lines, poses an untenable risk of irreversible damage to the wild populations of migratory birds, fish, marine mammal and plant life.

Langebaan seals in cages2

Many of these species are currently threatened or endangered. The protected wetlands of the lagoon provide a world-renowned bird-watchers’ paradise. Habitats, flight paths and feeding patterns will be negatively impacted by the aquaculture infrastructure and the inevitable water pollution.

Sixty years of global aquaculture experience and a weighty body of peer-reviewed scientific research, show the destructive impact on the marine ecology due to the toxic accumulation of fish faecal matter and feed waste, antibiotics and hormones used to treat the fish and anti-fouling chemicals for the cages. The rapidly growing opposition to sea-based aquaculture around the world has not been given any formal consideration by the developers.

 

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Save Langebaan Lagoon (SLL) was formed in February 2017 to oppose this threat. They launched a vibrant social media driven community awareness campaign that has garnered the signatures of 32 000 people for their petition. In the two and a half years of vigorously opposing the ADZ, they have raised over R550 000 to generate independent research reports to counter the findings of the BARs. SLL is not intrinsically opposed to aquaculture, and is mindful that the commercial cultivation of fish, when sited in a low-risk environment and conducted in a sustainable way (e.g. an on-shore facility), could yield economic and employment benefits. SLL’s opposition centres on the fact that this aquaculture development is to be implemented in the fragile marine ecosystem of the Lagoon, a plan that poses irreversible socio-economic and ecological damage.

Call to Action:

Expert legal assessment of the merits of the case shows that SLL has a good prospect of success. SLL has therefore retained the well-respected environmental law firm of Cullinan and Associates to challenge the development in the High Court. SLL urgently needs to strengthen its constituency of support, as litigation costs are likely to be as high as R2.5 million.

This important fight for environmental and socio-economic justice is not only a critical issue for all sectors of the Langebaan community, but is equally a pressing issue of provincial and national importance.

Save Langebaan Lagoon urgently calls on businesses and citizens to support their campaign through donating funds, signing the online petition and supporting their fundraising events to ensure that Langebaan Lagoon remains free from the threat of commercial fish farming.

As we commence Heritage Month, we have the opportunity to mobilize support to defend and protect a special part of our natural heritage. The Langebaan Lagoon is an area of unique natural beauty, for respite and recreation. It deserves to be protected as a destination of choice for many local, national and international visitors for generations to come. Join the campaign today.

Contact Details:
For more info on the legal aspects contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Clifford Wright – Chairperson: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Also: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.savelangebaanlagoon.co.za

Donations: ABSA Bank

Account Name: Save Langebaan Lagoon
Account No: 4094 783363 Branch Code: 632005
Ref.: Name / Organisation or donate via:
www.backabuddy.co.za/don…/champion/save-langebaan-lagoon2018

https://web.facebook.com/savelangebaanlagoon/posts/640482739693777?_

https://sbwqft.org.za/state-of-the-bay-2018-technical-repo…/

Also read: What you should know about aquaculture: 

https://www.biznews.com/africa/2014/05/14/9-things-everyone-know-aquaculture

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Shark Cage Diving's origin in South Africa - in majestic Mossel Bay - from a  risky "rogue cowboy business" to a major tourist industry and global research initiative.  

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Beast of beauty? Man-eating monster or magnificent master of the marine jungle?  They've been called MANY derogatory names through the ages - especially after the release of the blockbuster movie JAWS in 1975 - based on the best-seller thriller of Peter Benchley.  

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However, it took a few South African spearfishermen and their fear of, and fascination with these iconic hunters of the ocean to gradually help change the world's perception of one of the oldest original species on Planet Earth.  

Ironically, it was the "crazy" idea of a Mossel Bay fisherman and diver, Jimmy Eksteen, in the late 1980's to share his close face to face encounters and underwater face-offs with these sleek and gracious marine hunters with the broader population, that spearheaded global research and a greater understanding of the Great White shark.

Jimmy Eksteen

JAWS BECAME JAWSOME 

Thanks to Mossel Bay's prolific marine life and abundance of Great Whites that feed on the seal population on the nearby Seal Island, Eksteen's diving excursions often brought him in close contact (and harrowing encounters) with these predators. He soon learned their behavioural patterns, and fear became fascination, respect, awe and a dream to share this invigorating experience with other adrenaline junkies. 

The idea of shark cage diving was born

Eksteen recalls he had to use his own imagination and ideas to design a steel cage that could safely be submerged into the "unknown underwater world" to give a cage diver ample protection, yet maximum exposure to the Real McCoy. The original structure was a single detached cage in which a single diver was lowered into the water for a unique eyeball-to-eyeball face-off with the feared icons.

Shark Cage diving video Jimmy Eksteen Moment8 Moment

In those days there were no rules or regulations for such an extreme eco-adventure in South Africa, and in the beginning, it was pretty much a cowboy industry based on trial and error to smooth things out as you go along.

Shark Cage diving video Jimmy Eksteen Moment7

The public outcry was overwhelming - especially based on fear that the chum (oil and blood mixture to lure the Great Whites) would bring the sharks closer to the swimming areas. The authorities were engaged and new legislation and regulations had to be formulated regarding chumming and this new "water sport and tourist attraction". 

haaistorie

Ironically, during that time there were quite a few shark attacks along Mossel Bay's coastline - including a fatal attack on a female scuba diver near Hartenbos. All chumming was initially forbidden.   

Around 2003 Jimmy and his restaurateur brother-in-law JJ Moorcroft started marketing their first official cage diving adventure packages - including meals and accommodation at Moorcroft's The Gannet restaurant and guest house.

Shark Cage diving video Jimmy Eksteen Moment

Meanwhile, another South African spearfisherman from Gansbaai, André Hartman (dubbed Shark Man), stunned the world with real-life footage of his free-swimming endeavours with mammoth Great Whites, and even riding them by holding onto their dorsal fin. His fearless encounters with the fearsome JAWS were published in National Geographic and aired on international TV stations.

Suddenly, South Africa was at the forefront of UN-demonizing the marine beast and taking the bite out of JAWS. The late author of Jaws, Peter Benchley, visited Hartman in Gansbaai to witness the "unbelievable" with his own eyes. After spending some time with Hartman on a small boat in a shark-infested ocean near Dyer Island, Benchley declared he would never have written Jaws if he knew then what he knows now . . . (The story and pictures of that encounter were also published in National Geographic.)     

In Mossel Bay, Eksteen's shark cage diving excursions also drew the attention of the son of the late world-renowned French Navy officer, conservationist and scientist Jacques-Yves Cousteau. The latter designed and built the world's very first shark cage in 1956 for the production of the movie Silent World, and his son visited Eksteen to see his tourism-based cage and Mossel Bay's Great Whites.

Shark Cage diving video Jimmy Eksteen Moment6Shark Cage diving video Jimmy Eksteen Moment5

Today, there are several shark cage diving industries in the Western Cape - Mossel Bay, Gansbaai (9) and False Bay - and they all have marine biologists on board doing exemplary research work to better understand these endangered icons and to create global awareness of their essential role in marine ecology in order to save them from becoming extinct.

 * Although South Africa continues to play a leading role in Great White shark research and conservation, cage diving originated in Australia. Rodney Winston Fox, a South Australian filmmaker, conservationists and survivor of a Great White attack, designed and built the first commercial shark cage in 1965 after he miraculously survived one of the most horrific non-fatal attacks. He is still one of the world's foremost authorities on the species.   

  

From the archives: A TV documentary on the first shark cage diving excursions in South Africa featuring pioneer Jimmy Eksteen in Mossel Bay's waters around 1993.  

Unfortunately, there's also a dark side and these iconic predators of the ocean have become almost extinct due to their worst "unnatural" enemy - the human. This year, not a single Great White was seen in False Bay - a first in recorded history. Last year, local fishermen made a gruesome discovery at Kanon beach along the Mossel Bay coastline when they encountered tens of decapitated shark heads on the beach. This is how we reported in June last year: 

 https://www.mosselbayontheline.co.za/index.php/woede-en-kommer-oor-langlynbote-wat-seelewe-aan-suid-kaapse-kuslyn-plunder

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Also check/read our Facebook posts with more pictures in Afrikaans:  

14 Augustus 2019: 

Mosselbaai se withaaie lok toenemend internasionale filmspanne wat dokumentêre TV-programme oor dié gevreesde, dog manjifieke oerspesie langs die Wes-Kaapse kuslyn kom verfilm.

Ons het op 'n bewolkte dag in Julie 'n filmspan van die Discovery TV-kanaal by die ou seiljagklub (nou Mossel Bay Waterfront) raakgeloop waar hulle saam met die Gansbaaise marienebioloog Alison Towner insetsels vir hul TV-program verfilm het.

filmspan van Discovery channel

Ongelukkig sien Mosselbaaiers selde die ongelooflike eindproduk van dié internasionale filmspanne wat hier op eie bodem verfilm word. Die betrokke filmsessie langs die Suid-Kaapse kuslyn van Robeiland in Mosselbaai tot by Robberg in Plettenbergbaai was juis vir Discovery se gewilde Haaiweek-program Air Jaws Strikes Back wat op 30 Julie 2019 gebeeldsaai is.
Die filmspan het ook van hommeltuie gebruik gemaak om aksie-tonele van dié roof-marienediere oor 'n groter gebied te probeer vaslê. Op een video is 'n groot withaai wat 'n niksvermoedende rob aanval en verorber perfek vasgevang.

Mosselbaai het 'n lang geskiedenis met withaaie wat tradisioneel rondom Robeiland boer en was, sover bekend, die eerste dorp in Suid-Afrika waar haaihokduik in die laat 1980's amptelik bekend gestel is.

shark Amanda Brewer2

Hoewel dit destyds aanvanklik maar 'n redelike Cowboy-bedryf was met 'n primitiewe losdrywende hok wat Jimmy Eksteen op die been gebring het omdat daar nog nie spesifieke wetgewing en regulasies vir só 'n adrenalien-avontuur was nie, het dié bedryf sedertdien in Suid-Afrika ontplof tot een van die top-toeriste-attraksies.

Jimmy Eksteen1

Eksteen vertel hy het destyds maar sy eie kop gevolg met die ontwerp en mates van die haaihok en danksy raad, bystand en hulp van Theo Ferreira en sy seun, Craig, het Mosselbaai die eerste haaihokduike in die land begin.

Selfs die seun van die beroemde Franse vloot-offisier en wetenskaplike Jacques-Yves Cousteau, wat destyds in 1956 die eerste haaihok ontwerp het vir die verfilming van die rolprent Silent World, het saam met Eksteen na Mosselbaai se haaie kom kyk . . .

Haaihokduik het onregstreeks ook gelei tot intensiewe navorsing oor dié spesie wat in 1974 wêreldwye vrees ingeboesem het met die vrystelling van wyle Peter Benchley se rillerboek JAWS. Die Amerikaanse skrywer se boek was 'n blitsverkoper en sowat 20 miljoen eksemplare is destyds verkoop. Toe Steven Spielberg boonop in 1975 die boek verfilm vir die treffer-rolprent JAWS, was die Witdoodshaai jare lank seker dié mees gevreesde seedier wat mense nagmerries gegee en uit die see gehou het.

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* Interessant genoeg was dit juis 'n Suid-Afrikaner wat Peter Benchley jare later skuldig laat voel het oor die "onregverdige stigma" wat sy boek aan dié vaartbelynde en sierlike seejagter laat kleef het. Tydens 'n besoek aan Gansbaai in die vroeë 1990's het die wêreldbekende "Haaiman" André Hartman aan Benchley gewys hoe hy vreesloos saam met withaaie swem en selfs op hul rug ry deur aan hul dorsale vin vas te hou . . .

Dit het wyle Benchley laat sê dat hy nooit die boek sou geskryf het as hy destyds geweet het wat hy nou weet nie.

Deesdae is Suid-Afrikaners in die voorste linie van wêreldkenners en navorsers oor die kenmerke, getalle, gewoontes en gedragspatrone van dié gevreesde, dog gerespekteerde koning van die mariene-oerwoud en leef ook Mosselbaai se seeliefhebbers in vrede en harmonie saam met dié diere wat so 'n belangrike rol in die balans van die marienelewe speel.
Hier is die hommeltuig-video wat die Discovery-span van die haai-aanval op die rob langs die Suid-Kaapse kuslyn verfilm het.
https://youtu.be/XtSAnt2HnhU

Image may contain: 4 people, people smiling, people standing, sky, ocean, cloud, outdoor, water and nature
Image may contain: ocean, sky, cloud, beach, outdoor, water and nature
Image may contain: swimming and water
Image may contain: water
 
Kyk/lees meer hier: 

https://web.facebook.com/mosselbayontheline/posts/2466083433622909?

31 Augustus 2019: 

As dit nie die haaie in Mosselbaai se waters is wat ná dekades steeds sensasie veroorsaak nie, is dit 'n onopgeëisde Power Ball-wenkaartjie van R141 miljoen wat die dorp aan die gons het.
Amanda Brewer, 'n Amerikaanse natuurlewe-fotograaf en stigter van die internasionale haaibewaringsprojek Sharkservation, se foto's van Mosselbaai se withaaie wat sy onlangs vir dokumentêre TV-programme soos Air Jaws Strikes Again hier kom neem het, is só vreesaanjaend dat gemanipuleerde poetsbak-foto's eintlik mak vertoon vergeleke met die ware jakob.

shark Amanda Brewer

Dit volg nadat selfs haaikenner Craig Ferreira uitgevang is deur Jaco Vollgraaff se poets toe hy sy vriende se diepsee-hengelekspedisie met 'n hommeltuig verfilm het en sommer vir die pret 'n foto van 'n reuse-haai ingelas het sodat dit lyk of die haai die boot agtervolg. Die eindresultaat van dié foto-manipulasie was só lewensgetrou dat selfs Ferreira dit as die ware jakob op Facebook gedeel het en 'n herrie op sosiale media veroorsaak het.

shark bullshit

 

shark Jaco Vollgraaff

Dié herrie rondom haaie het ons 'n ou koerant van November 1993 uit die Mossel Bay Advertiser se argiewe laat opdiep waarin die voornemende haaikyk-pakkette van twee bekende plaaslike sakemanne Jimmy Eksteen en JJ Moorcroft destyds al 'n soortgelyke haai-herrie veroorsaak het. 

shark Amanda Brewer1

Die publiek was destyds nie soseer gekant teen die toerisme-voordele van dié plan nie, maar bekommerd oor die tipe lokaas (chum) wat gebruik sou word en dat die bloederige visolie-mengsel meer haaie na die swemgebiede sou lok. In die onderhoud wat die uwe destyds self met Eksteen en Moorcroft gevoer het, het hulle egter die versekering gegee dat hul haaihok-pakket streng volgens erkende wetenskaplike riglyne bedryf sal word.

Ironies genoeg was daar destyds in dié tyd 'n hele paar haai-aanvalle langs die Mosselbaaise kuslyn - waaronder 'n noodlottige aanval by Hartenbos - en is die gebruik van lokaas (chumming) aanvanklik heeltemal verbied.

 

haaistorie

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Ons het in 'n vorige plasing genoem dat Jimmy Eksteen, 'n ervare duiker, destyds die eerste haaihokduike in Suid-Afrika uitgevoer het met 'n staalhok wat hy self ontwerp en laat bou het. Sedertdien het die bedryf baie meer gesofistikeerd en wetenskaplik geraak en gegroei tot 'n winsgewende toeriste-aantreklikheid in Mosselbaai, Gansbaai en Valsbaai.

Intusssen is daar groot kommer oor die skerp afname in grootwithaaie in Valsbaai waar die afgelope jaar nog nie een gewaar is nie teenoor 'n gemiddeld van 205 per jaar in vorige jare. Verlede jaar is slegs 50 grootwithaaie gedurende die lente en somer in Valsbaai opgemerk.
Sover bekend is dit die eerste keer nóg dat geen withaaie in die area opgemerk word nie en sukkel haaihokoperateurs om hul besighede aan die gang te hou.
Dié kommerwekkende afname kan verskeie oorsake hê - van moordwalvisse (Orcas) wat toenemend in Valsbaai boer en die haaie uitroei en kommersiële vissersbote wat die haaie teiken vir die Oosterse haaivinsopmark, tot ekologiese veranderinge, 'n voedseltekort of selfs erge seewaterbesoedeling.

'n Skokkende verslag oor hoe erg die Kaapse kuswater reeds besoedel is weens chemiese en rioolafval wat daarin beland, het onlangs verskyn. Volgens 'n berig in The Citizen is die see rondom Kaapstad so erg besoedel dat die vis vol farmaseutiese en nywerheidschemikalieë soos antibiotika, ontsmettingsmiddels en selfs antiretrovirale medikasie is.

Dit laat ook die gevaarligte vir Mosselbaai flikker waar grootskaalse hawe-ontwikkelings, nywerhede en olie/gas-ontginnings alles saam in die kleinste werkende hawe in die land beplan word.

Grootwithaaie speel 'n kardinale rol in die mariene-ekologie en hul teenwoordigheid dui juis op 'n gesonde eko-stelsel. Sal Mosselbaai se haaie en gesonde marienelewe hoegenaamd sulke ingrypende nywerheidsontwikkelings kan oorleef?

Intussen is die sperdatum vir kommentaar oor die beplande vergroting en uitbreiding van die Mosselbaai-hawe verleng tot einde Oktober 2019. Die aanvanklike sperdatum vir kommentaar was 31 Augustus, wat die publiek 'n skrale paar dae kans sou gee om insette te lewer sonder dat hulle hoegenaamd ingelig is oor die impak wat die verdieping/vergroting van die hawe moontlik op die ekologie, seestrome en kusbuurtes soos Hartenbos, Dias en Bayview kan hê, ens.

Lees meer hier: https://maroelamedia.co.za/…/grootwithaaie-verdwyn-uit-val…/

https://citizen.co.za/…/cape-towns-waste-is-ending-up-in-i…/

https://www.mosselbayadvertiser.com/…/comment-on-port-plans…?

Ons plaas soos gebruiklik ook meer nuus onder die foto-onderskrifte.

Kyk/lees meer hier: 

https://web.facebook.com/mosselbayontheline/posts/2477937225770863?

 

Related Articles:

The many faces and facades of Mossel Bay . . .

 somer16

There are many ways to say something, but euphemisms to placate the public should not be used when a disaster is looming . . .

visvrek Hartenbos6

The seriousness of the situation is often skilfully hidden in flowering media reports glamourizing the dire problems that Mossel Bay faces regarding essential service delivery and infrastructure. The red flags were already raised last year (albeit between the lines) in a report by Mossel Bay Municipality's former manager of integrated development planning (IDP), George van der Westhuizen, at an IDP forum.

somer20

Maybe it's time to call a spade a spade: The town's infrastructure is under threat of collapsing due to delays and an apparent lack of political will and expertise to identify, prioritize and fund the most essential necessities to keep a fast-growing town afloat: Clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity and an efficient road network.

somer Riaan Hammond

Beautiful sunset over the Hartenbos river . . . while schools of fish and other marine species are regularly dying due to unsolved problems and pollution. Photo: Riaan Hammond.  

Mossel Bay's roads and the aged and inadequate sewerage and waterworks systems cannot cope with the overwhelming influx of people and all the residential and industrial developments shooting up like mushrooms.

paradise Beach lifestyle villages

Clean drinking water and sanitation should be a priority, but the only short-term solution mentioned thus far, is the same draconic penalties that the City of Cape Town implemented last year during the Day Zero campaign.  

visvrek Hartenbos5

Our dam levels are dropping daily, our rivers are drying up and rotting, fish and other river species are dying, and instead of addressing the cause(s) of the escalating problem, superficial, costly and cosmetic "remedies" are implemented - regular mechanical breaching of the river mouths, pretty pedestrian bridges over the polluted Great Brak River, unnecessary pedestrian boardwalks along the (currently blocked) mouth of the Little Brak River . . . and now even (hushed) plans to build a multi-million rand River Resort development along the polluted Little Brak River . . .  

 

 Earlier this year, scores of dead fish also washed ashore at the Hartenbos River mouth  . . .  

visvrek Hartenbos9

Van der Westhuizen spoke on Mossel Bay's IDP last year at a "first of its kind" representative forum for integrated development planning, budgeting and performance management hosted by the Eden District Municipality in Mossel Bay. The broader public has no idea of what is being said/discussed at these closed forum meetings, other than what the media is allowed to report.  

Van der Westhuizen called on the various government departments to use the annual public participation meetings on the IDP to engage first hand with communities to establish their needs at grassroots level for service delivery.

However, between the lines in a flowering report, the graveness of the situation was unmistakable and it seems as if the same problems are still unresolved: 

 1. The ageing main electrical, sewerage and water network infrastructure demands urgent replacement before complete deterioration.

2. The worrisome condition of two major provincial roads stifles development.

3. Planning for the Louis Fourie Road upgrading is in an advanced stage for certain intersections as well as the improvement of pedestrian mobility and traffic flow. However, there is no indication of available funding or specific timeframes for the project to commence.

4. The upgrading of Long Road In Great Brak River will have a major impact on business development.

5. The delay in implementation of the Regional Landfill Site results in a planning conundrum, exacerbated by illegal dumping and vandalism of municipal infrastructure. Furthermore, the excessive cost to rehabilitate waste transfer stations is prohibitive.

6. In addition to plans to establish an aquaculture industry with related processing facilities, the provincial Department of Agriculture was approached to fund a business plan and to give technical and specialist support. (MBOTL: WHO is the applicant and WHERE is the notice of the required formal application for public interest?)

 https://www.mosselbayadvertiser.com/News/Article/General/exciting-developments-planned-201805241157

A year later the situation has deteriorated even further  . . .  

Click on our FB page for more photos and info: 

https://web.facebook.com/mosselbayontheline/posts/2487772941453958? 

The Hartenbos River mouth had to be breached mechanically twice this year already after hundreds of dead fish washed ashore . . . yet the CAUSE of the problem remains unsolved. 

 A lack of expertise and political will to address the real cause of the drastic deterioration of all three Mossel Bay's rivers seem to be an underlying problem. Above the river mouth was breached at an angle close to the ATKV caravan park earlier this year and underneath it was breached more to the middle of the river last week after the sand under the pedestrian walkway started caving in . . .   The drone footage (underneath) was shared on the internet by an unknown source. 

 

Earlier this year, blackish sludge was spilling into the Kleinbrak River for days before it was noticed and reported by a group of hikers who accidentally stumbled upon it. The valve of a sludge pipe could only be replaced a few days later. 

 https://web.facebook.com/mosselbayontheline/posts/2432824030282183?

Besoedeling van Mosselbaai se drie riviere neem ernstige afmetings aan en as dit nie spoedig aandag geniet nie, kan dit op 'n ekologiese ramp afstuur soos wat by die Vaalrivier gebeur het . . .
Chemiese afvalwater en slik van die watersuiweringswerke besoedel toenemend die boonste sytakke van die Klein-Brakrivier en vleiland . . .en met die grootskaalse ontwikkelings in die Mosselbaai-omgewing is dit onseker watter aanpassings gemaak word om die riviere van dié toenemende riool- en afvalwater te red. Só lyk die taai slik wat in die Klein-Brakrivier gevind is, maar geen watermonsters is blykbaar geneem om te bepaal wat dit is nie. . 

Image may contain: food

Lees meer hier: https://web.facebook.com/mosselbayontheline/posts/2432856080278978?

12 September 2019

somer8

The weekend's sweltering heatwave made way for some cooler weather and welcome downpours, but much more rain is needed to alleviate the devastating impact of the prolonged drought on the environment and available drinking water. The Wolwedans Dam levels dropped further to 56% last week shortly after the Mossel Bay Municipality issued a warning that severe water restrictions and penalties will have to be implemented if the dam level dropped below 50%.

somer10

While all three rivers are badly polluted and battling, and the Hartenbos river mouth again had to be opened mechanically following the demise of hundreds of fish, residents' concern over the water situation is justifiably growing.

visvrek6

In May last year, it was already mentioned in a report on Mossel Bay's Integrated Development Planning (IDP) that the ageing main electrical, sewerage and water network infrastructure demands urgent replacement before complete deterioration. That was more than a year ago . . .

The former IDP manager, George van der Westhuizen, also warned that the "continuous delay in the implementation of the Regional Landfill Site results in a planning conundrum, exacerbated by illegal dumping and vandalism of municipal infrastructure. Furthermore, the excessive cost to rehabilitate waste transfer stations is prohibitive."

 

somer14

 * While the town's infrastructure is facing collapse, PetroSA is fast running out of gas and funding, with no long-term solution in sight. It was reported that the closing down of PetroSA could cause the economy of the entire South Cape region to collapse.

“Reserves are close to depletion and are expected to run out by December 2020 and there is still no sustainable techno-economic long-term solution for the gas-to-liquid refinery,” a presentation by the Central Energy Fund said.
https://www.moneyweb.co.za/…/mossel-bay-gtl-plant-could-be…/

* Despite the above serious warnings, new multi-million rand coastal developments are continuously approved, including a 5-star hotel development Paradise Coast near the Pinnacle Point Golf Estate.
It is described as a world-class luxury hotel and estate villas boasting breathtaking sea views and overlooking the famous Dead Man's Cliff.
The question is whether the prestigious coastal land belonged to the municipality and for what price it was sold to the developer . . . Why the silence and where will the water and infrastructure come from?

"Paradise Coast’s development will consist of 240 rooms or 80 villas, a conference centre and health spa, with direct access to the famous St Blaize walking trail.

"A world-class hotel, 813 villa stands, and retail development opportunities are planned for the Paradise Coast Beach & Eco Estate."
https://www.capetownmagazine.com/…/paradise-coas…/10_22_9191

Other multi-million rand developments in the area include Moquini Coastal Estate next to Dana Bay and the Nautilus Bay Coastal Nature reserve with 78 residential plots with architecturally designed homes.

Moquini1

http://www.nautilusbaai.com/
https://www.property24.com/…/m…/western-cape/14741/107689710

* While stubborn secrecy and silence prevail about the planned merging of Mossel Bay and George municipalities to form a metropole, a new storm was unleashed around the head of George municipal manager Trevor Botha.
One cannot help wondering what role politics in local governments are playing and at what cost to the taxpayers and the environment?

GEORGE NEWS - A forensic investigation launched by Local Government MEC, Anton Bredell, has erupted in a full-scale blow-up between Minister Bredell and George Municipal Manager, Trevor Botha.
https://www.georgeherald.com/…/mec-and-mm-lock-horns-201909…

https://www.georgeherald.com/News/Article/Politics/da-wants-george-mm-out-201909130313

 

 https://web.facebook.com/mosselbayontheline/posts/2487772941453958?

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Is teenstand teen vismeelfabriek stank vir dank?

Maroela Media 2 Augustus 2019  Susan Purén 

Mosselbaai se ekonomie gaan binnekort ʼn groot hupstoot ontvang as die oprigting van ʼn vismeel- en visoliefabriek die groenlig by die owerhede kry.

Afro Fishing, ʼn plaaslike visfabriek wat sardyne inmaak, het buitelandse kapitaal van nagenoeg R350 miljoen bekom om hul bedrywighede in die hawegebied uit te brei. Daar word beplan om duisende tonne pelagiese visspesies, soos ansjovis en rooikappie (red-eye herring) by die aanleg te verwerk.

Afro Fishing

Dit sal seisoenale werk aan ʼn bykomende 200 persone verskaf.
Nie almal is ewe opgewonde oor die projek nie en sowat 420 inwoners het ʼn aanlyn petisie onderteken om teen die fabriek kapsie te maak. Honderde mense het ook as belangstellende partye registreer; hulle wil weet watter impak die fabriek op dié skilderagtige kusdorp op die Tuinroete gaan hê en of daar permanent ʼn stank oor die dorp gaan hang?

Deon van Zyl, Afro Fishing se besturende direkteur, sê die fabriek doen aansoek om ʼn moderne aanleg op te rig wat die beste bewese praktyke en beskikbare tegnologie sal gebruik om die stank wat vismeelfabrieke veroorsaak, te bestry.

afro4 Deon

Volgens ʼn luggehalte-impakstudie wat verlede jaar vir die beoogde projek gedoen is, sal ʼn sogenaamde nat skropper keer dat onaangename reuke in die atmosfeer losgelaat word. * Volgens die studie sal daar, indien nodig, bykomend van regeneratiewe termiese oksidasietegnologie (RTO) gebruik gemaak word. Dit word reeds in die buiteland toegepas en die Mosselbaai-aanleg sal die eerste in Suid-Afrika wees waar dit gebruik word.

 * (RTO gaan dus nie noodwendig hier gebruik word nie, maar (dalk) eers ingespan word as dit klaar te laat is en die reuk onhoudbaar raak? Wie bepaal wanneer dit nodig is?) 
ʼn Span wat met die beplande projek te doen het, was onlangs by ʼn vismeelfabriek in Peniche, Portugal waar RTO gebruik word en is vol lof vir die tegnologie.

Die oorgrote meerderheid van Mosselbaai se inwoners is egter steeds bekommerd dat die dorp dieselfde paadjie as Houtbaai en Gansbaai gaan loop. In Houtbaai was daar onlangs weer ʼn vlaag klagtes oor die vrot reuk wat van die plaaslike vismeelfabriek af kom en daar word nou selfs navorsing gedoen oor die impak wat slegte reuke op die mens se gesondheid kan hê. In Gansbaai het die reuk so erg geword dat die vismeelfabriek ʼn paar jaar gelede verbied is om tydens vakansietye te werk omdat dit toeristegetalle negatief beïnvloed
het.
Die Mosselbaai-gemeenskap vrees ook dat die fabriek die voorloper is vir die oprigting van ʼn visplaas of sogenaamde akwakultuur, soos dié wat nou vir die Weskus beoog word. Visplase kan ernstige omgewingsrisiko’s inhou en is ook moeilik volhoubaar.
Die visse wat in die onnatuurlike omstandighede aangehou word, word juis vismeel gevoer en met die fabriek in die hawe is akwakultuur dalk nou ʼn stappie nader.

fish farm

Elsa Wessels, die redakteur van die aanlyn nuusplatform Mosselbayontheline, sê in Suid-Afrika, soos in ander Afrika-lande, is die probleme erger omdat die betrokke owerhede selde die noodsaaklike maatreëls en wetgewing ten opsigte van water-, lug- en omgewingsbesoedeling toepas en afdwing.
“Gaan daar nimmereindigende hofsake op Mosselbaaiers wag soos wat nou in Saldanhabaai die geval is? En wie gaan kyk dat viskwotas gehandhaaf en die regte visspesies gevang word?” is van die vrae wat Wessels onlangs aan haar lesers gestel het.

Afro Fishing bestaan sedert 2007, maar het verlede jaar van eienaar verander. Verslae by die Kommissie vir Maatskappye en Intellektuele Eiendom (CIPC) wys dat vyf van Afro Fishing se direkteure in 2018 bedank het. Shamera Daniels (foto onder), ʼn bekende in die seevisserybedryf in die Wes-Kaap, is steeds op die direksie en Johannes Breed is die enigste nuwe direkteur wat aangestel is.

Shamera Daniels

Die 37-jarige Breed, ʼn geoktrooieerde rekenmeester van beroep, dien sedert verlede jaar op die direksies van agt Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye in die visbedryf. Volgens die aanlyn Fish Information Service (FIS) is Breed ook die besturende direkteur van die Angolese maatskappy African Selection Trust (AST). AST se webwerf sê die maatskappy se visie is om bestaande visfabrieke te restoureer en maksimale produksie te verkry wat werkverskafng en voedselsekuriteit in Angola sal bring.

AST het sedert 2017 sy vlerke in Suider-Afrika gesprei en besit ʼn 60%-aandeel in die Namibiese maatskappy Seaflower Pelagic Processing (Pty) Ltd. Die Namibiese staatsbeheerde Fishcor besit die ander 40%. Volgens die Namibiese dagblad, The Namibian, verteenwoordig Breed, die ekonoom Adriaan Louw en prokureur Marén de Klerk, AST op Seaflower Pelagic se direksie.

Die amaBhungane-sentrum vir ondersoekende joernalistiek het in 2017 berig dat die Namibiese visindustrie woedend was omdat ʼn internasionale belangegroep, verwysend na AST, gebaat het by die toekenning van ʼn reuseviskwota aan die staatbeheersde Fishcor. Volgens die Daily Maverick behels die kwota 50 metrieke ton makriel (maasbankers) per jaar vir 15 jaar met ʼn geskatte waarde van R120 miljoen per jaar.

Daar is destyds gesê dat ten minste vyf Namibiese maatskappye as vennote vir Fishcor kon kwaliseer, maar oor die hoof gesien is. Ten minste een, Bidvest Namibia, moes sy bedrywighede intussen staak en sowat 1 200 mense het hul werk verloor.

https://www.namibian.com.na/176224/archive-read/Esau-spoon-feeds-Fishcor

Seaflower Pelagic het pas ʼn visfabriek van nagenoeg R540 miljoen in Walvisbaai in gebruik geneem. Die aanleg kan soveel as 600 ton makriel (maasbankers) per dag verwerk.

As Johannes Breed by AST se bedrywighede in beide Angola en Namibië betrokke is, dan is die logiese vraag of AST ook die belegger agter die R350 miljoen-inspuiting in Mosselbaai se Afro Fishing is?

Wat is AST se aandeel in die ander plaaslike vismaatskappye waar Breed ook op die direksie dien? En wat beteken dit alles vir die plaaslike visbedryf?
Deon van Zyl, Afro Fishing se besturende direkteur, ontken dat die maatskappy ʼn filiaal van AST is en was slegs bereid om te sê dat die geld vir die Mosselbaai vismeelfabriek ʼn belegging uit die buiteland is wat privaat bekom is.

Maroela Media se navorsing wys dat Norfund, die Noorweegse Beleggingsfonds vir Ontwikkelende Lande, in 2010 ʼn privaat aandelefonds in Angola begin het en dat verskeie Europese banke en ontwikkelingsfondse intussen by Norfund aangesluit het.
Die fonds word deur Angola Capital Partners (ACP) bestuur en die ACP-webwerf verwys na ses verkose Angolese maatskappye, waaronder African Selection Trust, waarin daar in die laaste paar jaar miljarde belê is vir uitbreiding.

In Angola het dit vooruitgang vir gemeenskappe gebring deur werkgeleenthede te skep en die plaaslike bevolking te bemagtig. Maar in Namibië het meer as ʼn duisend mense, na bewering, hul werk verloor, aldus koerantberigte.
Die beplande vismeel- en olieproduksie is uitsluitlik vir die uitvoermark bedoel waar dit as ʼn bestanddeel van dierevoer gebruik word. Sowat vier kilogram vis is nodig om een kilogram vismeel te vervaardig.

Van Zyl sê Afro Fishing het nie self viskwotas nie, maar koop pelagiese vis aan by ondernemings wat wel kwotaregte het.

Dis eintlik ironies hoe die visbedryf werk, want Afro Fishing se bestaande inmaakaanleg het sedert 2016 duisende ton gevriesde sardyne uit Marokko ingevoer om steeds aan die plaaslike markvraag te voldoen nadat kwotas gesny is.

Maar wat van Mosselbaaiers se vrese oor visplase in die see en op land?
En al die omgewingsprobleme wat daarmee kan saamkom? Kenners is dit eens dat die kanse skraal is dat Afro Fishing ook ʼn visplaas sal begin omdat vismeel en visolie reeds wêreldwyd in groot aanvraag is en toppryse behaal.

Tog is dit nie te vergesog om te glo dat akwakultuur dalk wel na Mosselbaai op pad is nie. Johannes Breed se pa, Jannie, was vir baie jare die besturende direkteur van Ridge Solutions Aquaculture in Angola waar garnale op groot skaal vir die uitvoermark verbou is.

Dan is daar ook al gesê dat Mosselbaai beskou word as dié mees geskikte plek in Suid-Afrika om ʼn visplaas te begin waar geelstert verbou kan word. En net verlede jaar was daar ʼn omstrede inligtingsessie oor akwakultuur wat deur die Mosselbaai-munisipaliteit aangebied is.

visplaas Indaba

Die beplande ontwikkelings mag dalk werk skep en die Mosselbaai-ekonomie ʼn reuse-inspuiting gee, maar
teen watter prys?

African Selection Trust (AST) se hoofkantoor in Angola en plaaslike kantoor in Kaapstad het nie Maroela Media se skriftelike vrae beantwoord nie. Johannes Breed het nie op telefoniese boodskappe reageer nie.

 https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/in-diepte/is-teenstand-teen-vismeelfabriek-stank-vir-dank/?f

Lees ook verwante artikels: 

 https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/476/183378.html

 

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The sudden arrival of an impressive oil rig platform vessel in Mossel Bay's waters inspired many local photographers to capture the beauty of the beast - and caused quite a stir on social media networks.
 
olieboor Pieter en Tiekie Oberholzer1
 
Pieter Oberholzer was one of the local photographers who captured the Deepsea Yantai shortly after her arrival in Mossel Bay on Monday. 
 
olieboor Pieter en Tiekie Oberholzer

According to a press release by Transnet National Ports Authority, the gigantic vessel is a semi-sub rig platform vessel called the Deepsea Yantai which is en route to Norway after its stopover in Mossel Bay for a crew change and some essential services. 

olieboor
 

The Deepsea Yantai, a semi-sub rig platform vessel, arrived in Mossel Bay on Monday, 5 August 2019. The rig travelled from Singapore and is currently anchored just outside of Transnet National Port Authority Port of Mossel Bay port limits, where it will undergo services and crew change before departing for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. 

Built in in the Bahamas in 2019 by Chinese rig builder CIMC Raffles, the Deepsea Yantai, previously called Beacon Atlantic, is managed by Odfjell Group. It has a gross tonnage of 24000 and a summer deadweight of 17670 tonnes.
 
Earlier this year, it was announced by Neptune Energy, one of Europe's largest independent exploration and production companies, that the rig will be used for up to 16 wells offshore Norway as part of the Duva (PL636) and Gjøa P1 (PL153) projects in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. 
 
olieboor1
 

The Deepsea Yantai, a semi-sub rig platform vessel which arrived in Mossel Bay on Monday, 5 August 2019.


Port Manager, Shadrack Tshikalange said the Port of Mossel Bay is well-equipped to service the needs of large vessels like the Deepsea Yantai despite being the smallest of TNPA’s commercial ports along the South African coast.
 
“We commend the efforts of all role-players in ensuring the safe arrival of the Deepsea Yantai. TNPA values the opportunity to assist vessels of this nature and size in the future, which will earn us the trust of international organisations,” he said. 

Another vessel owned by the Odfjell Group, Deepsea Stavanger, is penned to work on the next exploration phase of the Brulpadda project in the Outeniqua Basin situated off the coast of Mossel Bay, where energy giant, Total, discovered gas condensate earlier this year.
 
Mossel Bay is the only port that operates two off-shore mooring points within port limits. TNPA’s investment into the oil and gas industry ties into government’s efforts to develop the "oceans economy" through its Operation Phakisa.
 
olieboor Pieter en Tiekie Oberholzer2
 
 olieboor Pieter en Tiekie Oberholzer3
 
 
 
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