DA Trying To Get Local Governance Of Small Scale Harbors Funded By Government

A short while ago I met with a small contingent including the Large Pelagic SME Association (LPSMEA) who represents a fair amount of harbor users, with the Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Advisory Committee regarding the state of our harbors, or lack thereof. In one of my previous post titled: MK Veterans - Wasting Solution, you can see the state of disrepair whilst it is better documented on the Trawler Heritage website. A brief discussion was had during which the LPSMEA and myself gave adequate explanations providing an absolute understanding of the frustrating situation of the complete lack of control, malicious damage to public property, theft and other crimes, etc to all whom where present. It seems that we were heard and now the Democratic Alliance is well into the process of appealing to the court to have small harbors removed from the portfolio of the Public Works Department. The DA is arguing and motivating that local government should run the harbors instead of Public Works who are based all the way in Pretoria. The local government will in-turn hand the responsibility over to the respective local municipalities. As we speak, Premier Helen Zille and Mayor Patricia De Lille have both stated that the local by-laws and governing policies are being drafted up outlining the governance and should be completed within 6 months time.

The DA's move to have the local harbors included in their local municipalities falls directly within the ANC's and President Zuma's policy Operation Phakisa - Oceans Economy from where the budget has already been approved. The billions of Rands that have been set aside for the small harbors development authority who are to oversea the rehabilitation and upgrading of our harbor infrastructures will fund this. The quantified value of our Exclusive Economic Zone (the EEZ spans some 200 nautical miles parallel to our coastline) and oceans which indicated that oceans around South Africa were estimated to have potential to contribute R54 billion to GDP and an estimated 316 thousand jobs. Further analysis undertaken in 2013, found that nine sectors of South Africa’s ocean economy could generate an estimated GDP contribution of 129 to 177 billion rand by 2033 and double the number of jobs estimated in 2010. This is the motivation and the underling reasoning why the ANC has implemented the results driven approach of Operation Phakisa (Phakisa means "Hurry Up" in Sesotho) which involves setting clear plans and targets, on-going monitoring of progress and making these results public. 

 There has also been a call to privatize the small harbors to become self sustaining and managed. I think the first logical step would be exactly what the DA proposes, then look to privatization. But with privatization comes exclusion and thought must be spared for the historic harbor uses, etc...

As a fellow harbor user I am reliant upon these harbors for my livelihood. Whilst most can agree that we may have some of the most picturesque harbors, below the surface of the Public Work's bandages, much dark festering lurks. I welcome the proposed changed the DA are in the process of fighting for and can't help but wonder what the future will hold.

Below are some photos of the stripped tractor that was used to collect up all the kelp that washed ashore on Hout Bay beach...I saw it again this morning and there is literally barely even the chassis left:

This Channel's Credibility Is Seriously Questionable...Discovery or Disgrace???

The Discovery Channel aired “Shark Week” in the States starting on the 4th of August 2013. I was informed of the Megalodon attack near Hout Bay by concerning friends living in Boston who were shocked to have learnt that an entire fishing boat was sunk and all on board subsequently eaten by a suspected prehistoric shark. Search results indicate that the last recorded shark attack in Cape Town was on the 19th April 2012 involving body boarder David Lilienfeld near Kogel Bay and a Great White shark. There is no media coverage regarding the Megalodon attack in Hout Bay, despite the program having “actual footage” from local news broadcasters. The Discovery Channel has done themselves a serious discredit to their audience by broadcasting this fictional episode.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week/videos/megalodon-attacks-a-boat.htm

For the record, there was never a Megalodon attack in Hout Bay, Cape Town and here’s why. The Megalodon shark was an apex predator existing around 1.5+ million years ago during the Cenozoic Era. Remains of excavated fossils suggest that they grew to a lengthy 18 meters with individual teeth diagonally measuring a staggering 170mm making this one of the most powerful predators in vertebrae history.

Pictures: Wikipedia

This shark could have easily sunk the vessel that Discovery Channel suggests but there is no convincing evidence that these once powerful creatures are still in existence. Yes, one could argue that we have yet to explore and discover all of the oceans and that the Coelacanth was a famous discovery made not so long ago off our coastal waters. So what are the chances of a Megalodon swimming off Clifton beach or Hout Bay? Very slim! An apex predator of this magnitude would have to consume vast quantities of fish and other ocean mammals to sustain its self. I couldn't imagine a Megalodon sitting down to a nice vegetarian buffet of seaweed and the likes thereof. Surely with today’s modern technology, such as sonar, we would have found a Megalodon shark - especially with the tuna fleet operating from Hout Bay Harbor, someone should have caught one by now?

According to Marine Biologist Alison Kock, in recent years an ­average of only six people have been attacked every year in South ­African ­waters, with 26 attacks since 1960. Only one in 10 shark attacks are fatal. As ­tourists in particular spend more time in the waters sharks favor off Australia, America and in the ­Pacific, globally the number of attacks is ­growing. 

Cape Town has employed the services of "Shark Spotters” at all major beaches and hot spots along the Cape Peninsula. The spotters indicate to the public any presence of sharks with a color flag system as follows:

              Shark Have Been Spotted

 High Shark Alert

                   Spotting Conditions Are Poor

                         Spotting Conditions Are Good

       

  The previous shark attack involving a British tourist was due to his own ignorance as he had been warned about the shark sightings and still chose to swim. Use your common sense and take note of the Shark Spotter flags!

Statistically speaking you are safer in the sea than your own car… scary fact! You are more likely to die from cows, ants, mosquitoes, lightning, traffic light intersection (robots) and so on, than a shark attack let alone a Megalodon. Take a look at the list of the top 25 things more likely to kill you as opposed to sharks: http://kafe.com/news/25-shocking-things-more-likely-to-kill-you-than-a-shark/. I had a good chuckle at this list.

So Discovery Channel, I must admit that your episode on the Megalodon while it was more convincing than the original Jaws Trilogy in 1975, it is still flawed. Unfortunately for the tourism industry in Cape Town, there are Americans wondering the streets back home believing everything they saw. This is a fact as I have received numerous emails and phone calls from friends abroad. So on land one might consider yourself a “big fish,” but in the ocean we are merely part of the food chain. Respect it.

REF: Discovery Channel & Wikipedia