Tag Archives: British Royal Navy

Weekly Press Review – 30 September 2016

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Small-scale fishers have voiced their displeasure at the 2015 regulation forcing them to form one co-operative per community.

According to the press this week the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is insisting that each community be allowed to form only one co-operative.

Speaking at a national workshop organised by the Masifundise Development Trust, Oliver Schutz said, “This regulation is forcing people to have one co-operative. We do not know how much is going to be in the basket. This will further reduce their fishing rights.”

DAFF small-scale fisheries director, Craig Smith says that marine resources are limited and therefore cannot support the proliferation of co-operatives, that was why only one co-operative per community could be allowed under the new regulation.

Trust spokesperson Nosipho Singiswa said that fishers are still waiting for DAFF to complete the identification, verification and registration process and then decide on appealing the regulation and fishing rights.

This week saw the HMS Portland sail into Durban harbour. The Type 23 frigate, part of the British Royal Navy, made headlines as the eighth ship to bear the name and the 15th and penultimate ship of the “Duke” class of frigates.

Also making headlines this week was the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17), which took place in Sandton, Johannesburg.

For the first time the European Union (EU) is participating as a full member of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), seeking stricter international measures against wildlife trafficking in line with the EU action plan on wildlife trafficking.

The conference is aimed at providing a forum for parties to review the implementation of the Cites convention, which covers more than 35,000 plants and animals, ensuring that trade remains legal, traceable, and sustainable.

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Weekly Press Review – 17 April 2015

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The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has made headlines this week with the announcement that they will be embarking on a nationwide project to start a drowning register.  Although this may sound like a rather grim undertaking, over 2,000 people drown in South Africa each year and it is believed that this project will provide an up-to-date and real reflection of the problem.

NSRI Chief Executive Cleeve Robertson said, “We don’t have accurate current data, but we estimate that more than 2,000 adults and children die in water every year in South Africa.”

Meriel Bartlett, an NSRI executive director added, “If we can understand the worst areas for drownings, we can better understand how to address the problem.”

A high number of drownings occur in the 9 – 14 year age group and the NSRI currently runs a training programme, the Water-Wise Academy, targeting water safety issues in classrooms across the country.  The programme was started in 2006 and has reached over 700,000 children thus far, primarily in under privileged areas.

Bartlett believes that the programme should be a permanent part of the school curriculum.

The beloved navy dog Just Nuisance is soon to be honoured in both a new book and a full length feature film.  According to the press, a film about the legendary British Royal Navy dog will soon begin shooting in South Africa. All proceeds from the film will go to local charities and youth groups.

The launch of the book, Able Seaman Just Nuisance, will take place at the Simon’s Town Museum this weekend. According to Sherri Rowe of Dumb Dog Productions, “Our relationship with the Simon’s Town Museum and their staff adds an authentic dimension to the film.  The museum has on exhibit his original collar, enlistment papers and much more.  We are tremendously excited to bring this project to fruition.”