The City of Cape Town is issuing a firm reminder to residents and visitors that staying within 300 metres of any whale is strictly prohibited by law, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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According to the City, this includes people, vessels and aircraft, such as drones.
If a whale approaches or surfaces nearby, beachgoers are advised to move at least 300 metres away.
This reminder follows numerous complaints last week about people getting too close to whales in Cape Town’s waters.
The City and the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) will be actively enforcing these regulations.
‘In the past week, we have received 11 complaints of people harassing whales,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment Eddie Andrews.
‘We are also aware of social media posts of people purposefully approaching whales on kayaks and surf skis, boats and even swimming out to them.’
‘Such acts disturb these sea animals. It can affect their feeding patterns and is especially impactful on moms with calves. Let us please respect our environmental laws.’
‘Cape Town is extraordinarily blessed with a very rich marine environment that supports a wide range of marine species, many considered to be iconic and charismatic.’
Cape Town hosts various whale species year-round, with high numbers of humpback whales seen near shore in False Bay and along the Atlantic Seaboard.
Southern Right Whale mother-calf pairs are also spotted in areas like Fish Hoek.
These laws, which prohibit interacting with or harassing whales, fall under the Threatened or Protected Species Regulations of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMBA).
The City’s Coastal Bylaw (Section 7.3) prohibits any interference with wildlife or their habitats within the coastal zone without written permission.
However, reasonable activities, such as children fishing in tidal pools during normal beach use, are allowed.
Any person wanting to lodge a complaint or report sightings of people harassing marine life can do so by emailing Gregg Oelofse, Manager: Coastal Management, Environmental Management, on [email protected]
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Picture: Gallo
