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29 Mar 2012

More than two tons of West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) have been collected by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and 100 recruits from the South African Navy between 11h00 and 17h00 after a walkout was reported in Eland's Bay at around 10h30 this morning.

With more than 95% still alive, these rock lobsters, mostly egg-bearing females, are put back in the sea near St Helena Bay, the area south of the red tide. This is done to minimise the loss of reproductive potential as this has both immediate and long-term benefits.

Another walkout event has also been reported around 16h00 this afternoon between Lambert's Bay and Eland's Bay and the extent thereof does not seems concerning as only around 80 WCRL were recorded on the beach.

Currently our officials, assisted by the South African Navy, the police and traffic services, are managing the situation and everything is under control. The police will guard the areas throughout the night and collection will continue from early in the morning. We call on the public to stay away from these areas as we have strict access control to the areas to avoid any interference with these operations.

These walkouts, a direct consequence of low oxygen waters as a result of the toxic red tide on the West Coast, follows on the washout of around two tons of WCRL 20 kms north of Lambert's Bay on Tuesday evening.

For more information, contact:
Lionel Adendorf
Cell: 076 267 5838
Tel: 021 402 3702

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
29 Mar 2012

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