Notre ami Michael Scholl, spécialiste des requins blancs, en Afrique du sud , nous fait part de son inquiétude liée à l'implantation d'une ferme délevage de saumons dans la zone de Dyer Island. Le conflit probable entre les éleveurs et les prédateurs marins risque de faire de gros dégats dans les populations de lions de mers, de requins blancs et de manchots du cap...
L'installation de cette ferme d'aquaculture n'a pas fait l'objet d'une étude d'impact... lire le texte de Michael.
Pour en savoir plus sur les requins blancs de Dyer Island : voir le dossier requin. Très bientôt le dossier Pêche et aquaculture fera le point sur les problèmes soulevés par l'aquaculture de poissons carnivores.
La lettre de Michael :
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
Gansbaai is facing a potential ecological disaster that may lead to disastrous consequences for the environment, and the tourism and fishing industries. A recently established Salmon farming project between Danger Point and Dyer Island is threatening the local environment and endangered wildlife.
Gansbaai is known worldwide for its important Great White Shark and Southern Right Whale populations, and has hence become a huge touristic attraction. Marine and Coastal Management issued a licence for this pilot Salmon farming project to Salmon Salar, a local company backed by Norwegian expertise. Aquaculture legislations were not in place when the application was filed for the project in the 90’s, and the permit was technically issued without conducting any ecological impact study.
A large number of similar open ocean fish farms worldwide have all lead to similar conclusions that we summarized in the attached document (salmonfarming.pdf). You can also download this document at: http://www.WhiteSharkTrust.org/salmonfarming.pdf (800 kb file) We also put together a small sample of relevant articles and documents to accompany our document, and you can download it at: http://www.WhiteSharkTrust.org/articlesample.zip (10.6 Mb file)
This farm will have a direct impact on the environment with antibiotics and chemicals used for the welfare of the farmed fish. Many protected and endangered wildlife species (Great White Sharks, Southern Right Whales, Dolphins, African Penguins, Cormorants, Gannets, etc.) will get entangled in the farm nets and probably killed by the fish farm employees. THIS FARM NEEDS TO BE CLOSED.
At this stage, only a public protest will be able to stop this absurdity, and we ask you to please spread this message and complain to the authorities:
Dr. Grant Pitcher Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) Private Bag X2, Roggebaai 8012, Western Cape, South Africa GPitcher@deat.gov.za
DEAT Chief Director of Communications: Mr J P Louw louwjp@iafrica.com
DEAT Office of the Director-General: Ms Koekie Maphanga kmaphanga@deat.gov.za
I thank you in advance for your attention, and I hope that we can make a difference in helping the already struggling wildlife by closing this farm or at least forcing the authorities to enforce a strict control over the farming procedures.
Sincerely yours,
Michael C. Scholl
