Hunters 'will be dealt with'
20/11/2007 21:05 - (SA)

Johannesburg - Game farming and hunting contribute significantly to SA's economy - however if any hunter behaved irresponsibly, then he would be dealt with, said Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus Van Schalkwyk on Tuesday.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, he said a key issue was sustainable utilisation.

"We are equally determined to ensure that our laws and international commitments are respected and upheld, and will not hesitate to act swiftly and harshly against unethical or irresponsible hunters who overstep or ignore our regulations."

Van Schalkvyk said that the professional hunting sector had an "important partnership role to play in our approach both to conservation and tourism".

"I am fully committed to strengthening and improving the relationship between our department and this sector...Game farming and hunting contributes significantly to conservation, tourism development, job creation and sustainable development in rural areas," he said.

Van Schalkvyk reiterated that the sector was an important foreign currency earner and its contribution to the gross national product was substantial.

Interactions 'bearing fruit'

"I am very optimistic about the future of this industry and the great potential to further nurture and promote its economic and conservation worth."

He said that the department and the industry had over the years, engaged in a number of issues.

"Regular and structured dialogue between our department and this sector was a very important issue that was raised at our previous meeting. The Wildlife Forum has been successfully established to provide for such a dialogue and it is clear that these interactions are bearing fruit," he said.

Some of these issues were the inconsistent provincial conservation legislation that provided inadequate protection for wildlife - the need was identified to develop a national regulatory framework.

This culminated in the regulations pertaining to Threatened or Protected Species.

These regulations aimed to address the canned hunting issue, as it explicitly prohibited the hunting of listed large predators under certain conditions.

'Make it easier'

The regulations also aimed to address illegal hunting and unethical hunting methods and devices and provide formal recognition by the department to hunting organisations.

"I am aware of the capacity challenges faced by some of the provinces with regard to permitting and licensing.

"We will make it easier for you to operate as an industry and will ensure that the same rules and standards will apply to everyone equally. This will root out those rogue elements that give the whole industry a bad name," Van Schalkvyk said.



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