The fishing fraternity can breathe a sigh of relief as anglers will not be affected by the partial beach closure imposed on all KZN beaches this festive season. While beaches will be out of bounds for bathers on 16, 25, 26 and 31 December 2020, as well as 1, 2 and 3 January 2021, they will remain open to fishermen provided they are in possession of a fishing licence.
The newly implemented regulations which were announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last (Monday) night were gazetted today. That is a best-case scenario, with further restrictions on beaches possible, depending on compliance with coronavirus measures, said the president last night.
‘The closure of beaches and restrictions on times of operation do not apply to fishermen for fishing purposes, who are in possession of a permit or exemption granted in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act,’ said the regulations published this morning.
The regulations also stated that ‘access to recreational and provincial parks, and other parks where access control measures and entry limitations are already in place, will remain open to the public’.
