MINISTER OF
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS WELCOMES SAA CARGO DECISION TO LIFT THE BAN ON ITS
EMBARGO ON THE TRANSPORT OF HUNTING TROPHIES
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs. Edna Molewa has welcomed the
lifting of an embargo by the cargo division of South Africa’s national carrier,
SAA, on the transport of legally acquired hunting trophies of African lion,
African elephant, rhinoceros and tiger.
The embargo had not included other wild animals not mentioned on a
global list of endangered species.
The decision by SAA Cargo to lift the two month-long temporary embargo
is the result of the national carrier being satisfied that sufficient measures
are in place by the Department of Environmental Affairs to prevent the illegal
transportation of illegally acquired wildlife specimens in general, and
illegally acquired hunting trophies in particular.
The decision by
certain airlines and cargo handlers to issue a ban on the transportation of
hunting trophies incorrectly failed to distinguish between the trade in and
transportation of legally acquired wildlife specimens, and the illegal trade in
wildlife specimens.
The decision to lift the embargo was reached following extensive
engagement between the Department and SAA since the embargo was announced on 20
April 2015.
During the past six years, the
Department put in place a variety of measures to eradicate illegal exploitation
and trade in endangered species and their products.
This has
included the deployment of Environmental Management Inspectors (EMI’s),
commonly known as the Green Scorpions, at OR Tambo International Airport
(ORTIA) since 1 April 2015.
This deployment
has now been fully operationalized.
EMIs deployed
at ORTIA will ensure compliance with, and will undertake enforcement action
related to, the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) and
its Regulations.
The EMIs are
also tasked with ensuring that Regulations relating to the Convention on the
International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the
Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) are monitored and enforced.
Since the
announcement of the embargo, the Green Scorpions have been working closely with
other law enforcement agencies by conducting joint proactive compliance and
enforcement operations at the ORTIA.
The Department
has also conducted training sessions with SAA Cargo officers focusing on the
illicit wildlife trade and the detection of illegal consignments.
As part of
joint operations between law enforcement agencies, airlines and cargo handlers
going forward, to prevent the circumstances that gave rise to the embargo being
undertaken, the DEA has undertaken to, inter alia:
(i) Ensure that
physical inspections at ORTIA are conducted on a daily basis to monitor
compliance with NEMBA and its regulations.
(ii) Ensure
that CITES export and re-export permits are endorsed only after physical
inspection of consignments
(iii) Ensure
that the abovementioned CITES permits are cancelled after use.
(iv) Ensure
that enforcement action is taken in cases of detected non-compliance with NEMBA
and its regulations, CITES and TOPS regulations.
(v) Work in
collaboration with other agencies such as Customs, SAPS, Department of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Department of Health and the Department of Home
Affairs, to proactively detect illegal consignments.
(vi) Facilitate
the further training of airline officers and cargo handlers, ACSA employees and
other operators in the handling of wildlife consignments and the detection of
suspicious cargo.
(vii) Develop
protocols for communication between the Green Scorpions, SAA Cargo and other
operators to ensure the sharing of critical information and to enable quick
reaction time when needed.
Importantly,
the DEA will step up communications with exporters and importers, to ensure
that they notify the Department timeously of their intention to freight
consignments, in order to arrange for physical inspections.
The Department has endeavoured to
ensure that loopholes that may have existed in the current regulations enabling
the illegal transportation of wildlife through South African ports, have now
been closed.
“It should be
remembered that hundreds of legally acquired wildlife specimens, such as
hunting trophies, pass through our main ports of entry and exit monthly without
incident, penalizing an entire industry for the illegal actions of the few is
not in the country’s best interests, “ says Minister of Environmental Affairs,
Edna Molewa.
Molewa added
that the sustainable utilisation of species, including legal hunting, has historically played a significant role in the growth of populations
of species, including lion, elephant and rhino.
The legal,
well-regulated hunting industry in South Africa is valued at around R 6.2b a
year and is a source of much needed foreign exchange, job creation, community
development and social upliftment.
The Department will continue to engage
other airlines and shipping companies who have put embargoes in place on the
transport of legally obtained hunting trophies from Africa.
The Department
commends the positive step taken by SAA Cargo to lift the embargo on hunting
trophies – and encourages other airlines and shipping companies who still have
embargoes in place, to reconsider their positions.
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