Fishing is prohibited from vessels of every type in the Port of Durban in the interests of safe, orderly and efficient port working, port manager Ricky Bikraj said.
He said the decision was taken after long consideration regarding the port's background in handling an increasing density of commercial-vessel traffic on the water as well as the number of marine incidents involving fishing boats.
"Vessel arrivals are in the order of an average of 480 per month matched by 870 monthly average vessel movements. The impact of such vessel traffic proliferation poses a significant safety risk to non-commercial craft of all types where fishing is being undertaken," Bikraj said in a statement.
He said there was also an increasing number of reported marine incidents involving boats fishing in the harbour which he referred to as "near misses".
This, he said, highlighted the operational safety issue and the necessity to implement risk reducing measures.
He said the decision was taken after long consideration regarding the port's background in handling an increasing density of commercial-vessel traffic on the water as well as the number of marine incidents involving fishing boats.
"Vessel arrivals are in the order of an average of 480 per month matched by 870 monthly average vessel movements. The impact of such vessel traffic proliferation poses a significant safety risk to non-commercial craft of all types where fishing is being undertaken," Bikraj said in a statement.
He said there was also an increasing number of reported marine incidents involving boats fishing in the harbour which he referred to as "near misses".
This, he said, highlighted the operational safety issue and the necessity to implement risk reducing measures.