Approaching whales is illegal, says City

It’s against the law to approach whales within 300 metres of the shoreline under the National Environmental Management Act, says the City.

The City received 11 complaints of people harassing whales on several Cape Town beaches last week, says the department’s manager, Gregg Oelofse.

The City was also aware of social media posts about people purposefully approaching whales on kayaks, surf skis and boats and even swimming out to them, said mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews.

“Such acts disturb these sea animals. It can affect their feeding patterns and is especially impactful on moms with calves,” he said.

He urged the public to respect environmental laws.

Several whale species could be found along the City’s coastline all year round, and this year had seen a high number of humpback whale sightings close to shore, both in False Bay and along the Atlantic Seaboard, he said.

“This is a normal occurrence for this time of year, and super groups are expected to come to the Atlantic Seaboard from this month until February next year,” he said, adding that several southern right whale mother-and-calf pairs were also being seen in places like Fish Hoek.

The City’s Coastal By-law states that unless written authorisation has been granted by the City, no person may within the coastal zone interfere with, cause damage to, collect, harvest, impede, harm, harass, hunt or restrict a living or dead wild animal or plant, or displace, disturb, destroy or remove its habitat, provided that reasonable activity concerning the listed actions together with catching of fish in tidal pools by children in the ordinary use or enjoyment of the beach area is not prohibited.

The City, along with the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment will be actively enforcing the law, Mr Andrews said.

Email Gregg.Oelofse@capetown.gov.za if you want to lodge complaints or report sightings of people harassing marine life.