This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.
Parliament's portfolio committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has called for harsher penalties for sea polluters.
Committee chairperson, Lulu Johnson, says there's an urgent need to protect marine resources around the country's seashore.
Johnson was reacting to the pollution caused by the oil spill from the stricken vessel, Kiani Satu, which ran aground near Knysna nearly a week ago.
He says they've observed several similar incidents around the coast where government ends up carrying the can and polluters go unpunished.
"The issue here is more about business and maximising on profit as to what happens to the marine resources nobody seems to be talking about it, because more and more we are talking about the depletion of our fishery resources in the country and it is higt time that there is something done to those companies who transgress regulations" Johnson said.
Meanwhile, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds has been appointed by the ship owner to support conservation authorities in the collection of oiled seabirds, and to undertake the stabilization and rehabilitation of oiled seabirds as a result of the incident.
A SANCCOB response team has been deployed today, and will be setting up a stabilization hub at Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness Centre in Plettenberg Bay where oiled seabirds will receive basic treatment.
SANCCOB has requested the community to assist with the transfer of oiled birds form the hub to its facility next to the lighthouse in Cape St Francis.
