Environmental Affairs Minister Valli Moosa has stood firm in the face of a storm over the allocation of traditional line fishing rights, saying those who believe they have been unfairly treated should lodge an appeal to him.
He has also warned that law enforcement agencies will take action against those who put to sea and catch fish without a permit to do so.
Briefing the media at Parliament on Monday, the minister said he planned to personally go through each appeal his department received. The final submission date for these is August 20.
”I will personally consider each and every appeal… I will start even before the closing date, in order to give immediate feedback,” Moosa said.
Marine and coastal management recently allocated permits to 376 applicants in the traditional line fishing sector, and rejected about the same number, sparking an outcry from some that they were being denied the right to earn a living.
The number of allocations is expected to rise to a maximum of 450 by the time the appeal process is ended. According to Moosa, this will be dealt with ”very, very rapidly”.
”It will mean a total of 450 vessels and 3 450 crew in the [traditional] line fishery.
”There is no need for concern that the appeals process won’t bring justice for those who feel they have been unfairly treated.”
Moosa said the line fishing rights allocation had come after extensive consultation with stakeholders, and was aimed at ”bona fide full-time fishermen who depend on line fishing for their livelihood”.
On whether he would take action against illegal fishing, he said: ”We will certainly act against anybody who breaks the law… the law enforcement agencies will certainly do that.”
He said illegal line fishing was not widespread, and most fishermen knew it was not in their best interest.
”I know there are people who have made such suggestions… and those who have been inciting this… but actually, in reality on the ground, there is no large-scale breaking of the law.
”But where it happens we will certainly take action,” Moosa said.
Many of those disqualified during the allocation process had in fact received substantial rights allocations in other sectors.
Others were disqualified because traditional line fishing was not their main source of income.
Moosa said the allocation of rights and regulation of the sector was essential to preserve the resource for future generations of line fishermen.
The minister also said he had spoken to Western Cape social services member of the executive committee Marius Fransman about emergency relief measures for affected fishing communities in the province.
This relief would be on a temporary basis pending the outcome of appeals. – Sapa