Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Tuesday gave an undertaking to sceptical representatives of the Western Cape fishing industry that he will ensure fishing quotas are allocated in an open and honest way.
Van Schalkwyk was addressing an imbizo of several hundred members of the fishing community on the latest developments in the industry. The Woodstock Town Hall was packed and many people who wished to attend were refused entry and had to stand outside.
In his opening remarks, Van Schalkwyk told the meeting that unless the fishing industry is properly managed it will be wiped out and result in many people losing their livelihood.
He said everyone in the Western Cape has the right to make a living from the fishing industry and should be granted equal access to fishing rights.
As part of his undertaking to the fishing community, he said he will have application forms simplified and the quota system improved to ensure prompt and efficient service.
Van Schalkwyk envisaged an open system in which decisions are made in a transparent way and not behind closed doors.
”We will conduct an information campaign to ensure that everyone understands the process, including the points system which gives preference to certain previously disadvantaged people,” he said.
He undertook to publish the provisional lists of all the applicants before any decisions on issuing quotas are taken.
He urged interested parties to scrutinise the lists to ascertain whether the applicants are genuinely from the fishing community.
Several people interjected that some of those very people he was talking about were sitting in the audience.
”We do not want people who do not know about fishing, or even where the sea is, taking food from the mouths of our people [the fishing community].”
The crowd applauded and some again said there were many such people in the audience.
Van Schalkwyk said if the fishing community notices on the list the name, for example, of a lawyer from Johannesburg, they should notify the authorities.
He also undertook to ensure that the quota system is operated by honest people who have the interests of the fishing community at heart.
”We have already kicked out 12 inspectors and all new applications will be assessed by people who have undergone the most stringent of tests,” he said.
Van Schalkwyk called on the fishing industry to act honestly and urged its members not to place too much trust in consultants who offered to act on behalf of them.
”If you use a consultant, make sure it is someone you can trust and the consultant is helping you and not himself,” he said.
Many speakers from the floor thanked Van Schalkwyk for attending the imbizo but most were cautious about finding quick solutions to the many problems in the fishing industry. — Sapa