The suspension of abalone fishing has been postponed to February 1 next year, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Wednesday.
Instead of the ban coming into effect on Thursday, as originally planned, a substantially reduced total allowable catch (TAC) of 75 tons would now be permitted during the interim, he told a media briefing in Cape Town.
”I have applied my mind to the numerous pleas I have received from communities regarding the implementation date of the decision,” he said.
”I want to reiterate that to suspend fishing in any fishery is a very difficult decision to take as we are aware that such a decision will have an impact on the livelihoods of many people and families in the industry.
”Our decision today [Wednesday] will ensure that communities will over the festive season and the start of the new school term have some source of income.
”We will also use this opportunity to engage communities on the social plan to mitigate these impacts,” Van Schalkwyk said.
On recommendation from the department’s researchers and management, a TAC of 75 tons would now be allowed, subject to:
- the global TAC being apportioned proportionately among right holders;
- right holders following the normal permitting process;
- a limited group of harvesters and vessels being nominated by right holders to fish on behalf of the rest;
- right holders being consulted on specific allocation and harvesting arrangements; and
- the fishery closing on January 31 2008.
The TAC would be apportioned to Zone A (Gansbaai to Die Dam) zero (unchanged); Zone B (Gansbaai) 25 tons (reduced from 75 tons); Zone C (Hermanus/Hawston) zero (unchanged); Zone D (Cape Hangklip to Betties Bay) zero (unchanged); Zone E (Kommetjie) 12 tons (unchanged); Zone F Robben Island) 20 tons (unchanged); and Zone G (Yzerfontein) 18 tons (unchanged).
To ensure the suspension of harvesting was observed, the department would continue efforts to clamp down on poaching.
The department would also consult with stakeholders on the possibility of imposing a diving ban in certain areas to further protect the abalone resource.
Van Schalkwyk denied that the threat of court action by, among others, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) had anything to do with the decision to postpone the suspension.
”I don’t believe any court action has any chance of succeeding against us, and the threat of court action played no role whatsoever in my decision,” he said.
”I can’t speak for the courts. But just looking at the legal basis on which we took the decision, I don’t think there’s any basis for any urgent or other application. And we took very good legal advice on the issue.”
However, people had the right to go to court and it was up to the courts to decide.
”But we considered all elements of this decision, also from a legal point of view. So I’m very confident that legally we are absolutely in the clear on this issue, Van Schalkwyk said.
Last week, the Cabinet approved the department’s recommendation to suspend wild abalone (also known as perlemoen) commercial fishing to ensure the survival of the species.
The Cabinet also approved a social plan to mitigate these impacts, including the department’s commitment to developing a sustainable marine aquaculture industry and issuing additional permits for whale watching and shark cage diving.
At Wednesday’s briefing, Van Schalkwyk said he would announce further details regarding the far-reaching interventions to be made in the marine aquaculture industry at the subsistence fishing summit in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
”I remain of the view that the abalone resource is endangered due to ecological changes and poaching.
”This fishery is in a crisis and should be managed as an emergency. The closure of the abalone fishery is the right thing to do. There is also broad acknowledgement that the resource is in a crisis,” he said.
In a statement later on Wednesday, Cosatu welcomed Van Schalkwyk’s decision.
”Cosatu commits itself to working with the minister to address the problems and develop a comprehensive policy for the fishing industry,” the trade-union federation said. — Sapa