Interim relief measures for fishers

Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism announces interim relief measures for fishers

3 May 2007

The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has announced an interim relief measure to accommodate fishers along the western and southern Cape coastline, who had made several pleas for access to marine living resources।

An agreement with regard to interim relief was reached with Masifundise, a non-governmental organisation। "I would like to thank the community leaders for the spirit in which these negotiations were conducted. I want to reiterate our Department's commitment to finding lasting solutions to some of these developmental challenges. By working together, we can find lasting and sustainable solutions," said the Minister.

It has been agreed that Masifundise will identify not more than 1 000 bona fide traditional artisanal fishers, who do not hold a commercial fishing right allocated in terms of section 18 of the Marine Living Resources Act No 18 of 1998 and who can demonstrate both historical dependence and reliance on fishing along the Cape west and south coast between Port Nolloth in the north and Arniston in the south, and submit these identified persons to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism।

The department shall consider the persons identified in terms of criteria and determine jointly with them the qualifying fishers. The following will be taken into account:
* The identified fishers must apply for and be in possession of a valid recreational fishing permit.
* The Minister shall by way of exemption, until 31 December 2007, or any earlier date identified, permit the identified fishers to engage in fishing and to sell the lawfully caught catch under the authority of the recreational permit, the following:
* four west coast rock lobster per day, every day of the week until 31 May 2007
* The following line fish species, until 30 September 2007:
* Snoek - 10 per person per दय

* Yellowtail - 10 per person per दय

* Cape bream (Hottentot) - 10 per person per दय

* Silver fish (Carpenter) - 10 per person दय

Except that the identified fishers are permitted to catch a cumulative total of not more than 30 of any combination of any the above identified line fish. However, in the event that snoek or yellowtails are running and only in that event, the fishers may land either 30 snoek or 30 yellowtail and no other line fish.
Not more than thirty white mussels per person per day, provided that this is for bait purposes.
The identified fishers must:
* use vessels determined by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism as being suitable* engage in fishing in near shore areas, generally not being more than three nautical miles from the shore with the exception of Struisbaai and Arniston areas where fishing takes place in traditional wooden fishing vessels up to five nautical miles from the shore* catch and land the fish in zones and harbours to be designated by the department।

The exemption granted to the identified fishers to catch and sell fish on the authority of a recreational fishing permit shall at all times be subject to the total allowable catch or total applied effort not being exceeded. Should the Minister, at any time, consider that the stock of any species identified for catch and sale by the identified fishers may be endangered or under undue pressure, then the Minister can:
* suspend all or any of the fishing in that fishery* restrict the number of identified fishers or fishing vessels in the fishery* restrict the mass of fish or amount of fish permitted to be caught।

The Minister said, "I feel compelled to point out that this is a temporary measure to assist communities while we are finalising our policies for subsistence and small-scale commercial fisheries। I have no intention of allowing this temporary measure to undermine the long term rights allocation process, which has been finalised."

Enquiries:

Blessing ManaleCell: 083 677 1630
Riaan AucampCell: 083 778 9923

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism3 May 2007