exemption on several fishing sector
31 January 2006
Pending the allocation of long term fishing rights, the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism has today (Tuesday, 31 January 2006) granted
exemptions in certain fisheries so that fishing can continue until the final
allocations have been announced.
Traditional Linefish
A further exemption has been granted to:
* Current holders of medium term rights in the traditional linefish sector who
applied for and were granted an exemption valid until 31 January 2006
* Crew who applied for and were granted "exempted crew status" valid until 31
January 2006.
The further exemption is valid until 28 February 2006 or until the date of
the announcement of the long term rights allocation in the traditional
line-fishery, whichever occurs first.
Right holders and "exempted crew" that have not applied for the January 2006
exemption may still make an application for the further exemption.
Hake handline
Legal proceedings were instituted against the Department in 2001 following
the hake handline allocation process. A Court Order was granted in terms of
which the Department granted an exemption to "A" or "B" permit holders who were
in possession of a 1998 letter of exemption and who had applied for, but were
not allocated, a medium term right. This Court Order was valid until the court
proceedings were finalised. Following the withdrawal of the court proceedings
against the Department in 2005, these exemptions granted have expired and are
no longer valid.
A further exemption has been granted only to current holders of medium term
rights in the hake handline sector who have applied for and were granted an
exemption until the end of 31 January 2006 (and not to the above "A" and "B"
permit holders).
Medium term right holders that have not applied for the January 2006
exemption may still make an application for the further exemption.
1998 "A", "B" and "T" Permits
The 1998 exemptions granted to certain "A", "B" permit holders originally
issued under the Sea Fishery Act, No 12 of 1988 have terminated and are no
longer valid. The "A", "B" and "T" permits are not recognised under the Marine
Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998. Any fishing undertaken in terms of these
permits is unlawful and will be prosecuted.
The Department again advises that only current medium term right holders and
exempted crew (in terms of section 18 or section 81 of the Marine Living
Resources Act No. 18 of 1998) who have applied for and are in possession of a
valid permit may lawfully engage in fishing in the tuna pole, traditional
linefish and hake handline sectors.
Squid and Tuna Pole
A further extension has been granted to those medium term right holders in
the squid and tuna pole sectors who have applied for and have been granted an
exemption for January 2006.
The further exemption is valid until 28 February 2006, or until the date of
the announcement of the long term rights allocation, whichever occurs
first.
Right holders that have not applied for the January 2006 exemption may still
make an application for the further exemption.
West Coast Rock Lobster (Offshore Area 7)
A further exemption will be granted to medium term right holders that:
* Return the original exemption granted for January 2006; and
* Complete and submit the front page of the January 2006 exemption application
form.
The further exemption is valid until 28 February 2006 or until the date of
the announcement of the long term rights allocation, whichever occurs
first.
All applications must be submitted to the Customer Services Centre, 2nd
Floor, Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, and Cape
Town.
Enquiries:
JP Louw
Cell: 082 569 3340
Tel: (012) 310 3594
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
31 January 2006
