Fishing rights allocations process on track

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is on track and steadily moving ahead as it is embarking on the fishing rights allocations process. The consultative process is in full swing and has officially commenced last week as the Draft Revised General Policy on the Allocations and Management of Fishing Rights was released and a meeting held with representatives from the fishing sector.

The purpose and objectives of the General policy, together with the Fishery specific policies, is

• to promote food security and socio-economic development through the sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources;
• promote transformation, broaden meaningful participation and growth in the fisheries sector;
• support and develop regulatory and management mechanisms aimed at promoting sustainable utilisation/management of fisheries resources;
• achieve the recognition, protection and support of small-scale fishers;
• promote the recognition of the interdependency of the social, cultural, economic and ecological dimensions of small-scale fishery systems;
• achieve the incorporation of a community-based rights approach to the allocation of marine living resources; promote the allocation of resources through a multi-species approach;
• introduce measures and mechanisms that prioritise the small-scale fisheries sector within the fishing industry;
• and introduce mechanisms and structures that promotes a community orientation, co-management and community-based approach in the harvesting and management of marine living resources within the small-scale fisheries sector.

The General and Fishery specific policies are informed by government's key policies, namely the National Development Plan, the Integrated Growth and Development Plan (IGDP) for agriculture, forestry and fisheries, the New Growth Path (NGP), the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) and the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP).

Fishing rights in eight fisheries sectors are expiring in December 2013. These sectors are KwaZulu-Natal prawn trawl, demersal shark, squid, tuna pole, hake hand line, white mussels, oysters and traditional line fish.

Call for applications are expected to be gazetted in May this year.

Consultation meetings are scheduled as follows:

For further information contact:
Carol Moses
Tel: 021 402 3448
Cell: 079 0464589
E-mail: CarolMO@daff.gov.za