M van Schalkwyk on WCRL long term fishing rights

4 June 2006

The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk,
has today announced the allocation of 392 additional long term fishing rights
in the West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) near shore fishery sector, nearly
doubling the total number of allocations from 418 to 812. These rights will be
valid for a period of 10 years.

The area where WCRL rights are allocated stretches from Port Nolloth to
Gansbaai.

Highlighting some of the factors that impacted on the WCRL (near-shore) long
term fishing rights allocations, Minister van Schalkwyk cited that
“approximately 70 percent of WCRL catches 30 years ago occurred higher up on
the West Coast from Port Nolloth to the Saldanha area, whilst 90 percent is now
caught between Dassen Island and the Cape Peninsula. Research conducted by
marine scientists confirms this shift in the distribution of marine resources.
This has already resulted in a decline of fish landing in the West Coast areas
and has resulted in the introduction of a small scale commercial fishery sector
in the area east of Hangklip, which further confirms the shift in distribution
of the resource.”

The Minister added that “therefore the total allowable catch (TAC) for WCRL
was reduced by 10 percent. The near shore sector absorbed 5,6 percent of this
reduction. With a total number of 4 070 applications and a declining resource,
the responsibility of government remains to ensure the environmental
sustainability of the fishery,” the Minister said.

The finalisation of the allocations in the WCRL sector followed an extensive
public participation process which involved a series of Ministerial Izimbizo,
the release of draft policies for public comment in four different languages,
and road shows held in more than 53 towns reaching over 6 000 fishers. Apart
from thousands of oral comments which were recorded, more than 900 written
comments were also received which culminated in Cabinet approval of the final
policies in May 2005.

“We gave serious and careful consideration to the comments received,”
Minister van Schalkwyk explained. Many right holders in the WCRL near shore
sector complained that medium term allocations in 2001 were too small and not
economically viable. In 2001, 100 allocations were less than 500 kilograms
(kg). In 2006 only nine were less than 500 kg, the Minister said.

Another comment received indicated that bona fide fishermen that have
historically been involved in the fishery sector should be preferred. “We
responded to that by allocating rights to most applicants who could prove that
they worked as crew on lobster vessels because their names appear on
bakkieslips,” the Minister explained. The ‘bakkieslip’ is a document fishers
complete every time they come back from sea. “Only in the Hermanus area which
was wholly oversubscribed, could some of the crew members not be accommodated
as right holders.”

The previous (medium term) right holders who made investments in vessels
were also reallocated fishing rights following comments received indicating
those who have made investment in vessels should be preferred.

“The Department also enhanced the already high level of transparency by
publishing lists in each zone containing the details of all applicants and the
provisional successful applicants for comment. All the comments received were
considered. In some cases those on the provisionally successful lists were not
allocated rights because the rights verification unit’s investigation of a
comment received revealed that the provisionally successful applicant was not
genuinely reliant on the West Coast Rock Lobster resource or that the
application suffered from some other defect.

“The Department also decreased the application fee from R565 in 2001 to only
R300 in 2006,” Minister added.

Zone A – Port Nolloth to Hondeklipbaai
Successful Applicants – 19
Successful Appellants - 20
Total number of long term rights holders (LTRH) – 39

Zone B – Doringbaai, Lambertsbaai and Elandsbaai
Successful Applicants – 92
Successful Appellants – 39
Total number of LTRH – 131

Zone C – Paternoster St Helenabaai, Jacobsbaai and Saldanha
Successful Applicants – 29
Successful Appellants – 34
Total number of LTRH – 63

Zone D – Houtbaai Kommetjie, Kalkbaai
Successful Applicants – 111
Successful Appellants – 96
Total number of LTRH – 207

Zone E – Valsbaai –
Successful Applicants – 20
Successful Appellants – 37
Total number of LTRH – 57

Zone G – Kleinmond
Successful Applicants – 34
Successful Appellants – 106
Total number of LTRH - 140 (including reserved)

Zone G – Hermanus
Successful Applicants – 91
Successful Appellants – 35 - 126
Zone G – Gansbaai
Successful Applicants – 22
Successful Appellants – 27
Total number of LTRH – 49

Totals –
Successful Applicants – 418
Successful Appellants – 372
Total number of LTRH - 812 (including reserved)

Speaking on the issue of affirmation of women fishers, Minister van
Schalkwyk stated that long-term fishing rights have been allocated to women
fishers in all the zones. In zone G -Gansbaai, for example 63,26 percent of the
total number of rights have been allocated to women. In zone D a total of 26,42
percent rights are held by women whilst a total of 44 percent fishing rights
are allocated to women in zone C.

Zone A – Port Nolloth to Hondeklipbaai
Historically disadvantaged (HDI) – 100 percent
Female - 5,26 percent

Zone B – Doringbaai, Lambertsbaai and Elandsbaai
Historically disadvantaged (HDI)- 96,16 percent
Female - 10,83 percent

Zone C – Paternoster St Helenabaai Jacobsbaai and Saldanha
Historically disadvantaged (HDI) - 94,58 percent
Female - 43,75 percent

Zone D – Hout Bay Kommetjie, Kalkbay
Historically disadvantaged (HDI) - 94,12 percent
Female - 26,42 percent

Zone E – Valsbaai
Historically disadvantaged (HDI) - 78,86 percent
Female - 9,4 percent

Zone G – Kleinmond
Historically disadvantaged (HDI) - 89,66 percent
Female - 29,6 percent

Zone G – Hermanus
Historically disadvantaged (HDI) - 94,86 percent
Female - 10,07 percent

Zone G – Gansbaai
Historically disadvantaged (HDI) - 97,77 percent
Female - 63,26 percent

Confirming the closing dates for the 2006 West Coast Rock Lobster (near
shore) fishing season, Minister van Schalkwyk indicated the closing date for
fishing in zone A was 30 April 2006. However, on application, successful
appellants from zone A will be permitted to have their allocation caught in
another zone, as a once-off concession. The closing date for fishing in all the
other zones remains 30 June 2006.

Minister van Schalkwyk concluded by indicating that the total number of
allocations represent the maximum number of rights that could be accommodated
in the west coast rock lobster near shore sector in a responsible manner which
will ensure the environmental sustainability of the fishery.

Enquiries:
Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083 778 9923

Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
4 June 2006