1 000 fishermen given rights
2007-05-03 19:22
Cape Town - Up to 1 000 traditional Cape fishermen have been granted permission to catch and sell rock lobsters and linefish along parts of the region's West and South coasts.
The move, described as an "interim relief measure", was announced by Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Thursday.
It follows pleas to his department by Masifundise, an independent trust representing fishing and coastal communities, for access to marine resources.
"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... and who can demonstrate both historical dependence and reliance on fishing," said Van Schalkwyk.
The agreement applied to the stretch of coast between Port Nolloth and Arniston.
Four kreef a day
Those qualifying would have to apply for and be in possession of a recreational fishing permit.
They would then be granted exemption - until the end of the year, or earlier - from the provisions of the Marine Living Resources Act, and permitted to "engage in fishing and to sell the lawfully caught catch under the authority of the recreational permit".
Species that could be caught and sold by each fisherman included four West Coast rock lobsters a day, every day of the week, up to May 31.
Linefish, up to September 30, included snoek (10 a day), yellowtail (10 a day), Cape bream (10 a day) and silver fish (10 a day), "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 linefish".
In the event of a "run" of snoek or yellowtail, "the fishers may land either 30 snoek or 30 yellowtail and no other linefish".
The exemption also allowed fishermen to take up to 30 white mussels a day, provided these were used as bait.
The agreement stipulated the fishermen must use "suitable" boats, and fish in nearshore 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".
Fish caught would have to be landed in zones and harbours designated by the department.
'A temporary measure'
According to the statement, the minister would retain the right to suspend or withdraw the fishing rights should he have reason to do so.
"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," said Van Schalkwyk.
- SAPA