We have detected that the browser you are using is no longer supported. As a result, some content may not display correctly.
We suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of any of the following browsers:
close notification
A reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question has revealed that Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) condoned the overfishing by many abalone rights holders on the eve of the closure of this fishery in February 2008. The total allowable catch for this period was exceeded by over 5000kg, with some fishers overfishing to levels that exceeded the individual annual quota of the average abalone fisher. This is yet another example of the severe mismanagement that this fishery has been subjected to by MCM.
The DA calls on the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mrs Buyelwa Sonjica, to investigate the management of the abalone fishery, which deteriorated under the watch of her predecessor, and to set up a clear strategy for the turnaround in its management.
The circumstances surrounding this over extraction of abalone followed Minister van Schalkwyk's decision to close the entire abalone fishery in October 2007. He however permitted one further Total Allowable Catch (TAC) during February 2008 totaling approximately 74000kg. The legal rights holders, of which 294 participated, were permitted to extract abalone in certain zones around Robben Island, the West Coast and Gansbaai.
The reply to the question (a full copy of which follows below) revealed that 195 abalone fishers extracted more abalone than they were individually permitted to do. While small over-extractions can be condoned it is difficult to understand how 36 rights holders each exceeded their permitted quotas by more than 31 kg. In one case a rights holder's overcatch was 367kg, a figure which should lead to a criminal case.
In this financial year MCM for will begin the Performance Review of rights holders in all fisheries that were awarded rights under the Long Term Rights Allocation process. Considering that this process, will among other things determine whether rights holders are using their rights in accordance with the prescribed standards, the recent revelation that MCM condoned overfishing in the abalone fishery makes a mockery of its attempts to ensure rights in other fisheries are being correctly utilized.
The abalone fishery is plagued by mismanagement. MCM has never delivered the social plan for abalone fishers affected by the decision to close the fishery. Poaching remains rampant, with many poachers acting brazenly in full view of the coast. The export of legally harvested abalone has in recent years not been accompanied by endorsements in terms of CITES requirements. This makes it difficult to determine the difference between legally and illegally harvested abalone. Further, there are serious question marks surrounding the handling of confiscated abalone, which was the subject of a recent report by the Auditor-General, which is to be discussed by SCOPA in early September. Lastly, and most importantly, the Minister has no ability to assess whether the fishery can be opened again, at least in certain zones, as there is no recent report from the relevant scientific working group, an action which should happen timeously each year.
PARLIAMENTARY REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (For written reply) QUESTION NO. 302 INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 5 of 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 3 July 2009 Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs: (1) Where was the fishing of the interim total allowable catch (TAC) of 75 tons in the abalone fishery permitted during the period 1 February 2008 up to the complete closure of the fishery; (2) (a) how many legal abalone fishers in total participated in the removal of this TAC and (b) what was the breakdown of fishers who (i) would normally have fished in the turf in which this particular TAC was permitted and (ii) were from areas that would normally have fallen outside this particular turf; (3) (a) what was the total tonnage of abalone removed during this interim period leading up to the complete closure of the fishery and (b) what are the dates of this period for which this figure is generated; (4) whether any steps were taken to ensure that no legal abalone rights holder fished beyond their allocated quota for this period; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) what are the further relevant details; (5) (a) how many legal abalone rights holders removed abalone to an extent that exceeded their allocated quota for this period and (b) what action has been taken against them? NW358E
MR G R MORGAN (DA) SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT HANSARD PAPERS OFFICE PRESS
302. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) Fishing was allowed in Zones B (B1 & B2); F and G (G1, G2 & G3). See Attached Map, Annexure A.
(4) Yes, all catches from commercial abalone divers were monitored as per permit conditions.
(4)(a) The total allocated quota for each Right Holder was stipulated on both Section A and Section B (1.11) of the Permit, otherwise known as the Catch Permit and Permit Conditions, respectively.
(4)(b) The total catches of each right holder could only be reconciled at the end of the catching period due to the fact that the right holders landed at different landing sites (zones) and one diver might have dived for the abalone of several divers. Therefore over-catching of individual allocations could only be determined after the closing date.
OVERCATCH (Kg) NO. OF RIGHT HOLDERS 1- 10 kg 78 11- 30 kg 81 > 31 kg 36 Total 195
Highest Overcatch 367 kg Lowest Overcatch 1 kg Average Overcatch 18.04 kg
(5)(b) No action was taken against any right holder. As it is nearly impossible to catch an allocation exactly to the last kilogram; and given the closure of the fishery and the fact that most transgressions did not warrant formal penalties as per the permit conditions, the department did not institute formal proceedings against the transgressors.
Related social media
