Issued by: Chairperson Select Committee Environmental Affairs and Tourism
FISHERIES A CALL FOR A SPEEDY RESTRUCTURING, REDISTRIBUTION AND RESTITUTION
Thursday, March 07, 1996
The Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism met to take evidence relating to the progress on policy and on the crisis situation that has developed around the issue of the Quota Board and the Quota System.
The great inequalities that exist in that industry are a serious affront in a country like ours that seeks to be seen as democratic. The fact is that this inequity is the result of an apartheid public policy which unfortunately continues to work despite the new government. The evidence collected thus far suggests an intolerable situation that is calling for immediate radical transformation now and at once.
What is even more of an affront is the notion peddled by some big business stakeholders in the Fisheries Development Policy Committee that the central themes of Reconstruction, Redistribution and Restitution cannot apply to the industry; that if these were to apply it can only be on the future with future additional Total Allowable Catch.
This situation has now led to protest that are now threatening to become violent among the subsistence fishermen and women who are now genuinely frustrated by the situation.
Allegations of serious Corruption in both the Quota Board and the Department of Sea Fisheries add to the volatility of the situation.
We repeat: This is a situation of a national crisis that warrant extra-ordinary measures by government.
Given this situation the Portfolio Committee calls for the following speedy and interim remedial actions:
1. The immediate imposition of a moratorium on the Fishing Quota board and the suspension of its work completely until investigations and policy processes are finalised.
2. The reconstitution of the Fishing Quota Board under Parliamentary Supervision and over-sight.
3. The reconstitution of the Board of Inquiry into the corrup- tion within the fishing Quota Board so that the new investigating commission is independent from both the department and the board. A situation where the chairperson of the Fishing Quota Board is also the chairperson on the one-man commission supposed to investigate the latter is ludicrous to say the least or a total deliberate miscarriage of justice to be serious.
(ii) This new Board of Inquiry must extend its mandate to thorough investigate the Department of Sea Fisheries itself.
4. Cessation of all prosecutions against the substance fishermen and women around issues of fishing.
5. Cessation of all prosecutions against restaurant and cafe owners who chose to buy from the subsistence fishermen.
6. A moratorium to be imposed on the experimental quota alloca- tion system that has proved to be downright racist favouring the white and Portuguese people against the blacks and coloured people.
7. The reconstituted Fisheries Development Policy Committee to be instructed to implement the principles of Restructuring, Redis- tribution and Restitution on the existing fishing industry and the existing Total Allowable Catch so that equity, equality and the environmental development and conservation are achieved. No guaran- tees must be given to any stakeholder regarding the envisaged policy changes.
In addition to the above measures we have decided to call for public hearing in three weeks time to lay the fabric of this whole industry and practices within it bare so that an equitable policy can be arrived at.
I hope that the Minister will take serious cognisance of the issue and measures canvassed above and act to strengthen and facilitate this genuine and noble effort at an early effective solution.
Meanwhile this must serve to send notice to all in the industry that the battle against injustice, iniquity and inequality has been joined. The Committee is confident that as we surge closer to the solutions of problems like these we shall not be joined by one but millions of South Africans who take pride in the democratic, prospe- rous and stable destiny of our country. We appeal to all the stake- holders to find each other in an effort to resolve this unsightly legacy of our less-than-fortunate past.
Contact: Mr. P. Mokaba. M.P. 021-403 2642