MIN PALLO JORDAN'S RESPONSE TO INFORMAL FISHING

Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

MINISTER Z PALLO JORDAN'S RESPONSE TO THE MEMORANDUM FROM THE WEST COAST INFORMAL FISHING ASSOCIATION

30 JANUARY 1997

The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr. Z Pallo Jordan, today received a memorandum from the West Coast Informal Fishing Association. In the memorandum the association raised:

• problems that they had with the Fisheries Quota Board;
• their objections to the manner in which quota allocations were made;
• a request for legislation to address the needs of the informal fishing sector; and
• a request for interim quota allocations.

Minister Jordan said in response, that the White Paper on Fisheries will guide the necessary restructuring of the fishing industry. The White Paper is nearing completion and should be available soon. All the stakeholders in the fishing industry were involved in the development of this policy, including representatives of the informal fishermen, and it therefore takes into account the concerns raised by the different sectors.

In response to the request for interim quotas, the Minister said that he will consult with the Directorate of Sea Fisheries regarding viable interim measures to address the demands of the informal sector.

The Minister also indicated that he will be willing to enter into discussions with a delegation from the informal fishing association as soon as is possible, with a view to taking further the issues they have raised in their memorandum.