Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr. Pallo Jordan announced today that he would provide interim relief for impoverished fishermen by allocating a limited number of subsistence permits to rock lobster, abalone and snoek fishermen. The Minister also announced strict new controls for the subsistence and recreational fishing sectors.
Dr Jordan's plan to assist subsistence fishers will include the allocation of 1 000 rock lobster and 250 abalone subsistence permits. These will be sold to impoverished fishers who will be entitled to catch, and sell, either four rock lobster or four abalone per day. Permits will also be issued to snoek and hottentot fishers who wish to sell their daily bag of 10 fish per person.
The Minister has decided not to reduce the recreational bag limited for rock lobster and abalone, but from today recreational fishers will be restricted to fishing on weekends and public holidays only. The daily bag limit for recreational fishers will remain at four rock lobster and four abalone per person, per day, provided fishers are in possession of a valid permit.
Licensed subsistence fishers will be entitled to fish on any day of the week, but both recreational and subsistence fishers will only be able to land their catches between 08h00 and 16h00.
Sea fisheries Chief Director, Dr Monde Mayekiso, said that restricting recreational fishing to weekend and public holidays is an attempt to reduce the pressure that the recreational sector exerts on inshore resources.
"The number of recreational rock lobster and abalone fishers is escalating dramatically every year," he said. "Last season we sold approximately 75 000 recreational rock lobster and abalone permits and indications are that this year's sales will be significantly higher. I have given instructions to cease selling additional recreational permits for the remainder of the season."
Dr Mayekiso also confirmed that the 8am to 4pm time limit for both recreational and subsistence fishers is an attempt to contain the onslaught by increasingly brazen poachers who are plundering abalone resources on the south coast.
"Sea Fisheries inspectors and the South African Police Service will be in a far better position to control illegal fishing now that these restrictions are in place," he said.
Asked how the subsistence permits would be allocated, Dr Mayekiso said that preference would be given to needy fishers who have a history in the fishing industry.
"Permits will be issued to South African citizens who have been active in the fishing industry for at least five years and who are dependent on some kind of fishing activity for a living," he said. "They should also be able to show that they are the bread winners in their family and that they earn a low income.
Such fishers may make application for subsistence permits at any Sea Fisheries office on the west and south coasts. Applications may be made up to 14 days after this announcement and successful applicants will have to pay R40 for their permits. Subsistence fishers who are currently in possession of a recreational permit may hand in this permit in exchange for a subsistence permit, without paying an additional R40. No person who is in possession of a subsistence permit will be allowed to use his recreational permit as well. Transgression of these stipulations will lead to the instant withdrawal of subsistence permit.
9 February 1998
For further information contact: Cassandra Gabriel, Public Relations Officer - (021) 457 240 / 0825734168
OR
Directorate Sea Fisheries: Claire Ward (021) 402-3025