Pretoria – Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson today met with CEOs from the fishing industry and other senior officials from the department to pave the way for strengthened future cooperation between government and industry.
“The meeting has been a chance for industry to advise me, as a valued voice, on how we can expand opportunities for commercial and small-scale fishing fishers…. We want to build relationships, to create a culture of consultation and working together with the fishing industry.
“There is a game change in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector. We value these interactions as an opportunity to receive advice from industry leaders,” said the minister on Wednesday.
She said the introduction of the small-scale policy, whose implementation plan will be finalised this year, will assist government to realise this goal. The policy’s key imperative is to develop, assist and support the small-scale fisheries sector.
Government will support small-scale fishing communities to ensure that they have access to fish stocks and have the opportunity to fish, with the support of the established companies.
“The department has already engaged with the service provider who is assisting us with the small-scale fisheries policy implementation process. This service provider will extend their support in assisting us with the finalisation of the policy review process.
“We are extending their contracts and addendums to their existing contract to include this area of work. So we remain very confident that we will meet the deadlines of the allocation of long-term fishing rights,” said Joemat-Pettersson.
The fisheries sector contributes 0.6% to the country’s GDP, with the commercial sector estimated to be worth R6 billion. The minister said the her department was keen on forming public private partnerships with fishing companies, as the industry was a major job creator in South Africa.
Furthermore, opportunities existed for South Africa within its membership in the Brics [Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA] group of countries.
“Next week, the Brics summit will be held in Durban. During the summit, I… will be signing a trade agreement with the Russian government to export South African fish stocks into the Russian market.
“Ever since the inclusion of South Africa into Brics, South Africa, especially our department, has worked tirelessly to attract alternative markets. This is not to say we have abandoned our traditional markets. We have, however, expanded trade opportunities with other emerging economies,” said Joemat-Pettersson.
She also announced that Damen Shipyard, Cape Town has been appointed as one of the service providers to effect the required repairs to the department’s vessels. A second service provider is in the process of being appointed.
This service provider will give support with the operations of the vessels.
“These appointments will ensure that all the work that was meant to be carried out will continue in earnest. At the same time, the tender process for the long-term vessel management of the DAFF [Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries] fleet is underway and will continue at the same time,” said the minister. – SAnews.gov.za
