Pretoria - The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Acting Deputy-Director General Sue Middleton has decided not to extend the west coast rock lobster recreational season.
Middleton, who is responsible for the Fisheries Management-branch, and who is also the delegated authority in terms of section 79 (1) (a) of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998, cited ecological considerations, the higher demand for recreational permits as well as the increased number of fishing days for the 2011/12 season as the major reasons for her decision.
The department said the decision not to extend the recreational west coast rock lobster season was in the best interest of the species that is almost depleted.
Following consultations with industry and various stakeholders last year, the department made an unprecedented concession regarding the 2011/2012 west coast rock lobster recreational season that will be interrupted from today until 6 April and end on 9 April 2012.
Two years ago the department announced a total allowable catch of 107 tons for the 2010/2011 season but this was increased by a dramatic 70% last year, to 183 tons.
Fishers also had a longer season this time around as the number of fishing days were almost doubled, from 34 days for the last season, to 67 days this season.
This, according to the department, means that a permit-holder, who went to fish on 50 days of the season and caught his allowable four lobsters per day, would have caught 200 lobsters during the season.
Lastly, it is also estimated that almost 25% more recreational permits were sold - up from 26 000 sold during the 2010/11 season to an estimated 30 000 this season.
