Pretoria – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana has granted a full fishing season to the previous fishing rights holders currently operating under exemption.
This follows the exemption dispensation granted by Minister Zokwana on 9 February 2015 to all fishing right holders whose fishing rights were due to expire in 2015. The exemption dispensation was granted until 28 February 2016.
The department said the Minister has considered that a smooth change-over transition from the exemption dispensation to the new rights period is required in order to maintain and ensure a continuous supply of fish and fish products as well as stability within the sector.
“Coupled with that, further consideration was given to the biological and ecological factors affecting the sectors. In addition, the department has also been inundated with requests from the fishing industry in respect of being allowed to catch the 2016 allocation for a full fishing season,” the department said.
The department reiterated that the current 2015/16 Fishing Rights Allocation Process timeframes are still in place and allowing previous rights holders to fish under exemption for a full season should not be construed as a right to fish.
The new rights holders that will be granted rights in 2016 will commence harvesting their allocations when the new seasons start.
The start of the fishing season in the sectors is as follows: Netfish 1 July 2016 , WCRL (Nearshore) 1 October 2016, Abalone 1 November 2016, WCRL (Offshore) 15 November 2016, Patagonian Toothfish 1 December 2016, Hake Inshore Trawl 1 January 2017, Horse Mackerel 1 January 2017, KZN Beach Seine 1 January 2017, Large Pelagic Longline 1 February 2017 and Seaweed 01 March 2017. – SAnews.gov.za
