Parliament, Tuesday, 03 December 2024 – The Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources conducted an oversight visit to Diazville in Saldanha, engaging directly with local small-scale fishers to better understand their challenges and concerns within the fishing industry.
During the visit, the committee Chairperson, Mr Bones Modise, emphasised the importance of Parliament being a voice for the community. He said, “Parliament must work for you and the issues you raise are crucial for us to address as a committee. We will engage with the executive to raise your concerns and advocate for your community.”
The committee's primary objective was to understand the implications of the current fishing licensing system and the allocation of fishing rights, particularly in light of the challenges raised by local fishers concerning the adequacy of fishing quotas and the economic viability of their operations.
Representatives speaking on behalf of the small-scale fisheries cooperative passionately articulated the challenges faced by local and traditional fishers. They expressed concerns regarding the insufficient rights granted, the limitations imposed by the current licensing system, and the adverse effects of delays in consultations and applications for fishing rights. The community highlighted the importance of revisiting the allocation of fishing rights and ensuring that the baskets of rights granted to cooperatives are economically viable and sustainable.
In their input, the community outlined several key requests. They called for an urgent review and adjustment of the fishing rights granted to cooperatives to ensure they are economically viable and reflective of the community’s needs. Additionally, they emphasised the need for establishing a clear and timely consultation process that allows small-scale fishers to engage meaningfully in decision-making regarding their rights and resources. There was also a strong desire for increased support for co-management, advocating for the inclusion of representatives from small-scale fisheries in management committees to ensure their voices are heard in the governance of marine resources, particularly in marine protected areas.
Furthermore, the community requested assistance from the government in identifying and implementing economically viable projects that can supplement the income of small-scale fishers, ensuring their sustainability. They also highlighted the importance of collaboration across various departments, specifically calling for the departments of Fisheries, Tourism and Agriculture to work together to create opportunities and projects that empower small-scale fishers.
The representative urged the committee to advocate for changes that would allow for greater participation of small-scale fishers in decision-making processes and to address the overlap of fishing rights with other industries, such as oil and gas.
Mr Modise made a commitment that the committee will return and give the community feedback on the engagements it will have with the affected government departments in order to resolve the concerns raised. The committee said the experiences shared by the Diazville community highlighted the urgent need for reform in the fishing rights allocation process to support small-scale fishers effectively.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND MINERAL RESOURCES, MR BONES MODISE.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Yoliswa Landu (Ms)
Cell: 081 497 4694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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