For immediate release
3 February 2026
Coastal Links South Africa and Masifundise express deep disturbance and outrage at the recently announced Total Allowable Effort (TAE) for Traditional Linefish by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). Once again, the Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) sector has been severely disadvantaged through an allocation that is both deeply unfair and unjust.
The SSF sector has experienced a drastic reduction in Traditional Linefish TAE, with only 77 vessels allocated out of 455 for the entire small-scale fisheries sector. This decision further entrenches inequality in the fishing industry and undermines the rights, livelihoods, and survival of thousands of small-scale fishers across South Africa.
It is deeply concerning that in 2024, Masifundise launched a campaign and petition urging Minister Barbara Creecy and the DFFE to revise the Traditional Linefish allocation to ensure a fair and equitable distribution. Masifundise and Coastal links also condemned the inequitable 2024 TAE decision, which saw a major reduction to the SSF sector despite the addition of more recognised fishers that same year, particularly following the completion of SSF Policy implementation in the Western Cape.
This latest announcement demonstrates a clear dismissal of the SSF sector and shows that the Department has failed to meaningfully consider the realities and needs of small-scale fishing communities.
Traditional Linefish is the cornerstone of a viable small-scale fishing basket and a year-round resource that sustains food security, nutrition, livelihoods, and local economic development. It is the “bread and butter” of many coastal communities. Species such as snoek, yellowtail, hottentot vis, and others are not luxury catches, but every day, affordable food that feeds fishing households and the broader community. Beyond its economic value, linefish holds deep cultural and traditional significance for small-scale fishers. Undermining this sector is equivalent to undermining small-scale fisheries in the Northern and Western Cape altogether.
The impacts of this TAE decision include the following:
- Western Cape and Northern Cape fishers have seen vessel allocations drop from 547 boats to only 61, an alarming 8% reduction. This will leave many fishers without work and unable to provide for their families and communities.
- Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been allocated a combined total of only 18 vessels, to be shared between two provinces that collectively host 109 SSF cooperatives and over 7,000 recognised small-scale fishers.
- The Department continues to prioritise the profits of a few over the food security and economic development of many. The TAE composition remains unchanged from the 2023 FRAP process, despite DFFE’s awareness that it contradicts longstanding commitments made to the SSF sector. This allocation clearly favours commercial fisheries at the expense of strengthening local small-scale fisheries.
- DFFE continues to allow unlimited recreation fishing licences for the TLF to be issued. If sustainability is a concern, why is the Department not limiting the number of licences for recreational fishing boats to harvest in this fishery?
Rosey Shoshola, fisherwoman and Coastal Links member from Lamberts Bay, shares how this will impact her and her community:
“Our children will go hungry, with many nights not having a meal before they go to sleep. This will be the reality for our fishers if we only have two boats to fish with in Lamberts Bay. This affects our food security, our children’s schooling, and the income in our households.”
“With this decision, the government is taking away our human rights, our fishing rights, and our traditional livelihoods. They are creating total chaos in our communities. People will starve because there will be no food and no work, and we will see many other social problems rise as a result. This will also deepen conflict between fishers and fisheries officials. These boats are part of our history and our way of life, how can they take this away from us?” says Rovina Europa, fisher woman from Arniston.
Andre Cloete, fisher activist and Coastal Links Chairperson Western Cape emphasises, “Linefish is the backbone of the fishing sector. This decision is creating confusion and conflict in our communities. How do you decide who gets to go to sea and who must stay at home without work? Cooperatives with more than 100 members are being given only one or two boats. How are we supposed to ensure work and food for everyone”
“In a country where we are seeing levels of malnutrition rising steeply, the DFFE decides to reduce access to a central food in the diet of thousands of people in coastal communities. How can this be justified?” says Carmen Mannarino from Masifundise.
Masifundise and Coastal Links call for the immediate addressing of the serious concerns raised by this Traditional Linefish announcement. The Department must fulfil its commitment to allocate 50% of the Traditional Linefish TAE to the Small-Scale Fisheries sector, in line with promises repeatedly made over the years.
This ongoing marginalisation of small-scale fishers is unacceptable. We will not remain silent while unjust decisions continue to threaten food security, economic viability, cultural heritage and the future of coastal communities.
Issued by Masifundise Development Trust and Coastal Links South Africa.
For media inquiries:
Yvette le Fleur (Project Officer for Western Cape and Northern Cape)
0781630084
Jordan Volmink (Project Co-ordinator WC and NC):
079 145 5281 (WhatsApp)
Carmen Mannarino (Programme Manager):
071 283 3179 (WhatsApp)