For immediate release
13 November 2024
Masifundise and 12 small-scale fishing cooperatives from the Western Cape and Northern Cape calls on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) to extend the exemption allowing small-scale fishers (SSFs) to independently catch their West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) offshore allocations. This request follows the DFFE’s recent decision stating that SSF cooperatives will no longer be permitted to use nearshore boats for offshore allocation in the 2024/2025 season.
For many SSFs, access to catch their own WCRL offshore quotas allows them to maximize the economic benefit of their work. Many cooperatives have used own boats in offshore zones, demonstrating their capability to manage these allocations independently. This exemption is critical to the livelihoods of SSFs, enabling them to secure full income from WCRL catches without facing high commercial boat catching fees that diminish their earnings.
Masifundise and Coastal Links also expresses concern over the 2024/2025 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) allocation for WCRL. Currently, over 65% of the TAC is designated for commercial nearshore and offshore use. This distribution is misaligned with the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy’s principles of redistribution and equitable access. This allocation structure limits small-scale fishers’ ability to benefit fairly from this resource, undermining the objectives of the SSF Policy.
While we acknowledge the recent 9.8% increase in TAC for the SSF sector, this adjustment falls short of the sector’s growing needs. The percentage-based approach to TAC increases has disproportionately benefited the commercial sector, which received over 31 additional tonnes, compared to the SSFs increase of just 11 tonnes. To genuinely support the development of the SSF sector, Masifundise and Coastal links request that a greater share of the TAC increase be allocated to the SSF sector. Given that WCRL is a high-value species essential for fishers food security, income and sustainable livelihoods, this adjustment is both necessary and urgent.
In the Western and Northern Cape, 3 463 bona fide small-scale fishers and their families depend directly on the WCRL sector for their livelihoods. Fair access to offshore quotas and a more balanced TAC allocation would strengthen their economic resilience. We strongly urge the DFFE to address these concerns to foster a sustainable and equitable future for the SSF sector.
We call for the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment to implement decisions in the interest of fisher people and their communities and in support of local economic development and not private profit-making.
The following cooperatives support this statement:
1. Aukotowa Small-Scale Fishing Cooperative
2. Langebaan Fishing Development Co-op
3. Olifants Rivier Visser Co-op
4. Velddrif Fishing Primary Co-op
5. Kleinmond Protea SCF Co-op Limited
6. Buffeljagsbaai Sea Whale Co-op
7. Waenhuiskrans Kleinskaalse Vissery Primary Co-op
8. Elandsbaai Klein Begin Primary Co-operative Limited
9. Saldiaz Veeldoelige Primere VK Primary Co-Operative Limited
10. Lamberts Baai Vissers Primary Co-Operative Limited
11. Paternoster Multipurpose Fishing Primary Co-operative Limited
12. Pelican Fisheries Primary Co-operative Limited
For media enquiries contact:
• Jordan Volmink – Media Officer
jordan@masifundise.org.za
• Carmen Mannarino – Programme manager
carmen@masifundise.org.za