In April, minister Barbra Creecy of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) announced that they have extended the closing date for submission of appeals for the 2021/22 Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP2022) to the 29 May 2022.
The extension was made to accommodate those who were dissatisfied with the process and may now appeal.
“The appeal may be lodged against an exclusion, a refusal to grant a right or against the decision, process, and/or methodology on quantum or effort” says DFFE.
FRAP is the allocation of commercial fishing rights in South Africa. For FRAP 2021/22 there are 9 commercial fishing sectors that are due for re-allocation. Out of the 9 there are 3 sectors that are identified as eligible small-scale species, these are, traditional line-fish, south coast rock lobster and squid fishery.
These species have been largely allocated to the commercial sector leaving very little for the small-scale fishing sector to work from.
Another grievance for many is the exorbitant FRAP application fee. Several small-scale fishers have used their savings to apply for applications only to be unsuccessful, with no refund.
Women’s groups in the coastal communities of Hondeklipbaai and Port Nolloth have applied and have been unsuccessful losing up to R12 000.
This is a huge loss for small-scale fishers who live day-to-day and use their last savings, sometimes pension money, to apply.
Those who are unhappy about the process are encouraged to appeal for FRAP 2021/22 to ensure they can benefit from their basket species and so they are not excluded from this process.