Draft Policies on Commercial Fishing Rights Allocation published for public comment
Members of the public have been invited to comment on draft policies related to the commercial fishing rights allocation process.
On the 13th and 20th September 2021, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy published the Draft General Policy on the Allocation of Commercial Fishing Rights for the 2021/2022 Fishing Rights Allocation Process (General Policy), Proposed Fees payable in respect of Application for Commercial Fishing Rights and Grant of Rights, Draft Policy on the Transfer of Commercial Fishing Rights and the Draft Sector Specific Policies for the Fishing Rights Allocation Process of 2021/22 for public comments. The comment period has been extended and will closes on 25 October 2021.
The documents published for comments can be accessed by following the below link on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) website:
https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/gazetted_notices/mlra_allocationofcommercialfishingrights_frap_g45154gon865.pdf
https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/gazetted_notices/dffe_draftsectorspecificpoliciesforthefishingrightsallocation_g45180gon675.pdf
The aim of the draft General Policy is to guide the allocation and granting of commercial fishing rights prescribed by section 18 of the Marine Living Resources Act.
In terms of the Marine Living Resources Act, the Minister or a DFFE official to which the powers are delegated, have the powers to allocate and grant commercial fishing rights
The draft General Policy applies to the allocation of commercial fishing rights in the following commercial fishing sectors: Abalone, Demersal Shark Longline, Hake Deep Sea Trawl, Hake Handline, Hake Inshore Trawl, Hake Longline, Horse Mackerel, KwaZulu-Natal Beach Seine, KwaZulu-Natal Prawn Trawl, Large Pelagic Longline, Netfishing (Gillnets and Beach Seine), Oysters, Patagonian Toothfish, Seaweed, Small Pelagics, South Coast Rock Lobster, Squid, Traditional Linefish, Tuna Pole-Line, West Coast Rock Lobster (Nearshore), West Coast Rock Lobster (Offshore), and White Mussels, unless the sector becomes managed under a fishing sector other than commercial fishing sector.
Should any of the fishing sectors be allocated or moved to the Small-Scale fishing sector, then those fishing sectors will be managed in terms of the Small-Scale Fishing Policy an associated Regulations new fisheries that may be established and commercialised.
The Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS) study completed for the draft policy is available for download from the Department’s website at:
www.environment.gov.za/branches/fisheriesmanagement/frap.
The document may also be requested by sending an email FRAPSEIAS_2020@environment.gov.za(link sends e-mail)
To ensure the effectiveness of the policies to address the social and economic needs of the fishing industry, affected fishers and the ecological sustainability of the affected resources, once rights have been allocated, performance measure exercise will be undertaken at identified times during the period the right is allocated.
The Department will be embarking on a national public consultation process to ensure that all interested and affected fishing industry stakeholders are aware of the proposed policies and related application fees. The views of members of the fishing industry and interested parties will be sought to guide the Minister in determining the final policies and fees.
The public consultation process is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, 13 October at 09h00 and will end on Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 12h00. Sessions will be available nationwide in person and virtually. See below list of the various FRAP2021 public consultation centres.
Source: Government of South Africa