The Western Cape High Court has dismissed an application by the commercial squid fishing sector, which sought to set aside a decision by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on apportioning 15% of the squid total allowable effort (TAE) to the small-scale fisheries sector and 85% thereof to the commercial squid sector.

The application by SASMIA NPC (the South African Squid Management Industrial Association) was dismissed on Friday, 11 October by Acting Judge Pangaker of the Western Cape Division of the High Court.

In welcoming the court’s decision, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, said the ruling was a victory for small-scale fishing cooperatives.

Historically, squid was not included in the allocation of fishing rights to small-scale fishing cooperatives.

Squid was included on an ad hoc basis in the allocation of fishing rights to specific small-scale fishing co-operatives in their respective resource allocation schedules.

‘The decision t
o apportion 15% of the annual squid total allowable effort to the small-scale fisheries sector is intended to bring about inclusion and socio-economic stability for the small-scale fishers within the fishing industry.

‘The decision of the Western Cape High Court is therefore a victory for the department and for the members of the small-scale fishing cooperatives, who rely on fishing as a source of income and food security to feed their families and to look after their communities,’ George said.

Source: South African Government News Agency