LOBSTER ALLOCATION CUT SLAMMED

ANGRY Western Cape small-scale fishers have rejected the reduction of the rock lobster allocation, saying cutting the total allowable catch (TAC) from 160kg to 35kg as part of the interim relief dispensation for the 2021/2022 season was “unsustainable and unsuitable for supporting the lives and livelihoods of these communities”.

Fishers hailing from coastal communities such as Langebaan, Saldanha Bay, Paternoster, St Helena Bay, Arniston and Gansbaai were up in arms, saying the allocation could only yield R6 000 a year or a below the poverty line amount of R500 a month.

But the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) stuck to its guns, saying all relevant data required to produce a comprehensive assessment was “collected and analysed” in determining the 2020/21 season allocation and the recommendation for 2021/22.

At an emotion-filled meeting on Monday, the fishers rejected the cut to the allocation, with Coastal Links leader from Paternoster, Naomi Cloete, saying fishing communities should be prioritised over the commercial sector as they depended on the resources for their lives and livelihoods.

“The cuts should be made in the Fishing Rights Allocation Process (Frap) which is used for the commercial sector.

“Instead, the government marginalises the small-scale sector while it’s business as usual for the commercial sector.

“To make matters worse, the government gives support to extractive industries that damage the oceans and make life more difficult for us,” she said.

Carmelita Mostert from Saldanha Bay shared these sentiments, saying the government had “failed and disrespected small-scale fishers through false promises”, and had “stolen the oceans”.

“The government treats us like stepchildren and has shown little respect or regard for the coastal communities as we battle to put food on the table.

“We collectively decided that we were not going to accept this,” said Mostert.

DFFE spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said the West Coast rock lobster (WCRL) resource had been experiencing challenges of rapidly declining stocks in recent years.

“In recent decades, WSRL populations have been at about 2.5% of the accepted pristine level in 1910.

“However, the numbers have dropped to about 1.5% of the pristine level of late.

“The updated assessment makes it clear that the status of the resource is now appreciably worse than thought to be the case 12 months ago.

“A meaningful reduction in the TAC is therefore necessary to rebuild the resource from its current 2021 level by 2025,” he said.

Among measures being considered by the department to address existing challenges is to increase compliance-related efforts to combat poaching and overfishing.