See PODCAST below

OFM News contacted the spokesperson of the Department, Albi Modise, who alongside stakeholders, commented on the initiative. 

Saasa Pheeha, the manager responsible for the fishing rights allocations process says that the reasons for the public meetings are to engage with the fisheries stakeholders to solicit their inputs into the various policies that have been gazetted. 

“The challenges that are facing the industry are the limitations in terms of resources. There is not enough fish for everyone that has an interest in participating in the fishing sector. So as a result we can only accommodate and allocate a limited number of applicants,“ says Pheeha.

Shamera Daniels, an SMME rights holder says in the video that the government does not always acknowledge the role SMME’s play in the fishing industry and that they don’t hear their call for economically viable allocations.  

Shantel Meter, who represents Bluffin Holdings, says “the sector is important because if it is well maintained and managed we employ people out of the community if we have lucrative quotas to create jobs in our community.”

Among others were representatives from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, community members, and stakeholders who participated in the meetings towards the allocation process.

Modise concludes by extending their invitation to all stakeholders to register on Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP2021) online system that allows stakeholders to apply for the right to undertake commercial fishing. He says that the process started on the 1st of November and will only close on the 7th of December 2021.

OFM News/Lee Simmons