This is the first issue of 2009 and like other industries the local fishing industry is feeling the strain of the economic downturn. Markets are tougher as consumers tighten their purse strings, labour is becoming more aggressive in their demands; and mergers and bankruptcies are the order of the day.

Examples of these are the squid fishery which is still enmeshed in a strike dating back to September, with the unions and the South African Squid Management Industrial Association (SASMIA) failing to reach an agreement that will normalise the situation. And after the Seawin Sapphire and the Weskus I saga, there’s more bad news for Indo-Atlantic which has been placed in liquidation amidst many – apparently groundless – rumours.
So it was no surprise to hear early in the New Year of some movement in the corridors of power. Andrew Marshall is leaving Oceana to join Nampak at the end of this month, Chris Nissen of Sea Harvest is playing a more public role in the ANC’s Western Cape campaign and the speculation is that Dr Monde Mayekiso, Deputy Director-General of Marine & Coastal Management (MCM) is also on his way out but this is not confirmed.
At last the draft subsistence fisheries policy is on the table. It was circulated for comment with responses due by the end of January and although it seems to have, on the surface at least, taken into account the needs of the subsistence fishers, the document has so incensed Andrew Johnston of the Artisanal Fishers Association that he has resigned from the National Task Team that acts in an advisory capacity to MCM.

Aquaculture is well-represented in this issue with a report on Abagold (Pty) Ltd abalone farm in Hermanus; and news about the launch of a new specialist company, Global Recirculation Technologies, which draws on international experience and provides tailor-made solutions for aquaculture installations in South Africa and elsewhere

The NSRI has had a hectic holiday season, and we run through a few of their rescues to show how valuable they are to those who venture out to sea. They deserve our thanks and admiration and we are grateful to them. And on the same sombre note, we offer our condolences to the families of those who perished in the Kingfisher tragedy. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time. SAMSA is conducting an investigation and the results will be published in our next issue.

Finally, many fishermen in the northern hemisphere have had no option but to tie up their vessels. The reasons are varied but it is a certainty that where possible they will look elsewhere to fish. The issue of African access agreements to marine resources has become more relevant than ever and we will watch with keen interest how the African Union deals with this. Feike has been appointed to examine all current foreign fisheries access agreements concluded by African states in order to determine their levels of consistency and future sustainability.

In a similar vein South Africa is to launch a satellite to monitor illegal fishing at the end of March. According to the Department of Science and Technology the low-orbit satellite (Sumbandilasat) project will be managed by the University of Stellenbosch, while the Satellite Application Centre will be tasked with operations, telemetry, tracking, control, as well as data capturing. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research will be responsible for mission control.

You’ll find something of interest across a wide spectrum of stories, so enjoy the read and feel free to write in if you want to publicise, comment or criticise. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.
 
Editor
 

Cover Story

Abagold (Pty) Ltd in Hermanus produces and supplies tinned and dried abalone. In existence for 15 years, the company puts huge focus on the quality of its product and its distinctive branding. It exports on average 20 tons a month, 85% of which is canned and 15% dried, mainly into the Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysian markets. Abagold has its own HACCP and FDA-approved processing plant, including a purpose-built cannery with a 330 ton per annum capacity. The facility was built and commissioned in 2002 and the first dried abalone was exported. By 2007 Abagold had developed its “Pure Gold Abalone” brand and had sold its first dried product under this brand.