There are some things you need to know. The first is that like a migrating bird, I have returned to the colony! The second is that for those of you who have contributed to this issue, a big THANK YOU. I know you probably thought there was an Albatross around your neck!
Getting up to speed on developments in the fishing industry has been easier than I expected. While there are many news stories with central themes of objections and rejection, remember it is a reflection of the state of the economy.

If you listened to President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address, one of the very first things he said was that by “working together we can do more to fight poverty and build a better life for all.”
His wish list included developing and implementing a comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform and food security.” Last year 15 participants from government, organised labour, civil society and business had the opportunity to visit Vietnam and the Philippines as part of an aquaculture study tour organised by the Western Cape Provincial Development Council to learn about small-scale aquaculture practises there and how these could be modelled successfully in a South African context. The idea is to create a successful and sustainable small-scale community-based aquaculture sector in the Western Cape. That means jobs.

He also said: “The economic downturn will affect the pace at which our country is able to address the social and economic challenges it faces. But it will not alter the direction of our development.” We need to work smarter and be more transparent. The Competition Commission Tribunal, which has in recent times had a measure of success in the pricing issues of bread, milk and poultry, is now investigating the pelagic fishing industry to establish the food spending priorities of low-income consumers (Page 12). And the value chain of the Southern African Hake fisheries sector is to be scrutinised as every level, from the water to the proverbial plate (Page 16).

He also said: “Working with Africa and the rest of the world, we will pursue African advancement and enhanced international co-operation.” Exporting fish and fish products to European Community member states is about to become very difficult if you don’t follow the protocol laid down by the EC Regulation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing (Page 14).

He also said: “We will intensify the fight against crime and corruption,” and “we will ensure sustainable resource management and use.” The cost of IUU fishing in our waters is the subject of a paper commissioned by the Institute for Security Studies, Cape Town (Page 15). “Strong leadership, an effective NPOA-IUU Fishing, the financial and human resources to implement the NPOA, a network of strategic domestic, regional and international partnerships that complement the NPOA-IUU Fishing and strong political will to keep at bay opportunistic and predatory foreign fishing fleets,” says the author, Shaheen Moolla of Feike Natural Resource Management Advisors.

In conclusion, may I remind you of the significance of the Marine Protected Areas – in the same way that these areas have a very high biodiversity value, maintaining this journal so that it is your No. 1 read, comes at a price. We need your support!
Until next time…

Editor

Cover Story

A beautiful, calm day in Table Bay harbour. Unfortunately you can’t judge a book by the cover! Recently there was a hijacking drama onboard a Taiwanese fishing vessel, and shark fins and trunks were seized from Taiwanese and Korean fishing vessels.
Table Bay is also home to the SA Agulhas when she is in port. Built in 1978, she is to be replaced. Tenders close this month and four foreign yards will compete to build the new research vessel. The new ship will carry 100 passengers and a larger scientific laboratory suite will meet the increased focus on oceanographic and ichthyologic research.