Reporting on the relationship between the management of the fishing industry and the industry itself is one of the many important functions of a journal such as Fishing Industry News SA. On a recent trip by the Editor up the East Coast to visit fishing concerns located from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth, many positive comments and criticisms were made by representatives.
Although happy to talk, they were not so happy to let it be said in print. The reason they say is because they don’t want to jeopardise their quota. Apparently it has been known for the anchor to be pulled because the management of the fishing industry didn’t like what it was hearing.
From all accounts it would seem that when big business whispers they are heard. Small business has to shout, and even then it is ignored. The South Cape Hake Handline Industrial Association (SCHHIA) and the Linefish Forum formed recently by a large group of disgruntled fishermen in Port Elizabeth say they just want somebody to listen.
A company representing 16 hake inshore trawl rights holders was heard though – in the Cape High Court. Rights holders were delighted when decisions by the defendants not to allocate rights to undertake commercial fishing in the hake inshore trawl fishery in respect of the 2002 to 2005 seasons and the refusal of an appeal respectively, were set aside.
At the time of going to press the defendants had until 17 June to show why they should not allocate 220 882kg of hake and 30 176 kg of sole in respect of the 2004 season. They were also instructed that since the TAC has been allocated to other rights holders in the hake inshore trawl fishery the allocation must be reduced proportionately in order to accommodate this company.
Finally, this magazine is trying to get a hearing with the new Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk to find out what he has in mind for the fishing industry. We understand that to date he has only spent about a week in the corridors of MCM familiarising himself with this complicated subject so please be patient and keep reading Fishing Industry News SA..