Cape Town - The Western Cape High Court has rejected the commercial squid fishing industry’s plea for increased fishing rights, instead backing the allocation of 15% of the total allowable effort (TAE) to small-scale fisheries.
The ruling marks significant stability for South African small-scale fishing communities.
Acting Judge Mas-udah Pangaker ruled against the South African Squid Management Industrial Association (SASMIA), backing the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in their choice to allocate 15% of the TAE for squid fishing to small-scale fisheries.
SASMIA represents commercial rights holders, boat owners, and traders in the South African squid fishing scene. DFFE Minister, Dion George, hailed the court’s ruling as a win for small-scale fishing cooperatives.
He said squid was added on a temporary basis to the fishing rights distribution for specific small-scale fishing co-operatives.
“The decision to apportion 15% of the annual squid TAE to the small-scale fisheries sector, is intended to bring about inclusion and socio-economic stability for the small-scale fishers within the fishing industry,” George said.
“The decision of the Western Cape High Court is therefore a victory for the department and for the members of the small-scale fishing co-operatives who rely on fishing as a source of income and food security to feed their families and to look after their communities.”
Cape Argus