12 March 2015

MAMRE-ATLANTIS FISHERS NEGLECTED BY FISHERIES DEPARTMENT [DAFF]

Submitted by: Abigail Smith

THE FISHERS ENGINE OF SOUTH AFRICA [FESA]

 MAMRE-ATLANTIS FISHERS NEGLECTED BY FISHERIES DEPARTMENT [DAFF]

Date: 12 March 2015 

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [DAFF]  – has once again neglected and disappointed the Fishing Communities of Mamre, Atlantis and Darling by not authorising them Fishing Access via the Bokbaai-, Lêbaai or Ganzekraal Area after The Fishers Engine of South Africa [FESA] has applied for access from the DAFF Minister, Senzeni Zokwana more than 5 months ago.

It has been precisely 5 months and two weeks since FESA has asked the Minister to authorise the use of the Bokbaai Area as a Launching Site for the Mamre-Atlantis Fishers. During the last few months – the only reply FESA has received from the minister was an acknowledgement letter indicating that this matter has been forwarded to the Office of the Director General, Edith Vries. Until date, no answer or progress on this issue has been sent from the Office of the Director-General

Mamre and Atlantis Fishers have to use the “Apartheid-set road to Yzerfontein” for Linefish- and West Coast Rock Lobster Catches, and some other launching sites are also used. Yzerfontein is the nearest legal Launching Site and FESA has made these bad economic conditions under which these fishers have to operate clear to the Fisheries Minister. Yzerfontein is between 42-44km away from Mamre (depending on the road taken) and with the distance to reach the fishing grounds, fishers can travel as far as 57km to fish. Depending on the engines used these fishers can spent between R1300-R1500 per fishing trip on petrol a day to lauch from Yzerfontein harbour (excluding their bait and other expenses). For the Minister to expect the poorest of fishers to spend between R1300-R1500 per day per fishing trip with Economically Unviable Exemptions (Interim Relief Programme Exemptions and Traditional Linefish Rights) is unthinkable, irresponsible and economically oppressing to these fishers and their communities. 

Then this same Fisheries Department, DAFF has closed the Dasseneiland Area (Bokpunt) for Recreational Fishing for the current season – which mean that these fishers are totally neclegted and excluded from fishing from their nearest suitable Fishing Area, which is the Bokbaai-, Lêbaai-, Ganzekraal Area. 

The FESA are of opinion that the part of Bokbaai Area that are so-called ‘private property’ – belongs to the citizens of this country as per its coastal status and the Constitution, the Integrated Coastal Management Act and the Bill of Rights. The FESA are in the process of rectifying this issue with other parties for the benefit of the Fisher People of Mamre, Atlantis, Darling and the rest of the citizens of this country. 

Earlier this week FESA has asked the Minister of Fisheries, the Deputy Director General of DAFF, Mortimer Mannya and the Director-General, Edith Vries to meet with them as soon as is possible to resolve this Launching Site Authorisation matter. 

A formal Complaint will also be lodged amongst others at The South African Human Rights Commission in due course to make fire under the minister and the Fisheries Department, DAFF

  • Abigail Smith On behalf of The Fishers Engine of South Africa [FESA]
  • Contact: 071 792 7032 or 078 748 0399