Cape Town - There is an “element of defiance” in the plans of the national fisheries branch that does not tally with the president’s State of the Nation address, says parliament’s research unit.
And although some elements of the branch’s strategies, plans and programmes are aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP), they would require a “much higher” budget to implement, the unit adds. “So, the 16-percent reduction in budget does not advance the cause of achieving the 2030 vision of the NDP. This reduction may negatively affect the law enforcement efforts, fisheries research and aquaculture development.”
These are among the remarks in an eight-page document, “Budget and Strategic Plan of the Fisheries Management Branch”, compiled by the research unit and to have been tabled at tomorrow’s meeting of the National Assembly’s Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries portfolio committee.
The report notes that in his address, President Zuma emphasised the implementation of the NDP and the National Infrastructure Plan, and stressed that departments had to align their activities with these plans.
It points out that while the NDP recognises the importance of small-scale and artisanal fishing, it does not regard them as a vehicle to address poverty and unemployment - particularly because of limited fish stocks.
“The NDP discourages increasing the number of participants in the small-scale fisheries sector because it reduces the net gain per participant and increases the difficulty of law enforcement… Contrariwise, the (fisheries) branch plans to allocate fishing rights to communities in 10 inshore fishing sectors.”
The plan warns against reducing rights allocated to the commercial fisheries and allocating them to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) as this approach will cut the estimated 27 000 jobs in the commercial fisheries, the report notes.
“Once again in a defiant mode, the department is planning to allocate 70 percent of fishing rights to SMMEs during the 2013/14 financial year.”
Also, the plan recognises the importance of scientific research and monitoring of fisheries resources.
“However, the disturbing observation is that in the 2013/14 Strategic Plan, the department opted to remove the whole Fisheries Research and Development Chief Directorate from the Annual Performance Plan. This implies there are no fisheries research targets,” the report states.
Establishing aquaculture development zones, the aquaculture incentive programme and the approved National Aquaculture Strategic Framework are all “great initiatives” to develop aquaculture and will potentially address numerous socio-economic challenges sustainably, the report states, but adds a caveat.
“However, without a solid extension service, these initiatives will all be doomed like the attempts previously made in the 1980s.”
Noting that deputy director-general in charge of fisheries Greta Apelgren-Narkedien had admitted on television irregularities in the branch - including with her own appointment - the report states: “This sort of behaviour needs to be addressed.”
Cape Argus