Cape Town - Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, discussed rights allocation with the fishing community in Kalk Bay, Cape Town, on Thursday.
Joemat-Pettersson met more than 70 fishers and members of the community to discuss issues related to the fishing industry, particularly the fisheries rights allocation process, her spokeswoman Palesa Mokomele said.
“Among the issues were the availability of fishing permits and quotas, new entrants in the fishing industry and the recognition of the heritage of traditional line fishers,” Mokomele said.
The meeting was an opportunity for the minister to hear the concerns of the fishers.
“I have come here to familiarise myself with issues that fishing communities have been raising, as I will be receiving appeals for the fishing rights allocation process,” Joemat-Pettersson said.
“South Africa has a good story to tell, and the de-racialisation of the fishing industry and support to small and medium-sized enterprises is one of these stories,” she said.
Emily Adams, who lives in Kalk Bay, said it was the first time that a minister responsible for fisheries had come to listen to her community.
Adams said the allocations process should identify people who came from a disadvantaged historical background.
Disadvantaged communities must be recognised and developed, she said.
Sapa