Question NW604 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
18 March 2016 - NW604
Lekota, Mr M to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(1) Whether his department has given full and proper attention to the expert opinion of Fisheries and Research Development officials within his department who noticed a massive decline in the population of horse mackerel in South African waters at the time of granting an 8 000-ton experimental quota to a certain person (name furnished); if not, why not; if so, why (a) did his department act contrary to the view of the specified experts and (b) was his department endangering the viability of the horse mackerel population; (2) whether he will make a statement on the granting of the quota to the specified individual and address the soundness of the decision to grant the specified quota in relation to the scientific facts available to him; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1) The Department always gives full and proper attention to the expert opinion given by each Branch or Chief Directorate. It is not understandable why there is a belief that the Department acted contrary to the view of some experts. The Department acted in accordance with proper rules and procedures and followed the scientific recommendations given by its experts. The Department has not allocated any additional commercial quota and has thus not endangered the viability of the horse mackerel population. It should also be borne in mind that at the moment no fisherperson has been allocated fishing right and all are operating under exemption. This means, therefore, that it is not possible for any person to say that The Department has over-allocated as horse mackerel fishing can be stopped at any time if the Department believes that that stock is facing an ecological threat.
(2) Permits are issued by delegated officials in the Department and there has not been a need (now and in the past) for the Minister to make announcements on the issuing of any fishing rights.