ATC120808: Report on Transformation In The Fishing Sector In South Africa Dated 08 May 2012
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE (PC) ON AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (DAFF) ON THE TRANSFORMATION IN THE FISHING SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA DATED 08 MAY 2012
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE (PC) ON AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (DAFF) ON THE TRANSFORMATION IN THE FISHING SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA DATED 08 MAY 2012.
The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries having held public hearings on the status of transformation in the fishing sector reports as follows:
The public hearings were held on 14-15 June 2011 and 28 June 2011, in the National Assembly Building , Parliament of South Africa.
Attendees:
Members
Mr M Johnson (ANC), Chairperson; Mr S Abram (ANC); Mr MA Cele (ANC); Ms RE Nyalungu (ANC); Ms NM Phaliso (ANC); Ms ME Pilusa-Mosoane (ANC); Ms NM Twala (ANC); Dr LL Bosman (DA); Mr ND Du Toit (DA); Ms D Carter (COPE); Mr L Tolo (COPE); Mr RN Cebekhulu (IFP); Mr LB Gaehler (UDM).
DAFF Officials
Ms P Dingile, Acting Chief Director (DAFF); Mr J Augustyn, Chief Director (DAFF); Ms M Hlatshwayo, Acting Chief Director (DAFF); Ms MZ Leseke, Chief Director (DAFF); Mr H Wyngaard, Director (DAFF); Mr J Van Zyl, Chief Economist (DAFF);
- Background and Introduction
The fisheries sector contributes 0.5 % to the GDP which translates to about R5 billion turn over annually and is regionally important, especially in the Western Cape where it contributes about 2 % to the gross geographic product [1] . The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has identified three main challenges in the fishing sector, these are:
- declining fish stocks undermine the value of production and the sustainable utilisation of the natural resource,
- growth of the industry is also hindered by the amount of natural resources available
- number of fishing rights owners further puts pressure on the natural resource base.
Opportunities for job creation in the fishing sector
The South African coast provides substantial opportunities for economic and social development. However it is a resource at risk from inappropriate developments, pollution, poaching and over use. The sector has two components, the wild capture and the aquaculture sector. Currently the economic prospects for mariculture, has not been fully quantified.
Wild fish capture ranges from highly industrialised capital intensive fishing sectors to more accessible fishing sectors. It currently employs approximately 27 000 people directly and approximately 100 000 indirectly in industries that are partly dependent on the fishing industry.
South Africa 's environmental potential for aquaculture production could increase from the current level of 3 543 tons (worth R218 million) to more than 90 000 tons (worth R2.4 billion) over next 10 to 20 years. If production grows to the projected level of 90 000 tons per annum, the industry will have an employment potential of more than 44 000 people.
According to the DAFF, South Africa has a well developed fisheries management system and is one of the leading countries in the implementation of an ecosystem approach for fisheries management (EAF). With regards to our international obligations, South Africa is involved in the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and regional programs such as the Benguela Current Commission and other related programs.
Monitoring progress on transformation
The PC on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initially undertook an oversight visit to fishing communities in and around the Western Cape in 2010. Following the findings of the visit, the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries found that there were several challenges in this sector and the main one being the lack of transformation and fronting.
The lack of transformation was found to be impacting on the designated groups and disadvantaged communities while the well established companies were the most advantaged. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was found to being unable to assist the communities that were mostly affected by the lack of transformation. Based on the above, the Committee resolved to conduct the hearings on the status of transformation in the fishing sector.
Fronting
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has acknowledged that there was "fronting" in the fishing industry and investigations were underway. Some of the presenters confirmed that their names had been used to secure fishing rights while they had never benefitted from those companies who used their names.
- Process followed for public participation
The hearings will assess the following:
- Current status of transformation in the fisheries sector within the developmental agenda of the country
- Draft Fisheries Charter, which provides the framework to address the inequities prevalent in the fisheries sector
- The way in which current initiatives in the sector empower black South Africans to partake in fisheries activities and enterprises along the entire sector value chain.
The following stakeholders provided submissions to the PC on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on the transformation of the fishing industry.
|
Stakeholder |
Group |
Name of representative |
|
Oceana |
Commercial fishing industry |
Mr F Kuttel |
|
Sea Harvest |
Commercial fishing industry |
Mr G Bezuidenhout |
|
Benguela Fisheries |
Small scale fishing industry |
Nomathemba Sotomela |
|
Fisherman Association in the Eastern Cape |
Small scale fishing industry |
Mr Gavin Roberts |
|
National Small Scale Fishers Taskteam
|
Small scale fishing industry |
Mr Chris Jordan |
|
Artisinal Fishers Association
|
Small scale fishing industry |
Mr Andrew Johnson |
|
Former President of Fisherman Association in Eastern Cape |
Small scale fishing industry |
|
|
Independent Fisher from Eastern Cape |
Personal capacity |
Mr Gavin Roberts |
|
SMMES Fishing Forum |
Small scale fishing industry |
Mr Harry Mentor |
|
Masifundise
|
NGO |
Mr Naseegh Jaffer |
|
TREKNET
|
Independent boat owner |
Mr Sulaiman Achmat |
|
Feike Consulting |
Scientific/Consultants |
Mr Shaheen Moolla |
|
Fishermen |
Personal capacity |
Mr Tony Trimmel
|
|
Umoya
|
NGO |
Ms Poggenpoel |
|
Kalk Bay Fisherman
|
Independant |
Mr Poggenpoel |
|
First Indigenous Women-Hout Bay
|
Small scale fishing community |
Ms M Yon, |
|
Boat owner |
Personal capacity |
Mr Welile Mbali |
|
Symnayene Fishing |
Small scale fishing industry |
Mr Neels Scheepers |
|
Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) |
Interested and affected parties |
Mr Mthunzi Mhlakane |
|
Coastal Links Langebaan |
NGOs |
Mr Norton Dowries |
|
Coastal Links Paternoster |
NGOs |
Ms Naomi Cloete |
|
Durban Subsistence Fishers |
Small scale fishing industry |
Mr Ebrahim Yusuf |
|
Women in Fishing, Port Nollioth |
Small scale fishing industry |
Ms Gloria Beukes |
Summary of Submissions by Stakeholders
3.1 Scientific sector: Consultants
3.1.1 Feike Consulting
Main issues:
Feike was represented by its Director, Mr S Moolla. According to Feike the Pilchard Fishery was the single largest employer, sustaining 15 133 jobs. There were 114 rights holders and 137 vessels, and about 62.9% rights holders are black. The Hake Trawl Fishery is comprised of 60% black rights holders and 43% of its total allowable catch (TAC) was controlled by previously disadvantaged individuals. The South Coast Rock Lobster fishery had 71% black rights holders and 72% of its TAC was black-controlled. The Squid Fishery had 49% black rights holders. However, the Hake Long Line Fishery had 91.3% black rights holders.
The commercial fisheries had significantly transformed, with 60% of all fishing quotas allocated to black persons. Out of 3 019 commercial fishery quotas, more than 2 200 were allocated to small-scale or artisanal fisheries. The main threats to transformation gains included the draft small-scale commercial fishing policy, the lack of leadership, policy and vision within the Department which resulted in a lack of support for small black-owned enterprises, and the fact that there was still no plan with regard to the next round of fishing quota allocations for 2013.
There was pervasive poaching of high-value inshore fish stocks, such as abalone and West Coast rock lobster. The draft small-scale/ subsistence policy premise was fatally flawed, especially with the proposition that quotas should be allocated to fishing communities and managed by cooperatives. It had been observed that cooperative-type management led to community-based conflict.
3.2 Commercial Fishing Industry
3.2.1 Oceana Group Limited
Main issues
The Oceana Group was represented by Mr F Kuttel. The Oceana group claimed to have fair and equitable employment policies and was committed to the well-being of all its employees. The measurement of economic interests was done by using broad-based transformation criteria, as the narrow-based criteria only measured black ownership and not economic benefits. The Group does not allow fronting of any sort. It also encouraged aspects of procurement, enterprise development and Corporate Social Investment (CSI), which, if channeled correctly, could be of significant benefit to the welfare of all communities including the fishing industry.
Oceana had accelerated transformation since the awarding of long-term rights. The Group was 55% black-owned, and was therefore defined as a black-owned company. The Khula Trust owned 11.9% of the company and Brimstone owned 9.7%. 13 Non government organisations (NGOs) were also supported and that makes a total of black beneficiaries to about 8.5 million. The Oceana management has 27.3% black females and 26% were in senior management positions.
In relation to skills development, 82% of the budget went towards the training of black employees. In relation to procurement, 70% of its budget went towards Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) companies. Oceana had over a period of five years spent close to R207 million on enterprise development. Its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) spent over the five-year period had been R13.4 million, of which 96% went towards black-owned companies. Subsequently, this CSI strategy had been reworked to cater for coastal communities and that strategy had been successful, with particular emphasis on food security and education.
Oceana had also made provisions for housing for some of its employees.
3.2.2 Sea Harvest
Sea Harvest was represented Mr G Bezuidenhout, the Managing Director. He presented the profile of the company by stating that Sea Harvest was a certified Level 2 AAA 88% company on the scorecard used by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). 96% of its employees were black and South Africans except for its skippers. Out of the 11 members on the Board of Directors, seven were black and two were women.
Sea Harvest had employed more people despite the international trend to mechanise operations. The number of jobs it created had increased to 65 per 1 000 tons of catch.
The deep-sea hake sector was capital and labour intensive and required economies of scale if it were to remain competitive. Since 2003, the industry had not generated sufficient returns. The company employed exceptionally high safety standards at all times. The employees received benefits such as UIF cover, pension funds, and life cover.
Although all employees were offered shares in the company, most had declined the offer as a result of the industry not generating good returns. 25% of its shares were held by the Kagiso Trust and 60% by Brimstone Investment Corporation. Broad-based black shareholding made up 83% of the company.
Sea Harvest was described as the single largest employer in the Saldanah Bay , West Coast district, employing between 3 800 and 4 900 people. 2 500 were permanent and contract jobs. In excess of R4 million had been spent on skills development of its employees. The Sea Harvest Foundation built capacity within the local community, contributed significantly to development, and assisted with education costs.
The main challenges that were noted are:
· Fluctuating exchange rate, and cost escalations being above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate.
· Lack of consolidation within the industry in order to achieve economies of scale.
3.3 Small Fishing Industry
3.3.1 Benguela Fishers
Main issues
Benguela Fishers was represented one of its members, Ms N Sotomela. The group was formed by a group of the women who had to fend for themselves and their families when their husbands died at sea. Although they were issued with quotas, they were subsequently told to stop fishing even though these quotas had not been filled. There were also many concerns with outsiders attempting to speak on their behalf, although they did not have adequate knowledge of the realities the women faced.
Recommendation
· They would prefer to be consulted in policy processes that would possibly affect them.
· They request to be left to continue fishing in order to provide food for their families.
3.3.2 National Taskteam Small Scale Fishers
Main issues
Mr C Jordaan represented the Small-Scale Fisheries Task Team from Mossel Bay . The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries had made promises to the community but the fishing sector in Mossel Bay had not receiving the attention it deserved. There was a need for direct consultation with that community. Fishing stock was under pressure and the country was importing more than it could export. Aquaculture was contributing to the gross domestic product (GDP) to the tune of R100 million. Abalone and other species were being cultivated. None of the promises made to the fishing community had been kept. A summit had been held to address the challenges that the community were faced with and a task team was elected.
The interim relief measures had increased the limit of fishing from thirty to sixty fish per person. However, the permits were useless and meant nothing to the subsistence fishers. They were only allowed to take ten fish on a day, not all of which could be of the same species.
The new harbour at Coega was a fish magnet. Dozens of species were there in abundance. The Mossel Bay community had been promised they could have a quota of 1.5 tons of abalone for the season, while the poachers took that much in a week.
3.3.3 Artisinal Fishers Association
Main issues
Mr Andrew Johnston represented the Artisanal Fishers Association. Mr Johnston had been a fisherman for fifty years, thirty of which he classified himself as a poacher. He had served on several national and international bodies. He was currently the chair of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Fishing Desk.
The principles of the small-scale policy were to focus on food security, equity, job creation, poverty alleviation, co-management and social justice. While poor fisher folk may be given rights, the critics of the policy were waiting to prey on these people in order to take over their rights. Such people were not interested in correcting social and economic injustices. The management of fisheries should be about the people and their livelihoods as well as about economics and resource management. The first divers came from Langa, but this form of fishing had become the preserve of those in the wealthy suburbs.
The quota system was coupled to high capital demands. The limited rights that poor people could exploit did not cover basic living expenses. Households had to juggle expenses to survive, especially in the light of increasing food prices. Before quotas, artisanal and traditional fishing households had enough money for food and other requirements but were now being forced to beg to survive. People controlling resources were only interested in profit and not the needs of the people. Bad governance and faulty practices were creating elites at the expense of the poor.
The community-based management system was widely accepted. The proponents of the individual quota system had to end the corrupt practices of which they were guilty. It was absurd to believe that individual wealth could eradicate the ills of society. Community fishing rights would go towards achieving the Millennium Development goals. There were many socio-economic benefits from communal efforts. Peer monitoring would be an important method of controlling the exploitation of communal rights. Indigenous knowledge of fish patterns would be an important way of monitoring stock levels. Those who had benefited in the past were lacking the vision and will to correct the situation. What was needed was restitution, restructuring, reviewing and reallocating. The policy made no mention of restitution. He could not understand how men working on an oil rig could get an abalone quote while the residents of Kleinmond could not.
3.3.4 Umoya
Umoya Fisheries was represented by the Director Ms Poggenpoel. According to Umoyo there appeared to be no reason why the TAC could not be increased so as to accommodate the scale the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries proposed to implement. The allowances in the existing TAC could, however, be reduced [d1] . The strengthening of policing and the savings as a result of the interim relief would in fact result in nothing needing to be taken away from the existing quota holders.
The limitation placed on the types of species that could be caught under certain permits placed unfair limitations on the earning potential of smaller fishers, particularly during seasons when these species were not common.
3.3.5 Kalk Bay (Mr Poggenpoel)
Main issues
Mr Jacobus Poggenpoel, a fisherman from Kalk Bay reported that he had been the first black person nominated to the Fisheries Advisory Council. He reported that the community of Kalk Bay are a fishing community, who were dependent on the resources of False Bay for their existence, as they had been for the past 200 years.
In recent years big trawlers were granted rights to trawl in the False Bay area. That had depleted fish stocks and threatened the livelihood of the smaller fishers. Corporate fishing had therefore damaged the industry and harmed the local communities.
The Kalk Bay fishing community provided sustenance for about 300 families, and was also a tourist destination. The community had fought for several years for the harbour to stay a commercial fishing harbour, as this was the only historic hand-line harbour still in existence. It had also fought against allowing a yachting basin to be built in Kalk Bay .
Recommendations
However, now that many fishermen had started to lose their rights, the survival of the community was under threat. He hoped, following these hearings, that government would intervene and open up the channel of negotiations. He pleaded for the Committee to look seriously into the matter.
3.3.6 First Indigenous Women-Hout Bay
Main issues
The First Indigenous Women Hout Bay group was represented by Ms M Yon. This group felt that they were being neglected and discriminated against by Government [d2] . Although they were given two months to catch lobster, this was then brought to a halt, despite the fact that big companies were allowed to continue to catch lobster. Small-scale fishers were therefore not being afforded equal treatment. Her husband and father had died, without the family being provided with compensation [d3] . Women were also sidelined when it came to quotas. The small quotas that were received by women in particular were not sufficient to allow them to earn a decent living.
3.3.7 Tuna Long line Fisher Group
Main issues
The Group was represented by the Secretary of the Group Mr R Strauss. There were many concerns raised around the unfair distribution of fishing rights to the Northern Cape , which received less than 1% of rights. There were also concerns about marginalised fishing rights to traditional fishers, which created further impoverishment in these communities, discrimination against women within the industry, scarce working opportunities for the youth, and bank policies that put small businesses at a disadvantage, especially when there was a lack of alternative financing options.
3.3.8 St Helena Bay Fishing Community Forum
Main issues
The St. Helena Bay Fishing Community Forum was represented by Mr C Jordaan. The group claimed that the labour practices of large fishing companies in the area had resulted in significant poverty. The assertion of the large companies that created employment in the area was therefore not entirely true. The existing quotas given to the communities were insufficient for them to make their own living. Complaints lodged with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) had also resulted in workers losing their cases. The organisation Coastal [d4] Links also made agreements with Government without consulting the communities.
3.3.9 Coastal Towns Fishing Crisis Committee
Main issues
The Coastal, Towns Fishing Crisis Committee was represented by Mr T Mosiea and Mr G Cloete. There Committee raised concerns around employees owning shares but never seeing any benefits from such shares. There were also no black skippers being employed. Black people were also suffering from constant abuse aboard boats. The assertions made by the big fishing companies around their community development and employment creation did not seem to be felt on the ground.
Recommendations
· There should be a Fishing Charter that would see greater representation of black people in the industry.
· That a Sea Accident Fund that would be similar to the Road Accident Fund be established, to ensure that workers killed or injured at sea were compensated accordingly.
· That the Fishing Charter would need to look at redistribution of wealth and resources.
3.3.10 Mr Gavin Roberts-Former President of Fisherman Association in Eastern Cape (personal capacity as a fisherman)
Main issues
Big business wanted to destroy the small-scale fishers. Small-scale and subsistence fishers were treated like criminals. Community does not understand the objectives of the policy. Quotas for hake had divided the community. Money had gone missing in the Coega area. There was no proper guidance.
Mr Roberts said that some companies would pick up men on the road and use them as crew on fishing boats. They were housed in compounds. The companies did not even know what their names were. The Eastern Cape had the most accidents at sea. Over 50 fishermen were missing. The reports compiled by SAMSA had to be tested. Mr Roberts could prove that the scientists were wrong with the TAC. The people needed to have their human rights respected. Slavery had been abolished, but there had been no changes since 1994. Justice was needed. Illiterate people had been made to sign documents they did not understand. Letters had been written to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries but nothing had been done
3.3.11 Masifundise
Main issues
Mr Naseegh Jaffel represented Masifundise. The entire fishing industry was in crisis. The small-scale fishers policy would not address the problems. The policy should be finalised urgently. The fishing communities should not survive on interim relief. The interim relief plan had been meant for one year, but it was on the verge of going into its sixth year. The relief could only end if the policy was finalised.
Although the target date for the strategic plan was set to be 2012, deadlines kept shifting. Nedlac had met in the first two weeks of June, but nothing had happened as yet. Debates should be held nationally rather than being held in the Western Cape alone. Wider coverage was needed in the Northern Cape , the West Coast, East Coast , Eastern Cape , KwaZulu-Natal and Durban areas.
The issue raised that people preferred individual rights to communal rights was far from the truth. The current situation was that quotas were being granted to individuals although the system was not working.
The South African Commercial Fishing Corporation (SACFC) had been called a cooperative but had been funded on a different basis. The BEE Act promoted cooperatives but this conflicted with long term policy. If transformation was to happen then the BEE Act had to be followed.
Recommendations
· The policy had to be reopened.
· There was a developmental nature but it had to be shown how it would benefit the community.
3.3.12 SMMES Fishing Forum
Main issues
Mr Harry Mentor, Chief Executive Officer of SMMES Fishing Forum, presented that the Forum wished to make certain recommendations to the Minister. He noted that all role-players in all different areas of the country had been consulted, from Ocean View to East London and to Port Nollioth.
All had noted that the fishing industry had to be made successful. The recommendations included the need to organise the people of various areas in communities in the fishing industry. It was also envisaged that the various areas could then be further organised into co-operatives, with information clearly outlined. Each area should form and run its own black-empowered businesses. Near-shore and in-shore fishing rights would need to be allocated to the SMME (small, medium and micro sector) and small scale rights holders.
It was noted that operations from six factories could provide 600 jobs. Membership of cooperatives would create another 1 500 permanent jobs, which would give access to employment to about 16 500 people. The SMME Forum believed that the creation of such a situation would create a framework to develop investment in the industry. This would then allow for full involvement, training and skills transference in the industry.
Mr Mentor noted that small scale fishers were an integral part of the rural and coastal communities where they resided. In Western Cape , women were involved in harvesting, but in the most recent years they too tended to have been marginalised.
Diversity within the small scale fisheries, and the potential contributions of small scale fisheries to poverty eradication and food security, was not addressed in the Marine Living Resource Act (MLRA). This had resulted in a large percentage of traditional small scale fisheries being excluded from the process.
He noted that development of new small scale fisheries policy would come more than two decades after the promulgation of the MLRA, and after long-term commercial rights were granted. Fishers whose rights had been affected by the allocation of commercial fishing rights in their villages did not receive any allocations. He concluded also that international and regional agreements on sustainable and responsible fishing were important to the small scale fishing industry.
Recommendations
· There must be a holistic approach to fisheries and management.
3.3.13 TREKNET
Main issues
Mr Sulaiman Achmat, an independent boat owner, reported that he had been a fisherman all his life, and he often also bought in fish for resale. He had purchased a boat, suitable for line fishing, but lost it because of the legislation subsequently introduced. There were too many restriction placed on him. He had been limited to fishing only 600 meters into the ocean, which was insufficient.
He believed that the impetus to sustain his own business had been removed, both for racist reasons, and in order to support the large commercial fishing industry. Since the rights were taken away, small scale fisherman had not been able to survive, and he also pointed out that the rights now taken away from him had been owned by his family since the 1860s, and it was unfair that they be given to the large companies. This process had made it difficult for him to sustain his living.
3.3.14 Durban Subsistence Fishers
Main issues:
Mr Ebrahim Yusuf represented the Durban Subsistence Fishers as a member of the national task team. He had been denied an existence during the apartheid era but the situation was worse now. The promised restoration of rights had not happened. Government was failing in its duties. Subsistence fishers were being denied physical and financial access to resources. Fishing from the rocks was the most sustainable form of the industry but even this was being denied. He could not believe that a man with a fishing rod could deplete the stocks. South African subsistence fishers faced the most stringent limits in the world.
He and his colleagues bought recreational permits but were limited to four fish per day. This was a starvation allocation. Transnet was denying fishermen access to their traditional spots in the harbour. The Anti-Terrorism Act was cited as the reason for the lack of access. Huge fences had been erected. The traditional pathways were closed and fishermen had to make detours of up to three kilometres to reach their favourite spots. There was a similar situation in the Eastern Cape where a casino had blocked off traditional access routes. This was being done in accordance with the National Key Points Act.
There was no justification to the arguments of the scientists. No commercial harvesting was being allowed. There was no regional office of the DAFF in KwaZulu-Natal .
3.3.15 Coastal Links Paternoster
Main issues :
Ms Naomi Cloete, Chairperson of Coastal Links Paternoster, represented the organisation. No compensation was paid to women who lost their husbands. Women played many back-up roles to the industry, such as net-making. People had a traditional right to the sea. People should have rights and not quotas. She reminded the Members of the old basket system, where a person could take as many fish of various species that could be carried in a basket. The industry had to be seen from a woman's perspective. The scientists were making criminals of the fisher folk.
3.3.16 Coastal Links Langebaan
Main issues:
Mr Norton Dowries, Vice Chairperson, Coastal Links in Langebaan represented the organisation. Langebaan was a town where the net was traditionally used. Some of the areas had been declared protected and this was where the fish were to be found. Various conditions were applicable in the different zones. The fishermen would respect the source if they were given access to the protected areas. If anything was caught which was not part of the permit conditions, the fishermen were supposed to report this to MCM. He pleaded that fishermen be allowed to retain the by catch.
3.3.17 Women in Fishing (Port Nolloth)
Main issues:
Ms Gloria Beukes represented the Women in Fishing in Port Nolloth. The women in Port Nolloth were living in atrocious conditions. There had been different quota holders owning the factory in Port Nolloth such as Sekunjola and later Oceana. She had attended the summit held in Stellenbosch in 2010 where she had told the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries that the women were being left out in the fishing sector.
The condition for the issue of a permit was that the permit holder must go to sea to qualify. She had worked in the factory for 35 years. She had been retrenched in 2001 when the factory closed. She had applied for a quota but was unsuccessful. Her plea to the Committee was that they should look at the clause excluding women from the system. Most of the communities were women at home with the children while the men were at sea.
Old people could not go to sea, but they and the women could run the business if they had the processing and marketing permits. Other factories in which she had worked belonged to John Overstone and Namaqua Fisheries. The factories had closed and the quotas had gone with them.
3.3.18 Symanyene
Main issues:
Mr Neels Scheepers, owner of Symanyene Fishing, reported that his company supported the governments initiatives in the fishing industry in general. However, it did not support the reductions in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) restrictions, saying that this would jeopardise the business. Symanyene Fishing, a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rights holder, had invested in the sector, in support of its long term commitment, and had pledged, in its applications, to abide by the criteria set out by the Long Term Rights Allocation Process (LTRAP).
The rights holders owned and operated their own vessels, and since the LTRAP was set up in 2005, they had further enhanced their investment in the sector. They had acquired a 50% stake in a processing facility, Umoya Fish Processors, on the West coast.
This facility had been struggling to meet its financial commitments to suppliers, due to the staff reductions occasioned by the TAC. The extra quota that was made available for processing through the facility was needed to maintain the existing jobs, which in turn were needed in order to sustain the facility. However, now Umoya was not able to sustain its projects, and their rights had diminished. Because the company was relatively small, it was unable to sustain their operations when the TAC was continually being reduced.
Recommendations:
· That the TAC model should be reviewed by reducing the amount that was allowed for poaching.
The Committee after several attempts to get responses with regard to issues raised during the hearings, resolved that the Department should respond in writing to all the issues raised during the hearings.
3.4 Other Interested and Affected parties
3.4.1 Mr Sulaiman Achmat
Main issues
Mr Sulaiman Achmat, an independent boat owner, reported that he had been a fisherman all his life, and he often also bought in fish for resale. He had purchased a boat, suitable for line fishing, but lost it because of the legislation subsequently introduced. There were too many restriction placed on him. He had been limited to fishing only 600 meters into the ocean, which was insufficient.
He believed that the impetus to sustain his own business had been removed, both for racist reasons, and in order to support the large commercial fishing industry. Since the rights were taken away, small scale fisherman had not been able to survive, and he also pointed out that the rights now taken away from him had been owned by his family since the 1860s, and it was unfair that they be given to the large companies. This process had made it difficult for him to sustain his living.
3.4.2 Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU)
Main issues
Mr Mthunzi Mhlakane, FAWU National Organiser Fishing Sector, presented and outlined that for the past few years this FAWU had been assessing the long term fishing rights to monitor if the allocations had achieved their intended objectives of ensuring job security and providing quality jobs.
The current situation meant that the fishing industry as a whole had had to deal with massive retrenchment, closing off factories because of the consolidation of quotas. All of this happened soon after the larger private limited companies secured their fishing rights.
After FAWU had engaged the Marine Coastal Management division of the Department no adequate response had been received. No answer was given on a direct question with regard to whether Oceana Group was intending to retrench 529 workers and how many workers would benefit from the quota. It became clear that there were no clear guidelines as to what recourse could effectively be taken if a company did not live up to the stipulations stated in its applications.
After the Portfolio Committee on Labour had conducted oversight visits on fishing factories it had noted that there were some companies whose entire top management team was white. It was also noted that most skippers of sea-going craft were white, and many were racist. Recently the FAWU forced Sea Harvest to take actions against skippers who had displayed racist attitudes to black crew members.
Within the squid industry, there had been allegations of companies using fishermen as fronting shareholders of companies, yet giving them no benefit from the gains of the company, but instead exploiting them still further. These issues had been raised at Departmental level, and the Department was urged to investigate, yet nothing had been done.
Health and safety issues were also of great concern, as FAWU had received several reports, especially from those in the squid industry, that a fisherman who fell sick during a trip would either have to wait until the trip was over to get medical attention, or he would have to disembark at the nearest town to seek medical assistance, but must find his own way back home. Often, fishermen would have to buy their own protective gear, and this was almost unaffordable as they earn low salaries. They would therefore invest in poor quality gear, compromising their health and safety.
Another disturbing issue was the low wages for the sea-going fishermen. In the pelagic industry, fishermens salaries were awarded, except in the case of Oceana Group employees, at the discretion of the skipper, due to labour-brokering arrangements with skippers. In the squid sector a fisherman received R30 daily allowance and R5 per kilogram on his catch. These income levels were not sustainable, as the fishermen were not even able to afford basic sustenance.
3.4.3 Mr Malutyana
Main issues
Mr Malutyana made a presentation as a private boat owner. He had written a memorandum to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), in which he outlined his grievances. These included the fact that the activities of major industry players were stifling the potential growth of smaller ones. Many politicians made promises about fair labour practices and decent wages, but these did not happen in practice in the fishing industry.
The use of casual labour was still occurring in the sector and the majority of fishers were not registered as workers. There was also no compensation for workers who were injured on duty, or for the families of those who died at sea. After the recent death of one fisherman at sea, Mr J Mokoena, the owner of the boat had denied that the deceased fisherman had ever been employed on his boat, and that owner had subsequently left South Africa. The family of Mr Mokoena was unaware of the location of his body.
Committee Recommendations
· The DAFF needed to conduct a thorough investigation into all fishing companies, in order to ascertain whether they were ensuring that their workers were working under safe conditions and report back to the committee.
· That DAFF should assist in the locating of Mr Mokoenas body so that he could be given a proper burial.
· The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries should clarify as to who should shoulder the burden of paying for the administrative costs of running the cooperatives.
· The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) should adopt the BEE Codes of Practice in all policies, recognise broad-based transformation initiatives and publish the results of performance review process specific to the current level of transformation in the industry.
· There was a need for clarity on how long a black shareholder needed to invest before he or she could sell their shares or fish quotas.
· There was also a need to address the shortage of certain skills and training within the sector, especially net-making and engineering.
The draft small scale fishing policy should be able to promote socio-economic needs of fishing communities and:
· Ensure sustainable access to fish stocks so as to provide sustainable livelihoods. -
· Recognise that there are more than 2200 current small-scale fishers who employ thousands of people, pay taxes and contribute to local economies of the Northern Cape and Western Cape in particular;
· Protect the fishing rights of small scale fishing quota holders;
· Avoid co-operative structures especially since they have been proven to have failed (eg. SACFC, Kalk Bay Harbour Lights and the Doring Bay pilot co-operative initiative).
· Small scale fishing should enhance food security, alleviate poverty and hunger and develop coastal communities.
· Improve access to markets, terminate corrupt practices, be gender sensitive and support local employment.
· Ensure that fundamental fishing rights are economically viable and not allocated in a way that threatens compliance and sustainability.
· That an entity, formed by mutual agreement between government and the industry, should be set up to manage the fish factory in Port Nolloth. This would have to address the inherent structures that were putting women at a disadvantage and to upgrade the Port Nolloth harbour so that it met safety standards.
· The Group called for a meeting with the Minister at the earliest available opportunity to discuss the recommendations and concerns.
· Small scale fisheries resources must be managed based on co-management and Turf approaches that would also ensure sustainable harvesting and utilisation of resources.
· In order for similar small-scale lobster enterprises to survive, the same compliance criteria must be required of all participants within the WCRL sector.
· The Departments Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) unit must strengthen its monitoring tools with regard to adherence to fisheries laws.
· The MCM must ensure that transformation was a condition of the quota allocation, thereby giving a guarantee on issues of employment equity and shared trust.
· The MCM should make proper employment of sea-going fishermen and seasonal workers a condition of the quota allocation thereby ensuring quality of jobs and job security. MCM was also asked to make the payment of a living wage as another condition of the quota allocation, to address the exploitation that was rampant in the industry.
· The Entities responsible for harbours should come together and fix the habours in South Africa.
Report to be considered
[1] Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 2011. Strategic Plan 2011/12 to 2014/15
[d1] Dont understand, they want to increase or decrease the TAC??? Need the submission. Which allowances?
[d2] Why? What are the reasons for this?
[d3] Compensation from whom?
[d4] What is the relationship with Coastal Links, who are they???
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