Small-scale fishers call for feedback from Fisheries Dept over allocation of licences
Small-scale fishers from Port Nolloth and other west coast fishing villages staged protests on Monday, demanding better allocation of fishing rights, before handing over a memorandum to the department.
Picture: Pixabay.com
CAPE TOWN - Small-scale fishers are calling for feedback from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, regarding the allocation of fishing licences.
Small-scale fishers from Port Nolloth and other west coast fishing villages staged protests on Monday, demanding better allocation of fishing rights, before handing over a memorandum to the department.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, said the fishers' concerns were being addressed.
"I am attending to their concerns as much as possible, given that the rights were allocated for a very long period and cannot be changed. I am focusing when I am looking at appeals on ensuring that I can allocate more licenses to the small-scale fishers."
George said the problems related to the allocation of fishing licences were not his fault.
"That process was completed by former Minister [Barbara] Creecy, and there is a lot of unhappiness among the small-scale fishers on the amount allocated."
The fishers said they would wait for feedback from the department before planning their next move.