West Coast fishers protest reduced lobster quotas despite promised catch increase

Small-scale fishers along the West Coast are concerned about their livelihoods after receiving reduced quotas for West Coast rock lobster from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

A forum representing more than one thousand West Coast fishers says the department issued fishers with erroneous permits, while calls for clarity have fallen on deaf ears.

The confusion comes a few months after former DFFE Minister Dion George announced that the crayfish Total Allowable Catch would increase by fifty-eight percent.

Port Nolloth fisherman Walter Steenkamp said the department has put fisher folk along the West Coast in a difficult position during the festive season.

“This year there were lots of complaints from fishers because things were not issued correctly from the department. Some of the co-operatives got less than the amount they had last year. So how can you make a livelihood out of that?”

Steenkamp said severalWest Coast co-operatives received lower quotas, while there were significant increases for the commercial sector and some other small-scale co-operatives.

“There must be more… they must have double what they have now. Two hundred kilograms must be added to what they have now, actually.”

A forum representing more than a thousand West Coast fishers said the reduced quotas have left many struggling to make ends meet.

West Coast Small-Scale Fishers Cooperative Forum chairperson Hilda Adams said several fishers recently received crayfish permits with lower quotas.

She said the permits were issued a few months after former Fisheries Minister Dion George announced a 58% increase in the crayfish quota.

“On the West Coast, fishers received less than they did last year, while commercial lobster operators in the same areas received significant increases.”

Adams said most small-scale fishers along the South Coast did receive higher quotas.

“This effectively strips fishers of their livelihoods and threatens food security across West Coast communities. Small-scale fishers operate with small vessels and limited resources.”

The department has indicated that it will respond to the fishers’ calls for clarity.