West Coast activists welcome restoration of almost 300 small-scale fishing vessel permits

Cape Town
Eyewitness News

Eyewitness News

20 April 2026 | 4:36

At the weekend, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Willie Aucamp, along with DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis and other party officials joined small-scale fisheries in St Helena Bay to celebrate the restoration.

West Coast activists welcome restoration of almost 300 small-scale fishing vessel permits

Western Cape Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers in the provincial legislature on 7 April 2025. Picture: @WCProvParl/X

West Coast fishing activists have welcomed the restoration of almost 300 small-scale fishing vessel permits in the traditional linefish sector.

At the weekend, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Willie Aucamp, along with Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill-Lewis and other party officials, joined small-scale fisheries in St Helena Bay to celebrate the restoration.

DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers said the visit included a hands-on visit to the fish processing facility, where officials experienced the work firsthand.

"The restoration of fishing permits is an important step towards protecting their livelihoods and developing opportunities for fishing communities in South Africa."

Article written by Quinton Mtyala. 

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