Additional relief for abalone right holders

4 May 2010

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries approved an additional R6 million as part of abalone social relief for commercial abalone right holders and crew, pending the finalisation of the process for the conditional lifting of the suspension of the commercial harvesting of wild abalone.

“Government has carefully considered the pleas made by abalone right holders for additional relief measures and we remain concerned about their plight, especially in the context of dwindling wild abalone stocks,” Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said.

Minister Joemat-Pettersson said that the relief is only a short-term measure or ‘stop gap’ to address the plight of the fishers and their families and it is not sustainable in the long-term. Minister Joemat-Pettersson pointed out that other alternative sources of fish resources will be explored for coastal communities and fishing companies. The minister made this observation because the current wild abalone stocks even with temporary suspension of harvesting will not lead to full recovery to meet the current demand.

Recognising the reality of fast declining wild abalone stocks as indicated above, Minister Joemat-Pettersson further indicated that the response from government to address the problem embraces a developmental approach to ensure that poor coastal and fishing communities, who have been dependent on wild stocks for their livelihoods are lifted from conditions of hardship and poverty.

Minister Joemat-Pettersson further indicated that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is in the process of developing policies that will ensure the implementation of programmes to create sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities to mitigate against declining wild fisheries resources. In her budget speech Minister Joemat-Pettersson announced that aquaculture development will receive greater attention from DAFF as it has the potential to increase our fish stocks and also create the much needed jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for the traditionally fishing coastal communities.

The interim relief payments will be effected as from Friday, 7 May 2010 and will be processed by the department.

“No service provider will be involved in the facilitation of payments to ensure that every single cent reaches the intended beneficiaries,” the minister said.

Enquiries:

Tsotso Sehoole
Tel: 012 319 7317
Cell: 083 265 8728
E-mail: HCM@daff.gov.za

Carol Moses:

Tel: 021 4023448
Cell: 0828293917
E-mail: cmoses@deat.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
4 May 2010