Dti pumps R11m into fisheries industry

In a bid to create a viable and sustainable fisheries industry in the West Coast region, the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will pump more than R11 million into the sector through its Fishing Cluster Project. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, says the main goal of the Fishing Cluster Project is to put in place a comprehensive package of support measures in order to create jobs and income-generating opportunities. As part of the Fishing Cluster Project, Minister Davies and member of parliament, Freddy Adams, last week handed over fishing boats to the value of R1.6 million to the fishing co-operatives of Ocean View and Masiphumelele, Cape Town. "Ocean View is part of the Fishing Cluster Project which is based on the study that was commissioned by the department for the support of the Small Scale Fisheries. Thus far we have funded 39 co-operatives to the tune of more than R11 million,” said Davies. The Minister said that the provision had enabled the co-operatives to have the much-needed asset and capital base to begin trading competitively on the cost and quality of their daily catch.