In a historic breakthrough for the Western Cape’s ocean economy, small-scale fishermen have been granted access to rock lobster for the 2019/20 West Coast season.
This follows a series of workshops with fishing communities in the Western Cape culminating in the decision taken by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy.
Creecy said there was a general call to allow small-scale fishermen access to the lobster season.
She added that it was imperative for these fishermen to be granted access while they were still waiting for their 15-year fishing rights to be allocated.
Concerns were also raised about so-called caretaker interests exploiting fishers.
“It’s for this reason that in preparation for the West Coast rock lobster season, there will be no caretakers,” Creecy said.
The minister added that all fishermen would be required to sign a letter of authorisation drafted by her department for the 2019/2020 fishing season.
