{"id":1957,"date":"2023-11-21T08:39:27","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T08:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kaapseforum.co.za\/?p=1957"},"modified":"2023-11-21T08:39:34","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T08:39:34","slug":"capes-small-scale-fishers-have-to-catch-lobster-for-starvation-wages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kaapseforum.co.za\/en\/capes-small-scale-fishers-have-to-catch-lobster-for-starvation-wages\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape\u2019s small-scale fishers have to catch lobster for starvation wages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cape Forum urges fairness and equality for small-scale fishers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The civil rights organisation Cape Forum has today, on World Fisheries Day, made an urgent appeal to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment to be fair in determining the total allowable catch (TAC) of West Coast Rock Lobster for small-scale fishers. The United Nations\u2019 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) annually celebrates World Fisheries Day to examine social sustainability and working conditions of workers in the fishing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cape Forum\u2019s appeal stems from the department\u2019s recent announcement of the 2023\/2024 lobster season\u2019s TAC. According to this, small-scale fishers\u2019 TAC for the new West Coast Rock Lobster season has been cut by more than 16%. Small-scale fishers\u2019 permitted nearshore allocation was cut from 93,9 tons to 78,54 tons. The allocation for offshore catch has also been cut from the 69,1 tons that was allowed in the 2022\/2023 season to 57,79 tons for the 2023\/2024 season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConsequently, small-scale fishers will face a West Coast Rock Lobster season where they will be working for a starvation wage,\u201d explains Tommy van Zyl, Coordinator of Cape Forum. The allocation of fishing rights to small-scale fishers, which was finally announced last week after years of delay, is moreover simply a way in which the department wants to appease small-scale fishers. \u201cOn the one hand the department gives, but on the other hand they take food from the fishers\u2019 mouths,\u201d warns Van Zyl. \u201cThe new TACs will imply that many fishers will not be able to continue their work in an economically sustainable manner. In addition, this puts increasing pressure on fishers who are already suffering from serious financial pressure and uncertainty,\u201d emphasises Van Zyl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Zyl maintains that Cape Forum is not indifferent to responsible management of natural resources but believes that small-scale fishers who fish legally are constantly getting the short end of the stick. \u201cIn an industry filled with mega fisheries and illegal fishers, small-scale fishers are trying to make an honourable living, but the department and their so-called facts about the available resources make it quite impossible. There are doubts about the scientific correctness of the department\u2019s research methods in determining resources, but in the meantime small-scale fishers are forced to survive on even smaller TACs,\u201d says Van Zyl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cape Forum also calls on the department to urgently investigate rumours of political interference in the allocation of fishing rights. The process is, according to the civil rights organisation, not transparent and it appears as if political connections play an unfair role in the process, that mega fisheries have an unfair advantage and therefore threaten the existence of small-scale fisheries and their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, Cape Forum calls on the department to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n