Minister Beverley Schäfer welcomes the adjustment of rock lobster TAC

Minister of Economic Opportunities, Beverley Schäfer, notes the adjusted Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of West Coast Rock Lobster by the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in the lead up to the 2018/19 recreational fishing season which opens on Saturday, 15 December 2018.

The TAC has been reduced from 1924,08 tons in the 2017/18 season, to 1084 tons in the upcoming 2018/19 season, a 43,6% reduction in line with scientific recommendations to preserve natural stock levels and sustain fishing in our province in perpetuity.

Minister Schäfer has stated the following in response to the TAC adjustment: “I am pleased to see that the Department acknowledges and respects a Western Cape High Court judgement which ruled in favour of the World Wildlife Fund obliging DAFF to adhere to scientific advice and adjust the TAC accordingly in the interests of ocean conservation and sustainability. It is vital that we protect our ocean reserves by means of conscious fishing in order to sustain our marine resources and the jobs they create moving forward.”

In the interests of the thousands of jobs already sustained by the small and commercial fishing industries in the Western Cape, and their potential to create further opportunity in our province, Minister Schäfer would like to appeal to DAFF Minister, Senzeni Zokwana, to swiftly investigate and address any allegations of insubordination within his Ministry.

Our province relies on DAFF for an immense amount of economic activity in the fishing sector, and I trust that Minister Zokwana will take earnestly and seriously any allegation levelled against his fisheries officials.

Moving forward, Minister Schäfer welcomes Minister Zokwana’s continuing commitment to effectively governing the Western Cape’s fisheries, and she anticipates a sound and cooperative relationship with this Department in the interests of the residents of the Western Cape. Minister Schäfer remains resolute in her commitment to empowering all three spheres of government to promote and protect the Western Cape’s fisheries for generations to come.