Mo Kajee, Managing Director of Premier Fishing representing three Associations

- the South African Deep Sea Trawling Industry Association ("SADSTIA"),

- the South East Coast Industrial Fishing Association ("SECIFA") and

- the Port of Cape Town Fishing Industry Association ("POCTFIA")

These three associations account for approx. 80% of all fishing activities within SA ports.

The fishing industry supports the objectives of the National Ports Authority bill. We do not suggest any fundamental changes to the bill, but believe that certain unintended consequences flow from the proposed Sections 57 and 67.

A substantial part of the SA fishing industry has no choice but to locate in ports, rather than harbours and require land linkage at the land/sea interface. The industry leases property in ports and has spent R260 million on improvements on this leasehold property.

Operating fleets of fishing vessels comprises many marine activities- have to happen immediately and on the quay because turnaround time so short. This necessarily implies the leasing of substantial fixed property within port confines.

Our current leases permit 29 different licensable maritime and marine support activities. It would be reasonable to class fishing as a single activity together with all its necessary port activities for license purposes- otherwise industry members may have to apply for 29 licences, in addition to fishing rights.

Advocate Ismail Jamie (SC) will address the Committee in the legal aspects.