SUID-AFRIKAANSE VEREENIGDE VISSERS
FRONT
SOUTH AFRICAN UNITED FISHING FRONT
“UNITY IS STRENGTH”
/ “EENDRAG MAAK MAG”
MEMORANDUM
TO : The Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism
CC : TETA (maritime chamber)
CC : Department of Labour
SUBJECT : THE RIGHTS ALLOCATIONS PROCESS and RELATED ISSUES
The South African United Fishing Front, on
behalf of it’s members, wishes to express it’s extreme dissatisfaction with the
processes which were followed in the allocation of long term rights in the
fishing industry. Our membership cuts
across many sectors in the fishing industry from small quota holders to boat
owners and crew in the traditional line fish sector. We have registered members in most fishing
villages and fishing communities which includes Doringbaai, Elandsbaai,
Laingville, The Cove, Paternoster, Saldanha Bay, Vredenburg, Langebaan,
Yzerfontein, Mamre and Atlantis on the West Coast to Central Cape Town and
further south to Betty’s Bay, Kleinmond, Hawston, Mount Pleasant, Zwelihle,
Hermanus, Stanford, Gansbaai, Blompark, Masakhane, Pearly Beach,
Buffeljagsbaai, Struisbaai and Arniston.
The
devastating impact brought about by this process is evident in most of our
fishing villages and communities. Abject
poverty being the order of the day and unprecedented levels of alcohol and substance
abuse brought on by the high unemployment rate is ravaging these once peaceful
and tranquil communities. The continued financial burdens (in the form of levies,
permits and monitoring systems) being placed on the small boat industry on
those who have acquired rights further threatens the income of those who still
have access to the marine resources as these rights holders must now question
the economic viability of these rights.
The failure
of this process to reach it’s intended target, being the bona fide fisherman
and traditional fishing communities, must be addressed in a most serious light given
the fact that entire fishing communities are being torn apart at their
very core. The imminent collapse of
these social structures is indicative of oppressive behaviour (by MCM) and our
communities should therefore enjoy the guaranteed protection of the
Constitution of the
We use this
opportunity to raise these issues, which we consider to have had the most
devastating impact on the industry :
We cannot
accept the outcome of this process as too many bona fide fishermen have been
excluded and in particular the traditional fisherman and traditional fishing
communities whose entire existence is dependant upon the marine resources. We further reject this process because of the
deliberate exclusion of fishermen and fishing communities from the verification
process. We draw your attention to the fact
that it was suggested at several imbizos that local fishing communities and
commercial fishing associations should be part of the verification process in
each particular area and/or sector. This
suggestion was also made directly to Minister Marthinus Van
Schalkwyk at the
SOUTH AFRICAN UNITED FISHING FRONT
PROPOSES :
a)
THE IMMEDATE STRUCTURING OF AN
INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION UNIT WHICH MUST BE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS
AND AFFECTED FISHING COMMUNITIES.
b)
WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT REVIEW ALL
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WITH THE AIM OF RIDDING THE INDUSTRY OF THOSE WHO ENTERED
UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.
c)
DEMONSTRATE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE WITH
ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS IN ALL FISHING COMMUNITIES.
d)
CALL UPON THE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT
OF ALL GOVERMENTAL DEPARTMENTS WHO CAN LEND SUPPORT IN EXPIDITING THIS CRITICAL
TASK.
e)
IDENTIFY AND CONFIRM THE BONA FIDE
FISHERMAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WRT THE RIGHTS ALLOCATION
PROCESS.
Results of
the rights allocation process wrt to traditional fishermen and traditional
fishing communities clearly illustrates that this sector of our fishing
community has been grossly overlooked.
Remote fishing villages such as Doringbaai, Elandsbaai, Hondeklipbaai,
Struisbaai and many others who have limited access to other industries have borne
the brunt of the allocations process.
Failure to recognize the cultural and traditional values of these
villages have infringed upon their constitutional rights. This particular sector must be recognized for
their contribution to this country and must be afforded the right to access
marine resources for a sustainable existence.
For generations these men and women have harvested the sea and not once
have they ever threatened the resource.
They have, as matter of fact, protected these resources and have also
for generations acknowledged the value of these resources together with the need
to protect it in order to serve and provide for future generations. It is unfair that the plundering of marine resources
by off-shore companies and inshore poaching should so negatively impact upon
those whom have done nothing less then guard this valuable resource for a
sustainable existence from generation to generation.
SOUTH
AFRICAN UNITED FISHING FRONT PROPOSES :
a)
THAT TRADITIONAL FISHERMEN AND
TRADITIONAL
b)
DUE CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THEIR
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS AND THEIR ACCESS TO OTHER INDUSTRIES
c)
THAT AS A MATTER OF GRAVE URGENCY
ALTERNATE MEANS OF SUSTAINABLE INCOME BE DEVELOPED WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES
d)
THAT ALL THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
BE UPHELD AND THAT THESE COMMUNITIES BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO
THE FISHING INDUSTRY
e)
THAT THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OTHER
SECTORS SUCH AS TOURISM (South Africa’s
attraction lies in it’s showcasing the diversity of it’s cultures and
traditions of which the fishing villages forms an integral part) BE FULLY
ACKNOWLEDGED AND SEEK TO BENEFIT THESE VILLAGES BY DEVELOPING SKILLS AND
INTERGRATING OUR PEOPLE INTO THESE SECTORS.
3
SAUFF & THE VESSEL MONITORING
SYSTEM
We strongly
support the call of the small boat owner in the traditional line fish sector that
the implementation of the VMS be halted until such time that all the relevant
stakeholders or their representatives have been consulted. The financial burden (in addition to levies,
permits and compulsory insurance for crew members, vessel and tow vehicle) that
is being placed on the boat owner has reached unacceptable levels and has
raised the question of whether the traditional line-fish sector is still
economically viable or not. It is our
opinion that those speaking on behalf of the traditional line fish sector do
not represent the majority of individuals involved in this sector and therefore
cannot make decisions on their behalf.
We acknowledge that although boat owners make up a certain percentage of
the traditional line fish sector, the vast majority, who are crew members have
no representation. Our concern stems
from the fact that should boat owners decide to no longer engage in this
sector, this will indeed have a negative impact on crew members and their dependants. It is the view of many boat owners that the
department has not given the necessary attention to factors which influence the
sustainability of this sector. These
include poor catches in 2006, profitable sea-going days, excessive fuel prices,
increases in maintenance costs of boats and outboard motors and much more. To burden the boat owner with more costs, especially
one that benefits the department, is unacceptable and unfair to say the
least.
SOUTH AFRICAN UNITED FISHING FRONT
PROPOSES :
a)
MCM TOGETHER WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES
IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY PLACE MORE EMPHASIS ON THE MONITORING OF VESSELS FROM
A LAUNCHING / LANDING POINT OF VIEW
b)
THAT ACCURATE RECORD KEEPING IE.
LOGBOOKS, LANDING SLIPS ETC ARE MAINTAINED WHEN AND WHEREVER VARIOUS SPECIES
ARE TARGETED
c)
MCM SHOWS GOOD FAITH BY ASSISTING
SMALL BOAT OWNERS IN ACHIEVING COST REDUCTION BY JOINTLY APPROACHING GOVERNMENT
TO ENSURE THAT LEVIES AND TAXES ON FUEL WHICH DO NOT APPLY TO SEA-GOING VESSELS
ARE REMOVED THEREBY MAKING THIS INDUSTRY MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THE CURRENT RIGHT
HOLDERS.
d)
MCM ENSURE THAT THEY IDENTIFY AND
CONSULT THE RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS WHICH COULD HAVE A
FURTHER NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FISHING INDUSTRY.
4
SUSPENSION OF THE TRANSFERENCE OF
TRADITIONAL LINE FISH RIGHTS
The SAUFF
vehemently opposes the transference of traditional line fish rights until such
time that positive identification has been confirmed of those who genuinely
form part of the industry. The
transference of rights would once again impact negatively on the industry as
there are no guarantees that crew members will be in a position to hold onto
their jobs. We do however
support the views of our bona fide right holders that this right is
their only means to successfully retire or withdraw from the industry. Until the real fisherman has been positively
identified the industry will remain exposed to abuse by those who do not belong
in it, being able to transfer these rights to the bona fide fishermen (at exorbitant prices). It is imperative that these individuals be
identified and not be afforded the opportunity to sell a right which did not
belong to them in the first instance.
SOUTH AFRICAN UNITED FISHING FRONT
PROPOSES :
a)
THAT THE TRANSFERENCE OF RIGHTS BE
SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
I.
THE VERIFICATION OF EXISTING RIGHT
HOLDERS AS PER THE VERIFICATION PROCESS SUGGESTED UNDER THE HEADING 1. RIGHTS
VERIFICATION PROCESS OF THIS DOCUMENT
II.
THE ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHT
HOLDERS AS DETERMINED BY THE RELEVANT POLICY SUBJECT TO
b)
THAT BONA FIDE FISHERMEN WHO
ORIGINALLY APPLIED FOR LONG TERM RIGHTS
HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS RE-EVALUATED AND WHERE PROOF OF GENUINE
INVOLVEMENT EXISTS IN THE INDUSTRY, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE GIVEN ACCESS TO
RIGHTS REMOVED FROM FALSE ENTRIES WITHOUT ANY COSTS BEING INCURRED BY THE BONA
FIDE ENTRANT.
c)
THAT ONCE a) & b) ABOVE HAVE
BEEN ACHIEVED RIGHT HOLDERS MUST BE GIVEN THE
d)
THAT THE CRITERIA SET DOWN FOR NEW
APPLICANTS APPLY TO ANY NEW ENTRANT WHO WISHES TO PURCHASE OR TAKE-OVER AN
EXISTING TRADITIONAL LINE FISH RIGHT.
e)
THAT THE INTERESTS OF CREW MEMBERS
ARE ATTENTED TOO IN FULL BEFORE ANY TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TRANSFERENCE OF A
TRADITIONAL LINE FISH RIGHT IS CONCLUDED.
5
SUSPENSION OF GOVERNMENT SPONSORED
TRAINING IN THE SMALL BOAT INDUSTRY
The method
employed in the training of literally thousands of individuals in the small
boat industry can only be described as putting the horse before the cart. This training cost the tax payer millions of
rand and the vast majority of those trained will never be able to utilize this
training in any land based operation.
The fact that the training and medical examinations took place before
the allocations were announced is questionable as once again only a few
benefitted from this exercise ie. doctors and training providers. The SAUFF is no way whatsoever opposed to
skills development but we do have a huge problem when the skills that are
transferred cannot be used in any other sector.
All skills development in the small boat industry including pre-sea
induction training, small boat skills and u25 ton skippers training are
specific to this industry and therefore not transferable to other
industries.
SOUTH AFRICAN UNITED FISHING FRONT
PROPOSES :
a)
ALL TRAINING BE SUSPENDED UNTIL MCM
CAN SUPPLY A RELIABLE DATA BASE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ACQUIRED LONG TERM
RIGHTS
b)
ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS TRAIN ONLY
ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY MCM
c)
THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
(MARITIME CHAMBER) THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATES SUBMISSIONS MADE BY SERVICE
PROVIDERS WITH REGARD TO THE TRAINING OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE
TARGETTED GROUP.
d)
THAT THE ABUSES IN THIS PARTICULAR
SECTOR BE STOPPED AND THAT TRAINING ONLY
As the
SOUTH AFRICAN UNITED FISHING FRONT we seek to engage all governmental
departments and stakeholders in the fishing industry in a manner which would
yield positive results for those most affected by the problems highlighted in
this memorandum.
We seek to
actively participate in matters which have a direct bearing on the welfare of our
members and would prefer to find a constructive and speedy solution to problems
which obviously impacts on the lives of thousands of people in our
country.
WE CAN NO
LONGER SIT BACK AND WATCH, IN ANTICIPATION OF A SOLUTION, HOW OUR FISHING
COMMUNITIES DETERIORATES IN FRONT OF VERY EYES.
AS SOUTH AFRICANS AND AS THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD OUR FISHING COMMUNITIES AND WE OWE IT TO EVERYONE TO
OFFER A FAIR AND JUST PROCESS TO OUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN.
THE SITUATION IN FISHING COMMUNITIES
IS NOTHING SHORT OF A STATE OF
OUR CONTRIBUTION MUST
BE VIEWED IN THE SPIRIT THAT IT IS INTENDED.
WE AIM NOT TOO ENLARGE THE CURRENT CRISIS BY EMPLOYING CONFRONTATIONAL
METHODS BUT RATHER TO ENGAGE IN CONSTRUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE WHICH CAN
FORM THE BASIS FOR THE NECESSARY ACTIONS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THE CURRENT
SITUATION.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN
UNITED FISHING FRONT
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE
VEREENIGDE VISSERS FRONT
7780
Tel : 021
6970621
Email : [email protected]