Small-scale fishing communities in court over fishing rights

12 June 2014 - 11:37 By Sapa
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Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson
Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson

Small-scale fishing communities will have a chance to argue why they should be included in a court matter over fishing rights allocations at the Western Cape High Court on Thursday.

Judge Daniel Dlodlo granted the Masifundise Development Trust, which represents such communities, a chance to argue why they should be included as an intervening party in an ongoing matter.

The main application was launched by the SA Commercial Linefish Association (SACLA) after only 115 previous rights holders were included among 215 new line fishing rights allocated last year.

In the previous allocation period, 450 rights were granted.

SACLA's application is against all 215 fishermen, former Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson and her former acting deputy director general Desmond Stevens.

The association seeks to have the department's decision reviewed. It also wants to have two policies, that were published, reviewed and set aside.

In an affidavit submitted to the court, Masifundise director Mogamad Naseegh Jaffer said the outcome of the main application would have a potential knock-on effect for small-scale fishers.

Masifundise is a non-profit trust that was founded in 1979 and represents previously disadvantaged and traditional fishing communities of the south and west coast of the Western Cape, and coastal villages in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

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