Fishermen are thrown a life line

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has granted small-scale commercial fishermen a stay of execution.

She has given unlicensed fishermen an extension on their rights to fish until the end of April.

Briefing the media in Kalk Bay yesterday, Joemat-Pettersson admitted that there were flaws in the process of awarding fishing rights dating back to 2005.

This was because officials processing applications had not taken heritage and indigenous knowledge into account, she said.

Joemat-Pettersson said she had launched an independent audit to ensure that all rights had been allocated in compliance with government policies and legislation.

"I am committed to a clean administration ... If the process is found to be in order we would have lost nothing and gained enormous confidence in the integrity of the rights allocations," she said.

Anglican Bishop Geoff Davies, who was joined by local fishermen outside the venue, said the loss of licences would cost thousands of people their livelihoods.

"This has had a traumatic effect on the community. From the skippers to the scalers, to those who sell fish on the side of the road."

Fisherman Eddie Solomons said while he was pleased with the reprieve, it might be short-lived.

"It's not just going to affect our family, it's going to affect the community. It's tough," he said.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance MP Pieter van Dalen said he was concerned that the minister had chosen to end the appeals process at the end of April.

"I'm concerned this is going to erupt into violent protest a week before the election if people are told to stop fishing. Why didn't she extend it until after the election?"