Win for fishermen as fishing rights reinstated

THE fishing community and political parties have welcomed the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's decision to reduce the number of small-scale fishing boats with rights from 547 to 77, following several pleas and appeals.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA [e-mail]

Dr Wynand Boshoff, Freedom Front Plus chief spokesperson for Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, expressed joy for the West Coast fishermen who have regained their right to fish.

“This rectifies a mistake that should never have occurred in the first place,” said Boshoff, adding that this rectification is the result of “numerous letters, sustained pressure and a formal appeal process.”

He explained that fishermen were plunged into uncertainty for months by departmental decisions severely restricting their access to traditional line-fishing rights, which impacted income and also food security, local economic activity, and the dignity of fishing families who depend on the sea for survival.