Can Understand?

During the late eighteenth century, when Napoleon's army suffered a terrible famine whilst waging war in their Russian campaign, the emperor offered a reward to anyone who can present a method to keep food in a good state for a longer period of time, convinced that "hosts win better fed."

This is when a French chef, Nicolas Appert, discovered entirely empirically, that he could preserve food for several years simply by heating it for a period of time in sealed containers. Appert placed vegetables and soups in glass containers sealed with cork and wax which once boiled became preserved. Thus, in 1810, Nicolas won the emperor’s reward of 12 000 francs and was awarded the prize of "Benefactor of Humanity." Nicolas Appert published the first modern preserved cook book titled: L'Art de conserver les substances animales et végétales (The Art of Preserving Animal and Vegetable Substances) In honour of Appert, the preservation of food is also referred to as "appertización" and was thus the birth of the industrial conservation and preservation of food technology invented.

                                                 

Above is Nicolas Appert's Glass Canning Jar

The news of "appertización" only arrived in Spain in 1840 with the shipwreck of a French sailing vessel off Cape Finisterre... and in less than a year the first fish cannery in Spain was built. By 1900 the frying of foods preserved by steaming is replaced, which significantly lowered the manufacturing process, popularized worldwide the "system of Spanish cooking," which marked the access of all social classes to affordable and quality foods.

At the time of the discovery by Appert, glass containers were used, but later in 1810 Englishman Peter Durand, began using tin cans instead of glass which drastically reduced the effect of light and thus preventing deterioration of the vitamin content. The tin can allowed for a greater nutritional value of preservation which was widely made use by the British Navy & Army and reached the Americas in 1822. 

Then followed numerous improvements with the packaging technology mainly the development of printed cases and stacking cans that facilitated distribution and sales. In the 1940's, during the course of World War II, given the scarcity of tin, the aluminium industry began manufacturing cans for packaging. This constitutes a technological revolution in the canning industry. The reduced weight aluminium cans ensures a greater reduction in oxidation and sulfurization which in turn is not transmitted into the preserved product as easily. Aluminium also allows great versatility of shapes and sizes with a glossy attractive and neat finish to facilitate its handling. Aluminium is an abundant metal in the earth's crust, whose manufacturing process consumes little power and is also infinitely recyclable. 

Although tin is resistant to corrosion, certain foods with a high level of acidity can cause dissolution of element tin into the preserved product. Thus the canning industry began layering the inside of cans with an epoxy coating to prevent the contents from coming into contact with the tin. Modern day cans contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) in their lining which is a harmful toxic chemical compound found in plastic. 

The story of preservation and canning is an interesting one which without would have influenced the fishing industry to a great extent.

The State Of Your Tuna Fishery

The International Sustainable Seafood Foundation (ISSF) recently published online a downloadable technical report outlining the current health of our 23 commercial global tuna stocks titled: The Status of the Stocks. The report provides a comprehensive summary of the recent scientific stock assessments as well as the current management measures implemented by the respective Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO's). The methodology behind the rationale of this report revolves around these three key main factors: Abundance, Exploitation/Management (fishing mortality) and Environmental Impact (bycatch).  

In 2012 the global total catch of the 23 commercial tuna stocks was 4.6 million tons with skipjack tuna accounting for a total catch of 56% of this volume. Whilst the total yellow fin and albacore are 28% and 6% only. Whilst these are large volumes, it is proposed that globally 52% of the tuna stocks are in a healthy level of abundance, 39% are overfished and 9% are at an intermediate level. In terms of exploitation, 43.5% of the stocks are experiencing a low fishing mortality rate, 17.4% are experiencing overfishing, and 39.1% have a high fishing mortality that is being managed adequately.

When viewed from the point of view of total catch, 86% of the catch comes from healthy stocks. This is due to the fact that skipjack stocks contribute more than one half of the global catch of tunas, and they are all in a healthy situation due to their high fecundity rate. In contrast, most bluefin stocks and 2 out of 6 albacore stocks are overfished, but combined they make a relatively small fraction of the total catch.

A foreign vessel offloads its catch of tuna:

There are three main albacore tuna stocks in the Atlantic Ocean ICCAT area namely: North Atlantic, South Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Albacore catches in the South Atlantic increased 2% in 2012 (24,600 tons) from the previous year. Long linging accounts for 67% of this and 26% for Pole and Line. In 2012, the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was set to 24 600 tons with a Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) at 25 200 tons. Due to the respective scientific advice and recommendations, the TAC for 2013 was reduced to 24 000 tons by the RFMO ICCAT. The Pole & Line review notes the lack of information regarding the impact the live bait vessels inflict upon the small pelagics and therefore could possibly be upgraded in the future with adequate data collection.

Currently South Africa has a quota allocation of 4 400 tons only. Previously South Africa and Namibia had a sharing scheme but last year's ICCAT meeting it was generally voted to be split thereby Namibia's quota will be set at 3 600 tons. With the recent figures circulating around the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF), South Africa should reach and succeed our quota before the end of this year. This has major implications and repercussions with the most noticeable being a reduction in our quota by the volume of what was over caught for the 2016 season. (the quota will remain 4 400 tons for the 2015 season)

South Africa who has the second largest albacore quota (Chinese Taipei has been allocated 9 400 tons) will have to approach the other South Atlantic fishing nations and request additional quota from them should we exceed our limit. 

Blessing Our Fleet's Heritage

With this year's Blessing Of The Fleet taking place on during the weekend of the 40th week being so close to the public holiday Heritage Day and Heritage Month, one cant help but embrace this theme for this is exactly what this festival embraces. The Blessing of the Fleet festival once again took place at the V&A Waterfront with a great attendance of both the Portuguese and other fishermen's families over the course of a hot weekend. With last season's catches having improved substantially, it is no wonder this year had an even better participation. The tuna pole fleet this past season have mostly all managed to catch decent volumes albeit nothing of the years gone by, but nonetheless a few more smiles have been seen along the quays. Who knows, maybe this year will be even better than the last? Here's hoping.

The only real major issues this off season was that of the slipways and their lack of availability. With Cape Town syncro lift having been closed for maintenance and with Hout Bay's main slip being broken, there weren't too many options available for the vessel owners. This has created an unwanted amount of tension and back log. Furthermore, there were some strike action on the Hout Bay slip, although this was denied by DAFF. This same slipway has been out of commission for a few months now. Not sure how long you need to repair a slip but then I think of all those jokes about "how many people does it take to screw in a light bulb?" Perhaps this is a clear indication that it is time for the slipway in Hout Bay should be privatized?

Secondly, SAMSA have been more vigilant this season and have been checking and enforcing the qualifications of each vessel's crew. We had to send our officers on the fire fighting, first aid courses again which is a good thing. I suspect this is due to the fact that SAMSA is currently reviewing our industry's safe manning requirements and have thus issued you with 2 certificates, namely; Safe Manning Document and now also the Advisory Safe Manning Document which outlines what you will be required to crew with the respective competence in the near future. This is all in accordance with SAMSA's initiative to align the current South African manning compliment with that of the International Maritime Organisation's recommendations. This is to ensure that we conform with the international standard especially for those vessels operating with the high seas command.

So as is this time of the year that all the vessels are receiving their preparations and diligent attention  in respect of the surveys that they will undergo to be shipshape for the up and coming pending season. The harbor is abuzz with contractors working under the ever so vigilant eye of the owners and skippers. We have seen the fleet undergo a large amount of maintenance and plank work in preparation for this years arrival of the tuna.

Staying with the heritage theme... I came across a very informative and interesting website called Trawler Heritage. The author of this site who has dedicated this effort to his late dad, has insightful information and comments regarding the fishing vessels both past and present that operate along our coast. His comments regarding each vessel which he has an extensive collection of photos published on this site, are pretty accurate. He has even noticed the color schemes changing on some of the vessels this year. If you are a vessel owner then I suggest that you take a look on his website as he probably has your vessel's history logged. He has gone into great details and effort to keep his pictures and information current and has subsequently received an international ward. Kudos to him and all who have provided assistance. The website provides a great source of information regarding our fishing heritage, harbor infrastructure and general industry news. A good read for those interested and it seems to be updated regularly.

Pictured above in Hout Bay, is three of the former S.A. Sea Products vessels now in the tuna pole sector moored alongside each other namely from left to right; "Hangberg," "Sneeuberg" & "Constantiaberg," while a fourth sister vessel the "Barbara W" which moored directly in front of them has now sunk. At present all four vessels have different owners, and were used as crayfish boats in days gone by. This picture and caption are from their website for your information. (www.trawlerheritage.co.za)

With this year's blessings having been bestowed, all that remains is for the patient arrival of the tuna. Good luck to all and may this season be better than the last.

The B-BBEE Net Tightens Around Fishing Sector:

Many folk who actually paid attention or managed to stay compos mentis took away different understandings and perceived visions regarding President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address delivered to Parliament on June 17^th. I’m referring in particular to the following extract below written for and on his behalf:

“We will sharpen the implementation of the amended Broad-based Economic Empowerment Act and the Employment Equity Act, in order to transform the ownership, management and control of the economy. We will promote more employee and community share ownership schemes and boost the participation of black entrepreneurs in the re-industrialisation of the economy.”

The various government departments have already begun to include B-BBEE compliance as a requirement for licensing procedures and incentive schemes alike. This is nothing new to the fishing right holders and vessel owners who have been forced to comply for some years already. The clause that has me perturbed in particular is in the interpretation of Notice 27 and Notice 28 of 2014 published in the Government Gazette of 21 January 2014, pertaining to the import and export of specified agricultural foodstuffs and flowers, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has included a valid B-BBEE certificate as one of the application requirements for being issued with a new export and import permit… My fish export company has recently renewed 2 of our export permits and this was not a requirement, yet. It will also need to be established if this will be the department’s intention to implement this and also whether they will be requiring the minimum B-BBEE compliance or if they will (as they have done in the past) enforce a higher level of compliance? This ultimately means that the export and marketing companies will now have to become B-BBEE compliant or lose their export/import permits. It’s almost becoming easier and more viable for me to buy tuna in Namibia and export it from my Cape Town office!

To make matters worse is the fact that as per the Liquor Amendment Regulations 2013 published in the Government Gazette of December 3^rd, 2013 the Department of Trade and Industry is now requiring liquor license applicants to submit a valid B-BBEE compliance certificate in order to renew their permits. I’m not sure how many restaurants and bars will be forth willing to comply? It looks like I might have to move my office to Lüderitz. Prost! 

Fishing Sector To Join National " Strike Season"

With a recent letter addressed to the newly appointed fisheries minister from the COSATU (Congress Of South African Trade Unions)   Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, one cant help but wonder whats on the agenda. It was apparently clear with Marius Fransman's engagement and drive for ANC votes from the small local fishing communities that they would continue to press further ahead after showing some improvement with votes accrued.

With the drive by the unions to become more involved in the fishing sector as mentioned by Tony, this past week saw the first of what we expect to be many more altercations and loud discussions with crew employed on one of our hake long liners. The entire crew have joined a small union and have upon affiliation become increasingly more difficult. Needless to say the entire crew received written letters of warning (the first of its kind ever issued from our company) to all the crew for all and any transgressions noted.

With our Government/ Department of Labor looking to to implement the national standardization of wages in the fishing sector a year or so back, I wonder why it has taken the Unions so long to wake up. Standardization of commission wages would only provide a monthly security of a wage however they would ultimately end up earning less and paying more taxes or see the fishing vessels becoming increasingly tied up (fed up) and not being able to operate due to increased operational costs. The Department of Labor needs to realize that their fellow Governmental Departments are far ahead at increasing operational costs with the electricity hike that run the ice makers, the increased diesel price that powers the engines and of course the fees and levies billed by the Fisheries Department. The vessel owners are being squashed and forced to save every cent with operational costs continuing to increase.

I'm not quite sure what the unions will do apart from the annual strike (annual leave) that their members will be forced to participate in or be press ganged into joining or face some sort of wrath of the participants, most likely for higher wages, free dental and housing allowance (its not an allowance if you are demanding it free). The truth is the level of education of the fishers is some what lacking and to be honest most fish out of necessity and not by choice. With this in mind, the crews aboard our vessel will look for every opportunity to permanently borrow anything of some remote value. For an illustrated example, last month I caught one particular crew member (lets call him Jack) stealing 2x10kg boxes of pike bait, literally red handed with the cash in hand during the exchange of goods. Needless to say Jack was dismissed on the very spot. Two weeks later we received a summons to appear in the CCMA. That very crew member Jack had taken us to court over an unfair dismissal and sought compensation of R50k. The judge laughed the matter off and in the end only time was wasted. However, we were advised to issue written warnings to all crew members for contraventions and keep the on file for that rainy day at the CCMA.

I wish the unions the very best of luck as this is the mentality of who will represented.

Bheki... Bring Home n Stukkie Vis

The household of our former disgraced national police commissioner Bheki Cele will be having more fish on his dinner plate if his missus has anything to do with it. The former commissioner who was infamously removed from his post after a formal inquiry into his corrupt lease tendering with his comrade Roux Shabangu found him guilty, now has washed up as a deputy minister. Quite surprising that the board found him unfit for office and yet even after this he has now ended up as the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing portfolio's deputy minister where he will fit in quite nicely with his "chest in and stomach out." Zuma has rewarded him for his delay tactics surrounding the Nkandla ranch and I'm pretty sure that his missus will now be looking up traditional fish recipes and perfecting her batter and chip frying.

With ol Tina heading off to meddle with another portfolio (the Energy portfolio this time) she did apparently admit that she made more funds available for trade and research and subsequently has left with her head held up high. I guess she has to considering that she is of the opinion that her sh*t don't stink. I wish all concerned in her new portfolio the very best of luck...you're going to need it. Zuma has yet to realize that this decision will increase the price of candles, lion matches and paraffin,  which will be at an all time high shortly when she settles in... 

So the mess that was and is the 2013FRAP process will be left to Bheki, his cowboy stetson hat and his senior, the South African Communist party chairperson Senzeni Zokwana. He is also the President of the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) and started out as a mine shaft steward back in 84. I'm sure he's had his fair share of maasbanker up there and shouldn't be too rash in making his mind up about fish until he's enjoyed the tender delectable fillets of kingklip. His auntie will probably deep fry it to enhance the flavor, but each to their own I guess.

Jokes aside, these two will have their hands full sifting through all the fish meal left behind by Tina and we can only wish them both the very best of luck. It obviously remains to be seen how they will tackle the 2013FRAP debacle.

Step Aside, Not Set Aside Tina

With the recent news regarding Tina Joemat-Pettersson's decision to have the Fishing Rights Allocation Process (2013 FRAP) outcomes set aside is a welcomed one. At a first glance it would be evidently clear that she was merely biding her time to secure the ANC votes and only announced her decision until after the outcome of our general and national elections. She did this to ensure that those who benefited (refer to my "choms and comrades" in previous blogs to understand about whom I am referring to) voted for the ruling party. Now that that farce is a thing of the past its business as usual (yawn - different year, same synopsis, same characters- its almost like a sitcom series that should have ended a while ago but the plot evolves to such an extent where everyone has jumped into bed with each other and now also their offspring [Bold And The Beautiful].)

So with votes cast and tallied, Tina has now set aside the entire process after an audit that she commissioned. Industry is still awaiting news from DAFF as to what exactly is the due process and steps that would need to be followed and complied with? Needless to say it is a step in the right direction after having stepped on those hardworking taxpayers who have and run legitimate businesses that DAFF saw unfit to award a fishing right? With their 2013/2014 season now having missed out on the best fishing (January/ February), they now find themselves scratching their heads in amazement that after all this they would have barely have gotten themselves out of the red. Should they have not been grounded by this unfair process, they would have been business as usual but rather now they could potentially find themselves in a situation where financial assistance might be necessary in order for them to survive the winter months.

But my issue is rather one concerning foresight and the whole consultative process with industry. Those long drawn out yes sir no sir meetings, albeit in the end rather fruitless were all in vein. If DAFF had noted all of industry's concerns regarding the process then possibly needless to say this whole debacle could have been avoided?

Secondly my issue further extends to the fact that numerous boat owners have been forced by DAFF's actions to resort to catching agreements and have had to pay a catching fee to a paper right holder providing income to those comrades of mine. Does the minister intend on setting those catching fees aside and refunding the average Joe Fisherman? Then also don't get me started on those missed tonnages during January and February as previously mentioned! 

So with DAFF now having to revert to ye old drawing board, industry is left waiting for the official announcement regarding the interim relief.