Proposed Marine Protection Area's To Close Up Shop For Large Pelagic Fisherman

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) are moving forward with the proposed new Marine Protection Areas which is a follow on from the 2011 MPA Project. The majority of the funding for this project will be  provided through the Greentrust (a partnership between WWF and Nedbank).  Additional funds for project co-ordination were provided by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

 The Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) provided data for fisheries effort, catch and bycatch data and data to support ecosystem based management of fisheries. Various other scientists and interested bodies participated with the submission and interpretation of the data collected.  

When SANBI set about the MPA process, they had to select a mechanism to assess the effect of the MPA on industry, and settled on fishing effort per area. It would have made more sense to use actual "Rands and Cents."  The cost effect of effort can be confounded by seasonal changes and species types. A useful example may be found in fishing for Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT). Actual effort on SBT might be low as the fish are only present for a part of the year and in discreet locations. Raw effort data would show that SBT grounds are of low value or "cost".  However, the "Rands and Cents" costs might actually be huge. A parallel can be drawn  at the time of compiling these reports (majority being done during 2011), when the albacore tuna price was much lower than what it is at today's rate (highest rate per kilogram in the history of the South African tuna fishery). The cost of this fishery has more than tripled in comparison to the reports data logged back then.

Other issues that I am not able to understand is how they would propose to close an area to pelagic longline and tuna pole and leave it open to south coast rock lobster or linefishing. South Coast rock lobster traps are set on the bottom of the sea floor. These traps remove south coast rock lobster and some other marine life from the ecosystem and and the effect of dragging a string of pots along the bottom can be notably significant. The large pelagic fishing methods for tuna (longline and pole & line) only effect the upper layer of the ocean, ie the surface and up to 80 fathoms (possibly deeper). The proposed closures are to protect species and their breeding grounds such as the SASSI orange listed kingklip and to provide sanctuaries for species such as the blue shark. Similarly linefish has a list of prescribed species but the mortality on other species is significant. Linefishing techniques involve sending a lure to the bottom and working it up the surface. Most fish species with a swim bladder caught in deeper water and released will have a significant post release mortality. 

These effects that are permitted challenge the rationality of excluding pelagic longlining and pole & line for tuna. It is possible that it was excluded because of a sense that large pelagics takes place on a greater scale then that can be resolve through other mechanisms that are less drastic than a hard MPA.

Should the DEA successfully gazette these MPA's, then this will effectively shut off productive fishing grounds for the tuna fishermen. As the tuna are migratory species, our fishing method for targeting these tunas are to follow the shoals along our coast line for the the limited time of the season that they found to be present. Industry is busy with the consultative process with government challenging their proposal within reason. Needless to say then dealing with government, the wheels turn ever so slowly...

Below is a map indicating the various MPA's proposed by government:

Below is a table showing the offshore biodiversity protection including key objectives, stakeholders & management consideration:

DA Trying To Get Local Governance Of Small Scale Harbors Funded By Government

A short while ago I met with a small contingent including the Large Pelagic SME Association (LPSMEA) who represents a fair amount of harbor users, with the Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Advisory Committee regarding the state of our harbors, or lack thereof. In one of my previous post titled: MK Veterans - Wasting Solution, you can see the state of disrepair whilst it is better documented on the Trawler Heritage website. A brief discussion was had during which the LPSMEA and myself gave adequate explanations providing an absolute understanding of the frustrating situation of the complete lack of control, malicious damage to public property, theft and other crimes, etc to all whom where present. It seems that we were heard and now the Democratic Alliance is well into the process of appealing to the court to have small harbors removed from the portfolio of the Public Works Department. The DA is arguing and motivating that local government should run the harbors instead of Public Works who are based all the way in Pretoria. The local government will in-turn hand the responsibility over to the respective local municipalities. As we speak, Premier Helen Zille and Mayor Patricia De Lille have both stated that the local by-laws and governing policies are being drafted up outlining the governance and should be completed within 6 months time.

The DA's move to have the local harbors included in their local municipalities falls directly within the ANC's and President Zuma's policy Operation Phakisa - Oceans Economy from where the budget has already been approved. The billions of Rands that have been set aside for the small harbors development authority who are to oversea the rehabilitation and upgrading of our harbor infrastructures will fund this. The quantified value of our Exclusive Economic Zone (the EEZ spans some 200 nautical miles parallel to our coastline) and oceans which indicated that oceans around South Africa were estimated to have potential to contribute R54 billion to GDP and an estimated 316 thousand jobs. Further analysis undertaken in 2013, found that nine sectors of South Africa’s ocean economy could generate an estimated GDP contribution of 129 to 177 billion rand by 2033 and double the number of jobs estimated in 2010. This is the motivation and the underling reasoning why the ANC has implemented the results driven approach of Operation Phakisa (Phakisa means "Hurry Up" in Sesotho) which involves setting clear plans and targets, on-going monitoring of progress and making these results public. 

 There has also been a call to privatize the small harbors to become self sustaining and managed. I think the first logical step would be exactly what the DA proposes, then look to privatization. But with privatization comes exclusion and thought must be spared for the historic harbor uses, etc...

As a fellow harbor user I am reliant upon these harbors for my livelihood. Whilst most can agree that we may have some of the most picturesque harbors, below the surface of the Public Work's bandages, much dark festering lurks. I welcome the proposed changed the DA are in the process of fighting for and can't help but wonder what the future will hold.

Below are some photos of the stripped tractor that was used to collect up all the kelp that washed ashore on Hout Bay beach...I saw it again this morning and there is literally barely even the chassis left:

The South African Pilchard Demand

 Since the start of the South African pilchard season which commenced upon receipt of their respective right holder permits from DAFF earlier this year, the season started off slowly with intermittent periods of good catches. With the pilchards (Sardinops Sagax) having little or no presence around the Cape Of Good Hope, the vessels have been in search of the shoals around Mossel Bay and further up the coast with some success.

 With the development of the Mauritius Free Port Development (MFRP), fishing companies have diverted their vessels in favor of the duty / tax free advantage afforded to them by the Mauritian Government instead of docking and discharging in Cape Town with the South African political environment. Adjacent to the seaport of Port Louis, Mauritius's largest port, has developed the largest logistics center in the Indian Ocean. Which offers world-class, cost-effective supply chain solutions through a comprehensive range of equipment and facilities which comply with the highest standards in the industry: EU, HACCP, ISO. Some of the facilities and services on offer are: freight forwarding, customs clearance, transport/ haulage, office rental, dry and cold warehousing, cold storage, container services, dry docking and a seafood hub. The main attraction for vessel owners would be the following:

Zero percent corporate tax,

Preferential markets access (subject to meeting rules of origin requirements)

Exemption from customs duties on all goods imported into the Free Port zones

Free repatriation of profits

Access to offshore banking facilities

Reduced port handling charges for all goods destined for re-export

Hundred per cent foreign ownership

Fifty per cent of re-export value to the local market

 It really makes complete sense for a vessel owner to rather call on Port Luis for discharging and resupply. This is why this destination has seen the majority of the South Africa pilchard bait sales with the likes of MSC shipping the bulk of the volume. The local pilchard bait has been traded around $1350/ mt FOB Cape Town, however some volumes has been sold at $1400/ mt FOB same origin. These prices are looking to drop inline with the competition from Moroccan bait suppliers. Albeit the Moroccan pilchard is a different specie, the South African and Canadian pilchard is in highest demand due to the quality and fat content. However, the vessel owners are now looking to bait their hooks with Canadian herring as a substitute based upon the reports and interest received from the Fijian long liners success. The herring was being  sold around $1120/ mt CFR Port Luis for the 55/65 jumble pack, a few weeks back. The South African bait suppliers have changed their packaging to the 10kg boxes as per some customers request. This is a more efficient way of packing although the presentation and quality is slightly inferior. The 5kg box which has been preferred by some customers increased the suppliers packaging costs and labor time. The local South African tuna pole vessels prefer the 5kg box due to the interleaved finger packing presentation of the pilchards and is less bulky for easier storage on board.

Below on top is the typical 5kg pilchard box:

Above is the 10kg pilchard box: (You will see the difference in presentation of the packed baits)

With the international sardine bait price expected to decrease, the vessels are looking to catch their quotas as soon as possible making full advantage of the bait prices, weather permitting of course. 

Statistically Speaking, 2014 Was Well Below The Gunwale

With the South African tuna season starting off rather slower than anticipated, historically a different picture has been portrayed with this season having only a combined landing of below 200 tons as opposed to previous years average of around 1400 tons for November/ December period. (I do suspect on good authority that this figure is in fact incorrect.)

Bad weather has left the majority of the SA Pole and Line fleet docked in port whilst some of the smaller more economical vessels have chosen to brave the short weather periods with a mixed bag of results. With strong South Easterly winds fetching large South West swells, the opportunities have been restricted to only a 2 to 3 fish-able days before the North Wester picks up sending all vessels in search of their home or nearest port for refuge. This morning the hake long liner Christo Rei snapped her bow lines on the North Mole, Hout Bay in some serious South Easterly gusts, hence why my vessels were discharging today what little catches they had.

The majority of the albacore that has been landed was concentrated in smaller shoals with no sign as of yet of the larger biomass of albacore having been witnessed on the decks. Below is the graph from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries - Research & Development Branch which indicates the albacore tuna catching frequencies on a monthly/ annual basis for a comparative understanding:

So far the 2014/1025 season hasn't had much to show for itself, but this can change within a fortnight as has been experienced in the past. With the smaller volumes keeping the demand up, the albacore price is expected to remain relatively high provided the Rand doesn't strengthen further against the Euro and whilst the New Zealand pole and line season doesn't start. We can expect the decent raw material price to remain at its current level ensuring a welcomed return to the vessels.

The local yellow fin market has been able to consume the quantities landed of the smaller yellow fin (under 30kgs & over 50kgs) due to the irregular weather gaps allowing for the market to rebound in time of the next landings. This will remain so until the rest of the fleet start landing fresh yellow fin. The larger yellow fin (50kgs+) has found some good returns in the American market which does not have a size stipulation unlike the European Union's concerns over mercury.

With this week's maritime forecast being a blow out...the vessels will most likely look to depart on Saturday only. With a select few vessels having had some good landings, the majority of the fleet and exporters remain understandably apprehensive and somewhat nervous. 

The Basin Effect

I recently read an interesting article online which highlights some poignant issues effecting our inshore fish species. I do recommend that you take a few minutes to educate yourself on these issues. For ease of reference I have copied the article here below for you:

‘The Basin Effect’, a common phenomenon that fools us all: Towards an understanding of the

plight of coastal fishes in South Africa

By Dr Nadine A. Strydom and Ms Sandrini Moodley

Zoology Department, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

“The Bountiful Ocean” are words used by poets, artists, early mariners, fisher folk and even 

scientists once upon a time. We have all romanticized about what the ocean has to offer – those 

unseen riches, poised to take our carefully prepared bait, smash our surface plug or get snagged in 

our nets. Advancements in fisheries science have highlighted the fact that we are often under 

misconceptions about what we catch and how many there are out there. 

One of the amazing things about fishermen – whether they are recreational fishermen or 

fishermen by trade – is that they always seem to know where the fish are. This has been a 

characteristic of fishermen for hundreds of years and mostly comes from experience, and 

knowledge of the fishing areas. Fishermen pride themselves in this knowing but herein lies the 

problem. In recent decades, this skill has been replaced by overwhelming improvements in 

technology such as GPS, cellphones, acoustic technology etc. which allow fishermen and fishing 

vessels to detect target species and target fishing areas with pinpoint accuracy. The fact that we as 

fisher folk can figure these things out through ancient knowledge or our fish finder, tells us 

something about fish behavior. It is well known that fish tend to aggregate around structure for 

refuge, areas of high productivity for food or areas of significance for spawning. These are the 

areas that are known to fishermen as the ‘best fishing spots’. 

The fact that fish tend to aggregate in particular areas and that it can be predicted that the fish will 

be present in those areas at specific times of the year, tide state, moon phase, night time etc. also 

leads to a concentration of fishermen in these areas. This characteristic of fish behaviour means 

that fish populations are neither evenly nor randomly distributed through-out the oceans – fish 

have preferences as to the areas they occupy based on many factors such as food resources, 

protection or spawning. This being said, once the preferred habitats of a target species are known, 

it becomes much easier for fishermen to catch that species. Aggregations of fish also make it much 

easier to catch more fish. This makes fishermen very happy and leaves scientists around the world 

gravely concerned. Herewith follows the conundrum. 

In areas of high fish abundance, fishermen need to put in less effort in order to get higher outputs 

of fish than they would in areas of lower abundance. This means that when the catch per unit 

effort (CPUE) is calculated in these areas by scientists trying to manage recreational or commercial 

fisheries, it indicates that relatively low effort was required to gain high catches – ‘there must be 

many fish around’. The CPUE is traditionally used in fisheries science as a measure of fish 

abundance but the number of fish you catch per unit time is also used unknowingly by fishermen 

as a measure of the amount of fish around to catch. However, due to the high concentration of 

the fish in a limited area because of unseen benefits to the fishes to be there, the CPUE value is 

actually inflated. This is known as the ‘Basin Effect’ – the effect of the accumulation of fish in a 

localized area on fishing success. If the same fish population was to be randomly and evenly 

spread over a larger area, the number of fish caught applying the same amount of effort would be 

much less. This presents us with the basis of the misconception.

The elevated CPUE values caused by the Basin Effect leads to overestimations of stock size in the minds of recreational and commercial fishermen, often resulting in escalated quotas, and ultimately unsustainable fishing practices. It is therefore actually very hard to estimate the number of fishes in the sea without biasing our estimates. Most of the information used by fisheries managers around the work is fishery-dependent data – information coming from the fishermen themselves. Recreational and commercial catch records are biased because we know where to find our target species and how to catch them.

Fisheries evidence of this misconception can be found in the case of northern cod (Gadus morhua) 

populations in the Canadian town of Bonavista. In areas of the Bonavista corridor where the fish 

were known to be hyper aggregating (increasing in density while their biomass decreased), the 

CPUE increased between the years of 1980 and 1990. Interestingly, in the region of the corridor 

where the fish were not hyper aggregating, the CPUE decreased during this period. Overall, the 

population was in decline, but the inflated CPUE at the site where the fish were hyper aggregating 

masked this crisis. 

The aggregating behaviour of Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), a deep-sea perch has also 

resulted in a population collapse off Australia. This species was heavily exploited in a fishery in the 

area since the 1970’s. The fish were caught in large numbers and soon the species was showing 

major decline in areas off Tasmania. It was not known at the time that the large numbers caught 

where large proportions of the population that were aggregating to spawn. Overfishing on 

spawning grounds has now left this long-lived, slow growing species highly threatened. These fish 

have been aged to 149 years and in 20 years the population has been reduced to a fraction of 

pristine stock.

Fortunately, once these types of problems were identified in fisheries, scientists could recalculate 

and management strategies were put into place to curb the decline of populations in some cases. 

These included reductions in total allowable catches (TACs) and individually transferable quotas 

(ITQs) to monitor catches and populations sizes, as well as gear restrictions to reduce fishing 

mortality. Less emphasis was placed on CPUE in fisheries management, and more reliable methods 

of assessment such as fishery-independent acoustic surveys were employed to ensure the stability 

of population numbers in these fishes. Unfortunately not all fishing sectors have these safeguards. 

The recreational fishery in South Africa suffers major population declines in recent decades.

The slow growing, late maturing coastal fishes in South Africa face the quagmire of the Basin Effect 

in the minds of their captors. Many of these species are resident in their habitats, some migrate to 

spawn, some gather in large numbers to spawn and many use estuaries as nursery areas. The 

Basin Effect causes major misconceptions amongst fishermen about the abundance of common 

angling fish engaging in aggregating behaviour. This misconception impedes the success of 

education of fishermen on the plight of angling fishes now facing major population collapse off the 

South African coastline. Many shore anglers ignore fishing regulations deeming them an 

unnecessary nuisance. Many anglers believe they cannot do damage with a rod and line and often 

pass the blame to the subsistence or offshore sector – another misconception. The subsistence 

sector is a relatively small component of the fishing force in South Africa targeting coastal species 

and the large fishing fleets of the country don’t have access to the shallow-water species that are 

heavily exploited.

Populations of Baardman, Dageraad, Dusky kob, Englishmen, Galjoen, Garrikc, Geelbek, Redsteenbras, Red Stumpnose, Riverbream, Scotsman, Seventyfour, Silver Kob, Squaretail Kob, White Musselcracker, White Stumpnose and White-edge rockcod are all officially collapsed in 

South Africa. These species are shallow-water, coastal species that are available to the recreational (Rock and Surf or Estuary sectors), ski-boat and subsistence fisheries only. All these 

species grow slowly; reach sexual maturity only after a number of years; have complex biology in 

that many change sex after a number of years; and most are harvested below breeding size. For 

example, Dusky kob reaches sexual maturity at about 1m in size (5-6 years of age); yet fish are 

harvested below this size and are unfortunately regulated as such (Minimum size is 60 cm). Many 

species that undergo sex change, especially late in their lives, are now subject to skewed sex ratios 

in the wild. Poenskop or Black Musselcracker only become male after 18 years of age, now that 

most large individuals are fished out, the population is mainly female dominated and these too are 

harvested with such pressure that few live long enough to change sex and become males. Many 

species are legally harvested at size of sexual maturity (White Musselcracker) yet their population 

status suffers the same fate as the kob. Shear harvesting pressure dictates their population status. 

All these species suffer the consequences of the Basin Effect by virtue of spawning behavior, 

feeding strategies, migration, estuary nursery use or reef residency. They aggregate and their 

young are trapped in the ‘safe refuge’ of estuary nurseries, a fishing hotspot around South Africa. 

The problems are multifaceted but fishermen behaviour and fish behavior are at the core of the 

problem. 

The only solution is angler education and government legislation in support. A ban of all kob catch 

retention is long known by fish biologists as the only solution to save this species from local 

extinction off South Africa. How well received would such a ruling be? Firstly, would it be 

supported amongst the various fishing sectors in South Africa and secondly, would it be enforced 

in South Africa given the extent of enforcement issues affecting our marine resources. The only 

solution in the interim is angler education and higher penalties for the illegal trade in recreational

fish species. Recent fish poaching along the entire South African coast by members of the 

recreational sector who sell to restaurants and overseas markets has become an epidemic and 

exacerbates the problem. In the Eastern Cape, perpetrators who fish under recreational permits 

are also known abalone poachers with convictions or pending cases against them. Marine 

resource crimes coupled with the general lack of education in resource users is decimating coastal 

fishes in South Africa.

Know your species, know its vulnerabilities but use the knowledge to understand how you have 

been misled and fish responsibly. Report environmental crimes against fish. Name and shame 

wrong-doers in public forums like Facebook & fishing sites. We don’t want them amongst us. Fish 

ethically and maybe your grandchildren will also have fishing stories about the same species to 

share with you in the future. 

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! 

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.

We, The People’s DDG Support Group Striking….A Pose/Protest

Not too long ago in a land far far away…actually in Hout Bay which at times can be considered just that, there was a mighty gathering of concerned citizens. At a glance from over the magical mountain in the picturesque valley all did not appear well. The humble citizens were up in arms over the recent axing of their savior, a one Desmond Stevens.

At 10 am one good morning after having offloaded the hake long liner, Valhalla there was an almighty commotion at the entrance to the harbor. Ten taxis had systematically with military precision managed to block the entrance.  The number plates were all from CAM - Caledon & Kleinmond, Cape Province. It seems that the event organisers arranged a “protest for hire” when all the concerned citizens filed out the taxis and gathered along Harbor Road to dance, shout, scream and do all things necessary and ancillary for a good ol toi toi. Fashioning their ANC flags and Zuma T shirts, the mob was well and truly adequately dressed. But were they? The message being broadcast aloud by the bull horn was that of a conflicting story of how the ruling party mustn't turn their backs and ignore this small law abiding community and the pending promises. While the hired help seemed to go about their business of toi toing, the community who were actually up in arms at this stage soon realised their embarrassing mistake and soon the ANC flags were dropped and ushered to the rear.  The reasons for this formal gathering of sorts was to voice their disapproval of the axing of their comrade Desmond Stevens, who promised the local community an avenue for which to voice their opinions to actively engaged the Department. Well you see, it turns out that they were requesting free quotas I mean, how much more perlemoen and crayfish do you want unlevied i.e. free? Anyways, as a historical fishing community they are ENTITLED to free quotas to go forth and do as their father’s father’s you name it had done and actively fish...according to the long grey haired rusta with the bull horn.

What a fantastic idea and concept?! If this is the case then why am I not ENTITLED to half of Cape Town Harbor? My Great Great Grandfather was the original port’s captain/ harbor master. Surely I should be allowed to claim half of the V&A Waterfront? With the sands of time comes about change and with change (expedited for those of the previously disadvantaged) since 1994, those who were ENTITLED enough got their own whilst the gettings good? When will the statutes of limitation end here?

To add to the general over all convoluted concept of this gathering, the langaanas arrived and joined in on the action to protest as they want to enforce that a portion of all hake landed in this harbor is to be sold to the “locals.” The problem with this is that due to the ANC granting quotas to their choms and comrades in South Western Township, there are those who merely catch the quotas for their holders who are land locked. As is the case with the Valhalla, they are merely vessel owners and don’t have a single kilogram of hake to their names. The right holder can insist as to where the hake is to sold and offloaded too which is the case with some. So as much as I support their particular cause, we would like to sell hake to the informal non vat registered cash traders, but alas we have to obey the wishes of our comrades.

Meanwhile stuck and stranded inside the confines of the harbor fence were numerous trucks and bakkies laden with fresh fish of all sorts including an airfreight cargo truck collecting tuna to be hastily hauled to the airport to meet the respective deadline for export. But just like this truck stood idle, so did the various tour operator buses and vans who with their international tourists were forced in having their Cape Peninsula Tour cut short. In fact one particular tour operator had to have transported the tourists to the airport to meet their flight check in time of 3 pm… needless to say I’m sure they were upset to say the least.

So with the bull horn being passed around like the proverbial hot potato, the messages were becoming even more confusing so I took it upon myself to investigate this inconvenience. In doing so I managed to retrieve a flyer that was being passed through car windows of passer byes. A copy of the flyer is here below for you to read further, but to summarise it for you it contains the following:

Due to the white controlled media, the murmurings, rumours and “white noise” ultimately cost Desmond his position. I wonder if they have ever heard of one Dr. Igbal Surve and a little concern of his called Sekunjalo Independent Media Consortium (SIM)? This ANC stalwart is the majority shareholder of The Independent News Papers who recently at will axes editor’s and senior staff, etc who portrays himself, his company and the ANC in any bad light or disrepute. So not sure who needs to check up on their facts here but I guess the author of the flyer needs Google to clarify his “white noise comment.”

But what I found interesting and a point that warrants further investigating is why Inspector Levie had locked the rear harbour entrance (closest to Snookies)? Needless to say, Tina Joemat-Pettersen didn't arrive as requested by the DDG Support Group who were by now becoming more tired than restless and promptly at 4 pm the taxis loaded their paying fare and departed the scene. Community policing did nothing but stare and pose for the local journalists. Only the hard working small to medium businesses were affected here and if I hadn't written about this then I too probably would have forgotten about that day in a place over the hill far far away when my day was wasted.

Dear Editor...Traditional Line Fishery, Uncontrolled Beast or Cash Cow?

I came across this letter which from what I can tell hasn't made its way onto paper yet and proves to be a very insightful perspective on the line fishery, in general. I had to clean up the language a little but I feel the point is still adequately presented.

Dear Editor,

This fishery is grossly mismanaged in terms of its resource demographics. The department through blatant ignorance has allowed this industry to grow into an uncontrollable beast.

One of the effort controlling factors, vessel size, and the departments lack of economic viability studies is in actual fact its greatest downfall.

The latest outcry of line fishers to the improper allocation should be a wake up call to all managing this industry. Not only to the departmental clowns but also to all the right holders that have ridden this fat cow for years, raped the resources, reaped the benefits and stand around crying because they cant get organized and refuse to adhere to legislation or at the very least try change it. (Read all about the issues surrounding the towing of the line fisher's ski boats in my previous blog titled: Somehow Towing The Line...I mean Boat.)

How does the line fishery make money? How do you do this? Simple.... catch more fish than anyone else. So the guy with the biggest, fastest boat with the most crew fundamentally makes the most, yes…. Not anymore.

The fleet has reached critical mass in terms of vessel size. A large portion of operators now own 25 to 28 foot vessels that seems to be the boundary of where they are prepared to illegally tow and what can be accommodated in the harbors. So know they are forced lie later and later in the day to do volume. This hinders the small entrepreneur and small scale subsistence fisher as the fish prices fall to stupidly low prices where the small boats up to 6 man, cannot even cover there expenses.

The hawkers love it! WHY…? On any given day when there is ok fish, the first few boats get R25 to R30 for 500 fish, the middle boats just cover their day at R20 and hey presto the fat cats come in with 1000 and 2000 and flood the market down to R15. Then all you need is the one or two hawkers that intimidate the show and that price can drop to R10. What chance does the poor single engine guy have… Absolutely nothing at all …. Giving him a right to fish a 4 man or 5 man boat or permit is like an oasis mirage in the desert. Sounds good, looks good but not worth it at all.

Why are hawkers up in arms, SIMPLE… check the revenue from snoek…. When last did you buy a snoek at under R35? Friends of mine regularly pay up to R70 off bakkies… Granted there is high spoilage but someones making big bucks …. Its time the snoek industry owns up and comes clean, its no use hiding behind the skirts of the poor fisherman of the traditional line fishery.

Why do you think the crews are up in arms…. That guy that spent his whole pension made it easy for me, I didn’t have a care in the world except get to a harbor, I buy R200's worth of  tackle and I get half of what I catch. On a day that can be nothing…. Yes but generally in the order of R500 to R1000 per day. Never mind the days when we get the “geluk” where salaries are as high as R2000 per day when some of the tougher guys take risks and force the elements.

On  a typical snoek run in ST Helena that lasts 6 weeks, moderate operators catch over 1000 fish a day at R20. Crewmen earn up to R1000 per day plus “fries” up to 10 that they sell at R30. Paints a different picture doesn’t it? The odd idiot that complains about this arrangement is exactly what I described him as. For nearly no investment or responsibility a motivated crewman can easily pocket R80 000 to R100 000 in cash a year, TAX FREE. This also free him up to do odd jobs now and again as so many do.

The line fishery, the fat cash cow with its uncontrolled salary structures in alliance with uncontrolled poaching and interim relief … has been instrumental in the decimation of tuna pole crews and loss of skills in this sector. Why its simply easier to go fish 2 to 3 days a week make substantial tax free salary and sit at home waiting for your crayfish money than actually go to sea for a week and work for it.

Do youreslf a quick check on these figures. Take any one of the ten top line fish boats that regularly catches over 1000 fish a day in St Helena Bay, (I omitted the vessel names that were specifically mentioned here) …. And see if they are VAT registered or if the pay PAYE or workmen's compensation. Maybe  one. The reality of a snoek run just here, regardless of all the rest is as follows: 30 000 fish at R20 turns over R600 000.

Wages for 10 guys is easily up to R25000 per man in a month to 6 weeks. All cash. This is boosted by snoek runs that are shorter but no less intense in Lamberts Bay,  Cape Point and Hout Bay. The yellow tail runs once  a year at the point and Struis also contribute. Last year the snoek fleet arrived en mass in Struis Baai and totally upset the market there. In the first week we had 4 sea days where almost all the boats averaged between 1.5 and 4 tons a day. One of the vessels figures showed 8 tons, actual not the bullshit submitted in the catch returns which at that stage constituted R160 000  in four days. Crew's take home pay was up to R10 000 for the week for the better guys.

I would conservatively say that the top end operators are turning over in excess of R 1.5 million a year and are not declaring it correctly. What they do is they only declare their half of the catch, not the crews half… which is incorrect as the  law clearly stipulates that the right has the authority to sell fish and not the crew. Hence the right owner is responsible for all the sales turnover. The right holders maintain that the crew are contractors, but from a SARS perspective maintains that there is an implied relationship hence the right holder is responsible for taxation. Its lucky that this is a free for all and cash business where there is almost no way to track money and you can declare what you like as is the case with their DAFF catch returns. (How nice would this be if the tuna pole sector was allowed this luxury?)

It would be interesting to see what would happen if SARS applied itself to this industry, not just the boats but the hawkers also and see what comes out. For an industry that has a blatant disregard for so many legislations, it does seem to be crying poor mouth for all the wrong reasons. I mean how can the Department, DA and ANC actually classify the line fishery as  a subsistence type business. Some of these guys actually, really not maybe, turn over double the average tuna pole vessel. Yet its convenient to be labeled traditional line fishery because you pay next to nothing for levies and actually get sympathy when you cry about it. But its time to stand up and be counted for what you actually are.

Its time somebody woke up and smelt the coffee. Snoek and yellow tail are healthy vibrant resources that need to be managed outside of the traditional line fishery. One of correctly regulated will remain a healthy resource that will provide food security to many low income groups the other is a money spinner in terms of export revenue. The yellow tail targeted by the line fishery is an absolute waste of this resource ….with the exception of a few, the snoek fleet is its worst enemy. In the volumes they land the fish in a short space of time, it becomes a poor quality product resulting in poor returns and a drive to fish “quantity as opposed to quality” as the vessels are just not the suitable tools for this resource in terms of generating sufficient revenue to ensure maximum profitability or return from this resource.

It is far better left coastal communities and the tuna pole fleet to catch. Firstly the numbers locally landed by coastal communities will remain small and retain its value in the local market. Landed in the tuna pole fleet as fresh exports the value adding is substantial. Someone just has to get the imported yellow tail taxed to an extent that its landed cost stay at R30 to ensure the sustainability  of the coastal communities catching plans.

The tuna pole fleet has been trying for 8 years to get the yellow tail back as a legitimate target resource but to no avail as some incompetent idiots at Sea Fisheries actually believes all the nonsense about the line fishery being absolutely dependent on it. The tuna pole fishery gets told that historically(from blue books) they are not dependent on it. Yet the line fishery is. Its just that some of the older right holders were skimming the system and know the department wants to punish all because of the mistakes of those before, ABSOLUTE Nonsense. In all due respect, the line fishery needs to be properly investigated and the rot removed. I agree it is an employer, but at whose expense. The tuna pole fleet is suffering due to the growth of this sector. One that continues to grow regardless of current legislation in other areas. The crews on these very boats were traditionally the backbone of the tuna pole and freezer boat fleet. The tuna pole fishery is also a hand line fishery and is severely dependent on this skill. Good line fisherman  are simply the best pole fisherman. It is notable that the tuna pole fleet lost many of its top South African crews to line fishing boats in earlier years.

For all the good reasons the line fishery was split to prevent over fishing of reef species in ecologically sensitive areas. Hence we then had the traditional line fishery and the tuna pole fleet. The tuna pole fleet due to its inadequate resources, due to its loss of yellow tail and inability to have multi species or sector involvement nearly collapsed. One of the contributing factors was the constant crying of the traditional line fishery as to the effects reinstatement of yellow tail there would negatively affect itself.

Surely by this time it seems relevant to realize that the line fishery needs segregation to accommodate proper growth. Many line fishers would be better suited in a small freezer boat. ( Sounds almost like the tuna pole industry)This in terms of adherence to road ordinance and generally the nature of what they do. It may not suit the adrenalin junkies that need 400hp on a plank to feel like a man, but would definitely stimulate the struggling boat building economy and legalize many operations. The spin off is that these vessels are also suitable for tuna operations. Bear in mind that the department penalizes tuna pole operators for snoek fishing??? How dumb, they should be rewarded for there efforts to keep their business afloat when the yellow tail resource is being raped by another industry that is undeserving due to its general floating of countless legislation.

My suggestions to form part of the control of this section of the industry:

• 1.        Segregate the linefishery. All traditional type vessels to be area bound and resident resources in these areas to be for locals only as suggested or alluded to in the DA plan
• 2.        Ski boats under 6m be community bound and only for community projects
• 3.        Rationalize the snoek industry and form a sector on its own or make it subservient to the tuna pole industry ALLow tuna access with a Olympic TAC for this section of the sector.
• 4.        Effectively assist there transformation in accordance to the road ordinance Acts. Place a monitorium on all vessel upgrades over 7,5m or vessels and trailers with combined GVM of 3500kg.
• 5.        SAMSA to dictate terms of vessel building guidelines to prevent larger vessel being unsuitably built to meet the above requirements and endangering crew.
• 6.        Scrap any operation that cannot comply with road ordinance with financial assistance from the government. In so doing facilitate transition to Tuna Pole  industry.
• 7.        Properly evaluate the tuna pole industries resource needs in accordance to skills and economic viability.
• 8.        Facilitate a sector that facilitates snoek, yellowtail(reasonably capped in terms of TAC to prevent overfishing ) and tuna as these species are reliant on the same skills.
• 9.        Remove current yellowtail restrictions on tuna pole vessels outside the contiguous Zone. Implement an Olympic system TAC for yellow tail for the line fishery and tuna pole fisheries within the South African EEZ.

This may seem like the ramblings of an old man but they are actually the experience of an entrepreneur trying to abide by the law getting dead ended because some bureaucratic idiot isn’t dynamic enough to realize that the system they have is dysfunctional at so many levels that it cannot cope with the economic requirements of a modern fishing fleet that is dependent on mobility and or international markets to ensure profitability.

….Sometimes I wonder if DAFF’s ears are actually connected to there brains? In this comment I humbly apologize to the few that do go out there way to help as far as they can….

As far as the right holder being on board, it is absolute crap. It is nice to picture this in the line fishery but where the value adding is concerned, IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE and an unrealistic requirement for the snoek fishery that can have up to 20 consecutive fishing days without rest! The department needs to find a more realistic means of ensuring the right people get allocated rights in terms of utilization.

On a lighter note, our friend Desmond Stephens has been fired as acting DDG as of the 28th of February. It must be commented that his reign at the helm could be considered controversial and even catastrophic. Let's see who will be appointed to right this floundered ship?