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:

With Department of Fisheries Closed Its Not Such A Merry Time For All!!!

As of now the fishing industry has yet to receive a response from the Fisheries Department and as it currently stands, all tuna pole vessels will have to be in port no later than midnight of the 31st of December. The Fresh Tuna Exporters Association sent the Department of Fisheries a legal letter from our lawyers for a request within grounds stipulated in the Marine Living Resource Act motivating for for the extension of all current permits until the end of January 2014. This extension will allow sufficient time for the department to pulls its finger out of what ever orifice it currently has it stuck up and roll out the rights allocation in line with the FRAP 2013. Despite the ever wise Minister guaranteeing that all rights will be allocated no later than the 31st of December, they have not been able to even respond to formal letters sent by industry such as the letter from the FTEA addressed to the minister below:

We will have to see what their official response will be on Monday upon their opening but I wouldn't dare hold my breath. The below article by John Yeld was extracted from the Cape Times and highlights the extent of this issue:

Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ Incompetence Prevents Fishing

 As of today, the decisions in the Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP) 2013 have not yet been handed down and notified to the public. Given that existing rights expire on 31 December 2013 this is a cause of great concern for many right holders as they will have to return to port and cease fishing operations. To date no clarity has been given by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) on an exact date when applicants can expect decisions, however, DAFF has reiterated its undertaking that rights will be allocated and applicant’s notified of decisions before midnight on 31 December 2013. This does not help as the vessels will have to remain berthed in ports until the rights can be issued and paid for.

It is anticipated that if DAFF complies with its undertaking, that successful applicants will be advised of the decision to allocate them a right along with rules to govern the dispensation that will allow them to continue their fishing operations. To date DAFF has provided no clarity as to how it intends to allow for the seamless transition from the expiry of the long term rights period to the new rights period without interrupting critical fishing operations. If no guidance is provided by DAFF or no special dispensation is created (which is envisaged) then in terms of the MLRA successful applicants will not be entitled to commence fishing operations in 2014 until they hold a valid catching permit for 2014.

The Letter below is from the Fresh Tuna Exporters Association addressed to DAFF and from which we have still not received a positive response.

Our concern at this stage is that the longer the publication of decisions takes the less time it allows successful applicants to obtain permits. We have been advised by Customer Services at DAFF that their offices close on Tuesday, 24 December 2013 at 10h00 and will reopen on Thursday, 2 January 2014 at 8h30. This effectively means the successful applicants will not be able to apply for permits if the decision on applications is made or publicised any later than 10h00 on this coming Tuesday morning.

Dawson and Edwards have advised that concerned applicants submit a letter to DAFF on Monday or Tuesday morning, prior to closing of the Customer Services Centre, applying to the Minister for an exemption in terms of Section 81 of the Marine Living Resources Act. This exemption application would be a request by existing right holder applicants to continue their fishing operations in January or until such time as they are issued with a valid 2014 catching permit by DAFF without a right or a valid catching permit. As things currently stand rumors suggest that unsuccessful long term rights holding applicants will not be permitted to continue fishing between the period of the notification of the delegated authority’s decision and the finalization of the appeal by the Minister. This would, of course, have disastrous effects for the businesses of any unsuccessful applicants and could well destroy existing businesses.

  

Currently the entire fleet is at sea and are unaware of these issues and it has been up to the respective tuna associations to apply on their behalf for the the extension. With the past 2-3 years of tuna fishing having been disastrous, the impacts of the grounding of the fleet would have extreme consequences on the local fishermen and their families. With the recent good run of tuna catches, the lack of understanding and urgency from DAFF is very worrying. The minister has assured that rights will be issued before the end of the year, but not even the amount payable by successful applicants has been gazetted yet. Basically, even if you are awarded a right, the government doesn't know how much you would need to pay for it. 

Merry Xmas DAFF