South African Small-Scale Fishers Voice Discontent Over Linefish TAE Allocation

The Masifundise Development Trust, advocate for small-scale fishers in South Africa, has publicly contested the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's (DFFE) allocation of the Traditional Linefish Total Allowable Efforts (TAE) for the 2024–2025 fishing season. These allocations, considered a lifeline for many coastal communities, are crucial in determining how many boats can be deployed to sustain livelihoods and local economies while preserving fish stock health.

Recently announced TAE figures show a disparity favoring commercial fishing entities, leaving small-scale fishers with a paltry share: only 17.3% for Western and Northern Cape regions, 18.7% for the Eastern Cape, and 11.7% for KwaZulu-Natal.

Given the historical struggle of small-scale fishers – battling marginalization, criminalization, and exclusion – the current allocation serves as far less than a remedial measure. Program Manager Carmen Mannarino from the Trust illustrates the insufficiency of the allocations for cooperatives that operate more than seven thousand recognized fishing vessels. An average of five to six boats per cooperative, amidst 64 cooperatives, is far from sufficient for sustaining their communities, she argues.

These allocations seem to undermine the strides made in the sector towards equitable resource-sharing and may further entrench the marginalization of small-scale fishers who have relied on the industry for generations. Communities along the South African coast that are already vulnerable might face heightened challenges in achieving food security and local economic development due to what they perceive as an unbalanced allocation process.

The DFFE, however, maintains that the allocated TAEs are grounded in scientific considerations and a management strategy aimed at ensuring sustainable fishing practices. This includes the proportional split among sectors that align with scientific and management guidelines. The goal is to account for and balance the dynamic interplay between environmental sustainability and economic survival, a challenging endeavor.

Since catch data will be compiled across all sectors, including the small-scale and recreational sectors, the DFFE further emphasizes efforts to mitigate the risks posed to linefish stocks by by-catch from trawl, tuna-pole, squid, and hake-handline fisheries. To this end, precise monitoring, reporting, and management are slated to be standard practice.

The Masifundise Development Trust, unappeased by the department's justifications, insists that the allocations fall short of rectifying longstanding inequalities faced by small-scale fishers. They believe that the DFFE's decision might not only perpetuate existing disparities but cause a regression in progress towards fair access to marine resources, especially for those who depend on fishing for their day-to-day survival.

The call from small-scale fishers and their supporting organizations like Masifundise is clear: they seek a more inclusive and fair allocation process that fully acknowledges the socio-economic realities of small-scale fishing communities. Without this, the TAE decision for the upcoming season could be a missed opportunity to support those at the very heart of the South African fishing industry.