Branch: Fisheries Management

1. Progress on Draft Small Scale Fisheries PolicyPresentation to the Select Committee on Land and Environment14 June 2011 Branch: Fisheries Management

2. Summary How far are we in terms of the policy development process? Implementation dates and costing Initiatives to empower black South Africans to partake in the fisheries activities and enterprises along the entire value chain

3. How far are we in terms of the policy development process? Incorporation of comments from the public comment process Outline for comments response report has been drafted Scope of work includes drafting of implementation plans; Department will cost implementation plans; NEDLAC process initiated and draft policy presented; NEDLAC task team constituted, but scheduled meetings postponed due to delay in appointment of the service provider to assist in finalising policy; Road Map revised and shifted by two months; Once comments are captured & policy revised, will be finalised in NEDLAC

4. Implementation Date Implementation will follow after the incorporation of comments and the NEDLAC process – to be completed by the end of December 2011. Final policy, implementation plan and costing to be submitted to Minister and Cabinet. Negotiations with commercial right holders to obtain support for the implementation of the policy through NEDLAC process and at the management working groups. In parallell, department will implement pilot projects in Northern and Eastern Cape to test the policy implementation and proposed structures. Thereafter it will be extended to all parts of the coast where feasible.

5. The way in which current initiatives in the sector empower black South Africans to partake in the fisheries activities and enterprises along the entire value chain The draft small-scale fisheries policy proposes a shift away from past management approaches to one which: • emphasizes a community orientation • allocates fishing rights to legal entities established by small-scale fishing communities • establishes mechanisms and structures for community-based harvesting and managing marine living resources • gives preference to fishers and communities that can demonstrate historical involvement and use of traditional fishing practices • encourages approach of the relative advantages of the small-scale fishing sector to environmental sustainability, energy use and labour intensiveness • recognizes the importance of developing and empowering small-scale fishing communities

6. SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES SUPPORT AND INSTITUTIONS Draft policy proposes that a strategy be developed for building capacity within the small-scale fishing sector and for implementing customised training programmes (through the Department of Labour and SETAs). The current and immediate capacity building support is through Expanded Public Works Programmes, community resource monitoring, and decentralization of departmental functions (Environmental Officers and Fisheries Extension Workers), roll out of fishing exemptions and setting up local structures for interaction on local issues. Furthermore, fisheries support, institution, funding models and marketing is outlined in the Small Scale Fisheries policy. Collaboration with other Departments and the Directorate; Land Settlement and Education, Training and Extension Services will assist in providing more and efficient support to the fishers.

7. SUPPLY CHAIN FROM CATCH TO MARKETS The Draft Small-Scale Fisheries Policy proposes various mechanisms to assist small-scale fishing communities to add value to the marine living resources that they harvest: • Subsidy schemes for fish storage. This could be in the form of financial support for storage facilities and ice machines. This is already being implemented through a WFF project, in 12 fishing harbours. • Skills training in processing, packaging, marketing and basic business skills such as finance management, human resource management and logistics. • Subsidy schemes for establishing locally based and owned marketing companies. • South African label of certification for fish products caught by small-scale fishing communities in an environmentally friendly manner

8. SMALL SCALE FISHERIES SUPPORT AND INSTITUTIONS The draft Small Scale Fisheries policy proposes that a strategy be developed for building capacity within the small-scale fishing sector and for implementing customised training programmes (through the Department of Labour and SETA’s). The current and immediate capacity building support is through Expanded Public Works Programmes, community resource monitoring, and decentralization of departmental functions (Environmental Officers and Fisheries Extension Workers), rollout of fishing exemptions and setting up local structures for interaction on local issues. Furthermore, fisheries support, institutions, funding models and marketing is outlined in the Small Scale Fisheries policy. Collaboration with other Departments and the Directorate; Land Settlement and Education, Training and Extension Services will assist in providing more and efficient support to the fishers.