Small-scale fishing organizations in South Africa are rallying for a revision of small-line fish allocations, pressing Minister Barbara Creecy to uphold commitments made to fishers.

The Masifundise Development Trust and Coastal Links claim that current allocations fall significantly short of promises made by Creecy and former Minister Senzeni Zokwana, who pledged 50% of near shore traditional linefish to small-scale fishers.

However, in 2022, over 77% of this allocation went to commercial fishing, leaving small-scale fishers in the lurch.

Despite recent progress, including the allocation of fishing rights to 62 cooperatives comprising 3,850 small-scale fishers, challenges persist. These rights, valid for 15 years, resulted from a protracted battle and were officially declared on November 15.

Yet, complaints about the 2016-2019 rights allocation process led to a court review in 2021, causing delays. In the recent round, 93% of applicants were granted rights, but concerns linger about the transparency of allocation criteria.

The fishing communities are demanding inclusion in decision-making processes, transparency in allocation criteria, and support programs to enhance their capacity and infrastructure.

Minister Creecy has mandated the Consultative Advisory Forum to provide additional support to the small-scale sector, emphasizing collaboration with representatives in scientific and management working groups.

As South Africa navigates these challenges, the importance of fostering fairness in the fishing sector becomes increasingly apparent.