In a move that has been a very long time coming, small-scale fishers in the Jeffreys Bay/St Francis/Gqeberha region of South Africa, many of whom have worked as poorly paid crew on white-owned boats for decades, are protesting. They have been struggling for their rights for many years. They were told by the Department of Fisheries Forestry and Environment (DFFE) to be prepared to go to sea this time last year, and then this was blocked by SASMIA, the industrial association for commercial squid companies, which put in an appeal to DFFE to overturn the squid resource allocation to small-scale fishers.
After a year of delays and a very slow process of reviewing the appeal, DFFE finally announced last month that they would be allocating 15% of squid TAC (total allowable catch) to the small-scale sector, and that those co-ops who were ready could go to sea on 1 July. This was pushed to Monday 5 July due to bad weather, and there at least 3 or 4 SSF co-ops who are ready with boats and crew to go to sea this Monday. HOWEVER they heard yesterday that SASMIA is lodging another appeal to block the small-scale fishers once again.
This is unbelievable bullying by the commercial sector, who cannot accept the loss of profit that they face if they are finally forced to transform the sector and let the small-scale fishers in. The economic transformation of this sector is may decades overdue, and continues to be blocked by white business interests. DFFE does not stand up to them adequately, as they fear their lawyers and the potential for a costly court case.
So, on Monday, the SSF are calling for all co-ops, their supporters and media to be present at the Gqeberha harbour, to celebrate the historic launching of their boats with them, and to stand up to any potential disruption by SASMIA who might try to prevent them going to sea. It would be important to have a media presence there.
Monday morning the historically disadvantaged SSF fishers will launch their boats in Gqeberha.