Welcome reprieve for commercial fishermen
Those who have lost their commercial fishing rights can continue to operate until the end of April.
COMMERCIAL fishermen whose fishing rights were not renewed have earned a reprieve.
They will be relieved to know that the appeals period has been extended. This year, only 593 of the 3 490 applications for fishing rights, across all sectors, were approved by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
A number of local fishermen, some of whom have built up successful commercial fishing enterprises over many years, were among the thousands countrywide who were not allocated fishing rights towards the end of last year. In effect, this meant they had lost their livelihoods.
Fisheries minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has announced the extension of the appeals period for completed fishing rights allocations until the end of April. Those who have had their fishing rights taken away will be allowed to continue to fish until then.
