Tightened fishing regulations: No pickled fish this Easter?
This year pickled fish may not be possible for many as there might be shortages of this delicacy amidst tightened fishing regulations.
Many South Africans follow a tradition of eating pickled fish or snoek over Easter. The tradition originated in Cape Town. This year, however, this may not be possible for many as there might be shortages of this delicacy amidst tightened fishing regulations.
TIGHTENED REGULATIONS
The Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has tightened regulations on catch limits for small-scale fishers. In addition, traditional fishers are experiencing delays in permit processing and reductions in permitted boats, according to Biz Community.
More recently, the DFFE enlisted the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to inspect fishing vessels. This sparked concerns among fishers along the West Coast about meeting the demand for snoek over the Easter weekend.
Maria Welcome, spokesperson for environmental society organisation Green Connection, said fishers along the West Coast were struggling with quotas to meet the demands of fish supply. “Snoek migration starts a cultural ritual that has been practiced for as long as fishers can remember. Eager consumers of snoek and partakers in the Easter weekend fish rituals and delicacies should be warned – the shelves and pantries may be empty this year,” she said.
AFFECTED FISHERMEN
Welcome said that the government informed many of the 62 newly formed fisheries co-operatives who only received their rights recently, of quota cuts. For many, this meant that more than half of their fishers will not be able to go to sea to catch snoek or any other traditional line fish.
A small-scale fisherman from Port Nolloth, Walter Steenkamp, expressed his disagreement with the situation. He said that the government is trying to cut them out of the fishing industry, according to IOL. “We’re trying to make a business. The government must try to bring co-management in so that we can negotiate and sit around one table and put the regulations and everything on the table. We are suffering as small-scale fisheries. This government doesn’t care for us,” said Steenkamp.
ALSO READ: Zuma loses court bid to remove Billy Downer from corruption trial