Cape City – Forestry, Fisheries and the Setting Minister Willie Aucamp has upheld the appeals submitted by small-scale fishing cooperatives within the Conventional Linefish and West Coast Rock Lobster sectors for the 2026/2027 season.
Minister Aucamp made the announcement throughout a media briefing on Friday, 6 March 2026.
Some small-scale fishers and associates have been in attendance.
The Division of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Setting said that this determination restores confidence within the appeals course of and marks an necessary step towards strengthening the connection between small-scale fishing communities and the federal government.
“I need to emphasise that the issuing of those selections in such a brief timeframe is phenomenal in nature, however was not taken frivolously,” Minister Aucam mentioned.
“I thought of all of the info that I had earlier than me and wanted to make sure that every attraction is processed completely, lawfully, and in a fashion that displays the division’s dedication to equity, accountability, and the sustainable use of South Africa’s marine assets.”
For about 16 years, small-scale fishers within the Conventional Linefish sector have been in a position to fish utilizing these 297 vessels as a part of the Interim Aid system.
When the division undertook the method of formalising the Interim Aid vessels into the Whole Allowable Effort (TAE), through the allocation of small-scale fishing rights, these 297 commonplace vessels continued to be allotted to the small-scale cooperatives.
“Nonetheless, for the 2026/2027 fishing season, these vessels weren’t accommodated, leaving many small-scale fishing cooperatives with far fewer vessels to function with,” defined the division.
“After reviewing the related laws, the scientific foundation for TAE controls, and the historic reliance of small-scale communities on the Conventional Linefish vessels, the Minister has reinstated all 297 commonplace vessels into the TAE allocation for small-scale fishers for the 2026/2027 season.”
Within the interim, the Delegated Authority has issued exemptions to permit the small-scale fishers to proceed working whereas they’re given sufficient alternative to use for his or her new 2026/2027 permits.
The Minister additionally introduced his determination on the West Coast Rock Lobster appeals.
These appeals got here after some fishing cooperatives obtained smaller allocations than they’d in earlier years, regardless of the general quota of West Coast Rock Lobster rising after the distribution of the Whole Allowable Catch (TAC) for the 2025/2026 season.
On this occasion, the Minister has upheld the appeals relating to the discrepancies within the distribution of the TAC.
Moreover, the Minister has requested the Delegated Authority to re-do the calculations for the person cooperatives, and this will probably be carried out by Tuesday and won’t compromise the fishing means of the fishers.
The season has additionally been prolonged by one month (from 4 months to 5 months).
Becoming a member of Minister Aucamp through the media briefing, Hilda Adams of Mamre Fishing Main Cooperatives and Chairperson of the West Coast Fishers Discussion board, thanked Minister Aucamp and expressed appreciation for the way during which the matter was dealt with.
“We’re very proud of the timelines for the outcomes of those appeals,” mentioned Adams.
“We’re additionally wanting ahead to additional stakeholder engagements on all issues affecting our livelihoods and socio-economic circumstances, in addition to our custodianship, particularly as somebody who was born right into a fisher household.”
Faez Poggenpoel, fifth-generation fisher below the Kalk Bay Main Cooperative, additionally joined the media briefing.
“This sort of determination is unprecedented; we’ve by no means seen any such motion,” he mentioned.
“To guard our livelihood, to guard our cultural id and to make sure that not solely 297 vessels can fish, however for those who multiply that by 10 crew, that’s over 15 000 direct dependents that will have been affected by this.”
Minister Aucamp additionally introduced a sequence of follow-up engagements with small-scale fishers ranging from 01 April 2026.
He invited all small-scale fishers to attend these engagements primarily based on the particular points affecting them, promising frank however structured, constructive discussions.
Minister Aucamp concluded by emphasising the necessity for these selections to steadiness the necessity for equitable entry, historic redress, and neighborhood wellbeing with the division’s accountability to make sure the long-term sustainability of South Africa’s marine assets.
The division said that it’ll proceed working carefully with fishing communities to make sure truthful implementation and stability over the approaching season.
