Total of 2 184 fishers in KZN to be declared as small-scale fishers by Minister

The launch is part of the national rollout of the small-scale fisheries sector in South Africa’s coastal provinces in previously disadvantaged or marginalised fishing communities.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, Senzeni Zokwana will on Tuesday launch the Small-Scale Fisheries Sector in KwaZulu-Natal which will see a total of 2 184 fishers in the province being declared as small-scale fishers in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act.

The launch is part of the national rollout of the small-scale fisheries sector in South Africa's coastal provinces in previously disadvantaged or marginalised fishing communities.

The department has been working with the coastal communities in setting up co-operatives, registering them with Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and providing extensive training in fishing and co-operative management.

KwaZulu-Natal is the second province to be launched after the Northern Cape.

The purpose of the event is for the Minister to launch the small-scale fisheries sector in the province by declaring small-scale fishing co-operatives by handing over the co-operative certificates to 29 registered co-operatives, with over 2000 members from communities located in the greater KZN area to be allocated 15-year fishing rights.

During the event, Zokwana will announce the schedule for the rights application and allocation process. He will also announce the support programs for small-scale fishing co-operatives in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government.

The event will take place at KwaMazitapele Sports Ground in Mandeni Municipality, ward 2.

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)