Deep-sea trawling body remains strong despite challenges

Review of 2022

SOUTH AFRICA: Despite the prolonged fishing rights allocation process and the fact that the appeals process is ongoing, the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) reports that continued engagement amongst its members as well as with government has helped maintain the body's position in the industry.

SADSTIA released its annual review for 2022 today and reports that the positive trend in the status of both Cape hake stocks have continued and stock assessments indicate that stocks are at levels above maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

The strong performance of the hake resource allowed for a five percent increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) for 2023 and it is likely the TAC for 2024 will be set at the same level, or slightly higher.

SADSTIA, however, has raised concerns about the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's (DFFE) proposal to increase the allocation of hake to the longline fishery by over 50 percent and conducted a study during 2022 to gain a better understanding of the impact of such a decision.

According to the annual report, such a decision would likely reduces annual trawl catches by 4,553 tons and result in a lost of nearly 400 jobs. The association is, therefore, resistant to such a change in allocation and plans to engage with DFFE further in this regard.

Threats to the fishing sector

SADSTIA continues to view the potential of increased oil and gas prospecting and exploration as a threat - and has appointed a service provider to assist with identifying, monitoring and tracking such activities, and responding to threats to the fishing industry.

The campaign to conserve 30 percent of the oceans within protected areas by 2030 is also seen as a potential threat to the fishing industry. SADSTIA was involved in collaborations and debates with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and DFFE to define the boundaries of several new offshore MPAs in 2016, but believes that there has been a "lack of consultation" with the fishing industry more recently.

It is SADSTIA’s position that proposals for new or bigger MPAs must be treated on their merits and should only be supported in cases where the benefits outweigh the costs. SADSTIA’s view is that fisheries management tools offer a better and more effective means to manage fisheries and should be promoted over closed areas that displace rather than reduce fishing effort, and which may result in greater habitat impacts and more incidentally caught bycatch.

Observer programme needs to increase

Having been re-certified by Marine Stewardship Council auditors in June 2022, SADSTIA is cognisant of the requirement to increase observer coverage to 10 percent in the coming years.

During 2022, SADSTIA’s Scientific Committee agreed with their service provider, CapMarine, that the equitable placement of observers was best achieved by each company carrying an observer on at least seven percent of their voyages.

As a result, CapMarine adopted a new annual schedule to facilitate planning for both observer deployments and the impacted companies. This was communicated to rights holders prior to the start of the 2023 fishing season.

SADSTIA membership included 24 companies in 2022.