More consultation on the table for rock lobster poaching strategy

DFFE presents progress on poaching reduction strategy

SOUTH AFRICA: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) plans to undertake further consultation to achieve support for the West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) poaching reduction strategy which includes a co-management structure, a system to regulate marketers and capacity building within the small scale sectors as well as monitoring and control teams.

The DFFE presented feedback to the parliamentary consultative committee yesterday on the current status of the strategy as well as the planned interventions.

Now 19 months since the Minister asked the Consultative Advisory Forum (CAF) to review the fishery and develop recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the WCRL fishery, the feedback delivered five recommendations following nine meetings.

Recommendations:

1 DFFE should co-develop and implement a WCRL poaching reduction strategy.

PROGRESS: The WCRL enforcement strategy has been developed and approved by the DDG, but is said to require further consultation with stakeholders and a workshop will be organised to this effect.

2 An integrated socio-economic study needs to be undertaken in parallel with the strategy development.

PROGRESS: The Branch is in the process of developing terms of reference for the study and aims to complete the study prior to the planned stakeholder workshop.

3 A co-management approach needs to be implemented, particularly in the small-scale sector, and the immediate implementation of a more participatory approach needs to be piloted.

PROGRESS: DFFE has invited the small-scale sector to participate in the Scientific and Management Working Groups and has met with the WCRL Industry Association to discuss improving representation. In addition, the Oceans and Coasts Branch intends to establish co-management structures once the allocation of fishing rights in the Western Cape have been finalised.

4 DFFE needs to collaborate with the World Wildlife forum (WWF) and other stakeholders to develop a WCRL Fisheries Improvement Programme.

PROGRESS: This programme is due to be presented at a stakeholder workshop.

5 Fishing communities must receive fair benefits along the entire value chain. This will require capacity building and mechanisms to support regulation of marketers.

PROGRESS: Terms of reference on how the strategy will be implemented define the objectives and outline the responsibilities. They indicate available and required resources, contributing to communities benefiting along the entire value chain through regulation of marketers.

Since the development of the Anti-Poaching Strategy, DFFE has initiated criminal proceedings against two companies involved in illegal exports of WCRL for illegally exporting more than 14 tonnes of live WCRL. They report that further cases are likely to be registered.

In addition, mechanisms to support the regulation of exporters and marketers are due to be implemented and DFFE is undertaking measures to ensure that WCRL communities benefit fairly from the sale of the species.