EXEMPTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2006
Pending the allocation of long term fishing rights, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has granted exemptions in certain fisheries so that fishing can continue until the final allocations have been announced.
Traditional Linefish
A further exemption has been granted to:
Current holders of medium term rights in the traditional linefish sector who applied for and were granted an exemption valid until 31 January 2006;
Crew who applied for and were granted “exempted crew status” valid until 31 January 2006.
The further exemption is valid until 28 February 2006, or until the date of the announcement of the long term rights allocation in the traditional linefishery, whichever occurs first.
Right holders and “exempted crew” that have not applied for the January 2006 exemption, may still make an application for the further exemption. Applications must be submitted to the Customer Services Centre, 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town.
Hake handline
Legal proceedings were instituted against the Department in 2001 following the hake handline allocation process. A Court Order was granted in terms of which the Department granted an exemption to “A” or “B” permit holders who were in possession of a 1998 letter of exemption and who had applied for, but were not allocated, a medium term right. This Court Order was valid until the court proceedings were finalised. Following the withdrawal of the court proceedings against the Department in 2005, these exemptions granted have expired and are no longer valid.
A further exemption has been granted only to current holders of medium term rights in the hake handline sector who have applied for and were granted an exemption until the end of 31 January 2006 (and not to the above “A” and “B” permit holders).
Medium term right holders that have not applied for the January 2006 exemption, may still make an application for the further exemption. Applications must be submitted to the Customer Services Centre, 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town.
1998 “A”, “B” and “T” Permits
The 1998 exemptions granted to certain “A”, “B” permit holders originally issued under the Sea Fishery Act, No 12 of 1988 have terminated and are no longer valid. The “A”, “B” and “T” permits are not recognised under the Marine Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998. Any fishing undertaken in terms of these permits is unlawful and will be prosecuted.
The Department again advises that only current medium term right holders and exempted crew (in terms of section 18 or section 81 of the Marine Living Resources Act No. 18 of 1998) who have applied for and are in possession of a valid permit may lawfully engage in fishing in the tuna pole, traditional linefish and hake handline sectors.
Squid and Tuna Pole
A further extension has been granted to those medium term right holders in the squid and tuna pole sectors who have applied for and have been granted an exemption for January 2006.
The further exemption is valid until 28 February 2006, or until the date of the announcement of the long term rights allocation, whichever occurs first.
Right holders that have not applied for the January 2006 exemption, may still make an application for the further exemption. Applications must be submitted to the Customer Services Centre, 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town.
West Coast Rock Lobster (Offshore Area 7)
A further exemption will be granted to medium term right holders that:
Return the original exemption granted for January 2006; and
Complete and submit the front page of the January 2006 exemption application form.
The further exemption is valid until 28 February 2006 or until the date of the announcement of the long term rights allocation, whichever occurs first.
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