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HAVING A FIELD DAY: As part of the initiative, Hit Poverty for a Six, the Protea Legends coached 26 pupils from Ukhanyo Primary in Masiphumelele at the Western Province Cricket Club in Rondebosch on Sunday 16 February. The coaching session was part of the Sasfin Cape Town Sixes, a three-day amateur sports event which started on Friday 14 February. More than 100 teams competed. Read the full story on page 8. PHOTO: STEPHEN BOOTH
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Fishers in financial crisis NETTALIE VILJOEN NETTALIE.VILJOEN@MEDIA24.COM
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hina’s halt on the import of all live and fresh products in January, due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus), has thrown West Coast fishing communities into crisis. Reliant on the income from the export of West Coast Rock Lobster to China (which traditionally purchases up to 95% of the local total allowable catch of 1 084 tons), small scale fishers have seen the international price drop from the usual $30 to $40 per kilogram to a meagre $10 to $20. Shamera Daniels, chair of the West Coast Rock Lobster Association (WCRLA), says that the price was as low as $0 four weeks ago when the association first engaged with the department of environment, forestry
and fisheries (DEFF) on ways to support fishers affected by the dramatic drop. The direct financial loss to rights holders is estimated at R257 million ($17 million). But Daniels says it is suspected the final number will end up being much higher. “This is only what right holders stand to lose. At this stage, we are not able to quantify the losses in income to factory workers and fishermen on the boats.” She explains that WCRLA follows minimum wage requirements. Over and above that, fishermen earn a commission per kilogramme of lobster they pull. “So the less they catch, the less they earn. Then there is the rippling effect it will have on the people working in the packing and processing factories – and the shops in the communities. There is huge concern that the income of fishing communities will be drastically reduced this year,” she warns.
Just over a week ago, DEFF announced that it had extended the West Coast Rock Lobster season “in the hope that those most affected by the current drop in sales, will have time to make up for their losses”. Barbara Creecy, minister of environment, forestry and fisheries, said: “The department is concerned about fishers and communities who have been adversely affected by this unexpected international event. Following consultation with the sector last week, we have decided to extend the nearshore fishery in the Western Cape until June and the Offshore and Northern Cape fisheries until September.” In addition, DEFF allowed the amendment of permit conditions so that fishers in both WCRLA and line fish sectors will be able to land their catch over weekends. The season, which usually stretches over four months, was supposed to close at the
end of March. Daniels explains that the extension gives rights holders leeway in terms of their catching strategy. “They may want to wait a month or two before taking their lobster out of the water to see if anything shifts (on the international front) or they may take the view to get it out of the water now. Some of the factories are freezing the lobster. It is an individual decision.” Daniels says it is difficult to predict what will happen next. She says, unofficially, market sources have indicated that China might lift its halt on imports in three months’ time, but there is no way of knowing for sure. “We are competing with other lobster exporting countries who are now also looking for alternative markets. For example, Australia also usually exports 95% of their catch to China. Supply and demand dictate that the price could go lower.” V Continued on page 2.