Policy on the Allocation and Management of Commercial Fishing Rights in the Seaweed Fishery; 2015 (No. 1135 of 2015).

This Policy sets out objectives, criteria and considerations that will guide the designated authority the allocation, evaluation, and management of fishing rights in Seaweed Fishery. The objectives and principles of allocating fishing rights in the Fishery are set out in section 2 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (MLRA). One of the objectives of the Policy is to promote transformation through allocation of fishing rights to entities owned and/or controlled by historically disadvantaged persons which shall include designated groups (youth, women and people with disabilities), and to broaden meaningful participation in a fishery (through increased participation, sharing value-creation opportunities and profits, and forging links). Only persons issued with permits in terms of the MLRA may harvest seaweed, transport seaweed harvest from a landing site to the permitted Fish Processing Establishment (FPE) and export seaweed harvest and products thereof. Matters dealt with in this Policy include: granting of fishing rights (only South African persons); duration of right; Total Allowable Catch (TAC) or Total Applied Effort (TAE); transfer of rights allocated in terms of this policy; multi-sector involvement; participation in the fishing industry of Historically Disadvantaged Individuals; criteria for applicants; evaluation of historical fishing performance of applicants who have held fishing rights in the seaweed fishery; ecosystem approach to fisheries; observer programme; local economic development.