Research permits are issued under section 83 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998. The DFFE is currently coordinating the application and evaluation process for such permits. All applications are required to be submitted through this structured process, to enable proper and timely evaluation of the applications. The DFFE is cognisant of the dynamic nature of the research environment which may necessitate occasional ad-hoc permit applications. It is requested that such ad-hoc applications be limited only to exceptional circumstances. Applicants are requested to read application information document in full prior to submission of an application, and to refer to the checklist in the application form.

Small scale fishers are an integral part of rural and coastal communities where they reside. They may provide substantial job creation and livelihood opportunities if these fishers and communities are involved in and are part of the entire supply chain and related activities. The department recognises that its and government's role is as facilitator and provider of an enabling environment for job creation through a viable small scale fisheries sector within the larger fisheries management regime in South Africa.

Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic animals and plants, especially fish, shellfish and seaweed in natural or controlled marine or freshwater environments. In South Africa freshwater species include catfish, freshwater crayfish, trout and tilapia. Marine species include finfish, abalone, oysters and mussels. Aquaculture in South Africa is practised in all nine (9) provinces with freshwater production prevalent in inland provinces, while marine production is practised predominantly from four (4) coastal provinces. A total of 195 operational farms were recorded in 2021 for marine and freshwater aquaculture. This included 151 freshwater farms and 44 marine farms. This is a slight decline of six (6) farms compared to 201 farms recorded in 2020.