Following the declaration of small-scale fishers in the Western Cape in 2016, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment and the department received several complaints from fishing communities about the fairness and accuracy of the process followed. The department then decided to launch an audit on the entire process followed in verifying and recognising small-scale fishers in the Western Cape.

The audit findings concluded that the verification process was wholly inadequate, and that the results of the assessments cannot and should not be relied on for any decision-making purpose in terms of the regulations.

Based on the results of the audit report and legal advice, the minister made an application to the Western Cape High Court to review and set aside the process of registration, verification, and declaration of small-scale fishers in the Western Cape. On 31 August 2022, the court reviewed and set aside the 2016 verification, registration, declarations and rights allocations process as per the minister's request.

The court judgement ordered that the applications which were made for the verification and confirmation of small-scale fishers and communities in the Western Cape be remitted to the DFFE and the minister for decision. Considering the court judgement, the department set an intention to re-run the verification, registration, and declaration of small-scale fishers for all persons that participated in the previous process and ultimately allocate rights to the small-scale fishing sector.

Pending the outcome of the envisaged new and revised verification and recognition process, access to fishing by persons who were declared small- scale fishers under the previous process and those fishing under the Interim relief dispensation remained.

The process was only open to fishers who had previously participated in the original verification process in 2016. To confirm eligibility to participate in this process, community members could visit their nearest fishery control office or the departments offices in the Foretrust Building from 12 September 2022 or contact the dedicated call centre line on 021 402 3614.

In preparation for the process, eligible community members were encouraged to ensure that they had their original identity documents (ID) with them and be in the look out for the posters that would be put up in all identified communities from 12 September 2022, which would outline all other required documents. The department would also make available "sample verification forms" during the mobilisation process, for community members to familiarise themselves with the verification form.

The department facilliated the roll out of the Western Cape small scale fishing (SSF) rights to Western Cape fishers from September 2022. Following this two-week community mobilisation process in Western Cape communities, the department conducted a catch-all week from 17 to 21 October 2022. This is where those who might have not have collected their forms, could be able to do so. The department further agreed to give fishing communities an extended period, which was set to last until the end of November 2022, to complete verification forms.

In preparation for the new process, the department had placed much emphasis on regular community mobilisation and ongoing communication between communities and the department. The department also appointed an independent implementing service provider as well as an observer forum to promote neutrality, transparency, and fairness in the entire process; and there was direct involvement of community-based organisations (CBOs) throughout the process in a dedicated platform. The entire process followed as below:

• mobilisation in fishing communities; 
• distribution of verification forms; 
• receiving verification forms; 
• registration and verification; 
• announcement of the provisional list; 
• appeals and declaration of the final list and; 
• registration of small-scale fishing co-operatives and rights allocation.

Various species were already set aside for the SSF sector and some have already been allocated to the existing SSF co-operatives in other coastal provinces.

public notices:

• November 2022: receipting process for the Western Cape small-scale fisheries verification, registration, declaration, and rights allocation
• 14 October 2022: the department to conduct a catch-all week for Western Cape small-scale fisheries verification and registration process [PDF - 154,81 kb]
• 05 September 2022: roll out Western Cape small-scale fisheries verification, registration, declaration, and rights allocation [PDF - 105 kb]

miscellaneous

• Guidance and explanation notes for small-scale fishers [PDF – 1.04 mb]
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)  [PDF - 487.06 kb]

schedule of consultations

Receipting process for the Western Cape small-scale fisheries verification, registration, declaration, and rights allocation

• Cape Metro [PDF - 253,3 kb]
• West Coast [PDF - 265,82 kb]
• South Coast (Overberg) [PDF - 253,58 kb]
• Southern Cape (Garden Route) [PDF - 253,11 kb]
• Catch-all week: 17 – 21 October 2022 [PDF - 264,52 kb]

september 2022 SSF rollout: re-run of the 2016 process:

western cape regions

• Cape metro region [PDF - 215 kb] 
  • participants list, 2016 [PDF - 47.76 mb]
• South coast region [PDF - 207 kb]
  • participant list, 2022 [PDF - 6.54 mb]
• West coast region [PDF - 2223 kb]
  • participant list, 2022 [PDF - 12.73 mb]
• Southern Cape (Garden Route) region [PDF - 210.18 kb]
  • participant list, 2022 [PDF - 5.23 mb]

The DFFE has announced the final list of declared small-scale fishers in the Western Cape. The list was compiled in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act's regulations related to small-scale fishing in South Africa and followed the Western Cape High Court judgment. Out of over 4 000 verification forms that were submitted, over 84% of applicants have been declared successful and are thus recognised as small-scale fishers in line with the Marine Living Resources Act. This is a significant improvement from the previous process wherein a mere 31% had been successful and declared small-scale fishers. More than 30% of successful and declared small-scale fishers are women, while 68% of the fishers are coloured, 25% are black fishers and three percent are white. » download the list of successful fishers [PDF - 6.72 mb]

general published reasons (gpr) on the process, a list of successful and declared small-scale fishers and the independent report can be located here:

• Annexure A: List of successful small-scale fishers [PDF - 6.72 mb]
• Small-scale fishing rights allocation process for Western Cape: general published reasons (GPR) for the decisions on the declaration of small-scale fishers in the Western Cape [PDF - 4.78 mb]
• The independent report | Observer forum review of the rights allocation process for small-scale fisheries permits: master report, March 2023 [PDF - 1.8 mb]
• Annexure / area keys [PDF - 104 kb]

Visit or contact the nearest DFFE Fishery Control Office or/ alternatively, contact call centre:

Tel: 021 402 3614
E-mail: ssfmenquiries@dffe.gov.za