This is in reaction to an article on page 2 of “Die Burger” on 17.01.2012.

In this article the Acting DDG of fisheries has said that there will not be an extention of the kreef season.

Firstly, my letter was addressed to the Minister for intervention, not to the Acting Deputy Director General.

She gave a number of reasons why there would not be an extension, one of them being that 30 000 in the current compared to the 26 000 permits that were sold in the last season. And she mentioned the increase in TAC and TAE in current season when compared to the previous season.

That which she failed to address, is the reasons for the request as stated in RFS’s letter to the Minister, namely the lack of availability of permits, the lack of the Public being adequately informed of the new season and the extreme weather conditions experienced during the season. In any event, it is doubtful that Fisheries already know how many permits were sold, as the indiviual Post Offices have not corrolated the amount permits sold yet. Unless the 30 000 is an estimate.

Let’s for argument sake, say the 30000 permits were sold and Fisheries know this as a fact. That is only an increase of 13,4% in permit sales, compared to a 41,5% increase in time allowed to fish for kreef. Surely the sale of permits should increase more than 13,4% if Fisheries had informed properly and there were adequate permits available at Post Offices?

Note: I phoned the Acting DDG’s office in CapeTown, and spoke to her secretary, as she was unavailable, and ask for a formal response to my letter to appeal to the Minister and also to make an official statement to the Public.

It became apparent that the Acting DDG was not aware of RFS’s letter which I sent by registerd post, hand delivered and e-mailed 7 people in the Dept.

Apparently she was answering to media enquiries prompted by my letter. The last I heard, they went to look for the letter and came back to me with an official response.

Kind Regards
Cary Steele-Boe
(Chairperson: Controlling Authority: Recreational Fishing Services)