AGRICULTURE NEWS - The Minister of Agriculture Senzeni Zokwana recently announced that the new total allowable catch for South African abalone (Haliotis midae) was set at 96t for the 2018/2019 fishing season, which was the same as the previous season.
The total allowable catch was originally set at 50,5t.
The upward revision followed an appeal by the abalone commercial rights holders and the abalone zonal representatives, who cited a lack of proper consultation by the department in the process of determining the figure, the socio-economic implications the reduction in the quota would have, and the fact that a reduced allowance could result in an increase in poaching.
Announcing the increase, Zokwana acknowledged that the abalone sector needed a complete overhaul in terms of fishery management.
Read the full story here on the Caxton publication, Farmer's Weekly.
