Speaker, the planned increases, as they stand, for rights, permits and licences in the various fishing sectors are exorbitant and unjustifiable. The gazetted notice published in late January suggested that the already hard-pressed South African consumer would now be burdened by fee increases in the commercial and the recreational fishing sectors that, in some cases, are higher than 400%.
The outrage of fishers against the proposed increases has been considerable. In KwaZulu-Natal alone, DA public representatives collected the signatures of 2 200 fishers who oppose the proposal. In total, 300 000 recreational fishers are affected by these proposals.
After some public consultation, it does seem like sanity will prevail and that government will rethink the proposals. If this is the case, then it is important that the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs or the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - whoever takes over the fisheries function on 1 April - says publicly that the gazetted proposals will not be implemented.
While one might argue that some of the fees currently used are too low, the proposed increases in fee prices, as originally presented in January, were not accompanied by any justification and methodology. Whether the January proposal is maintained or a new proposal is tabled, Marine and Coastal Management, MCM, must give the public an explanation of what they hope to achieve by the increase in permit fees.
Most notably, could the public be assured that MCM will fulfil all of its functions to an acceptable standard, and will it improve the ongoing engagement with stakeholders in the spirit of co-management? Marine and Coastal Management must produce a peer review study to publicly set out the full methodology and conclusions which justify any proposed increases. They must produce a proper financial assessment that will stand up to public scrutiny as to the impact the increases will have on job losses and sustainable livelihoods. I thank you. [Applause.]