The objectives of the oversight were to: . oversee the operations in the Fisheries Management Branch, a programme within the Department that is responsible for managing the development and sustainable use of South Africa's marine and fisheries resources as well as to protect the integrity and quality of the country's marine and coastal ecosystems; . oversee the state and operations of the Department's fishing vessels; and . oversee the operational activities of the Fisheries Branch with respect to physical inspections of fishing vessels from the sea.