NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
WRITTENÂ REPLY
QUESTIONÂ 148
Question 148 for written reply: National Council of Provinces, Mr K A
Sinclair (Cope-NC) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries:
1) Whether her department has been engaged in any scientific and expert
evaluations of where marine resource management should (a) logically
and (b) ideally located before determining that it should be located
inland in Pretoria; if not; why not; if so (a) what are the full
details in each case regarding the move and (b) what are the cost
involved in the intended move;
2) Whether her department has determined how convenient and functional
will the future management of marine services and operations be as a
result of this move; if not; why not; if so (a) what are the reasons
that prompted the move, (b) what future operational budgetary savings
will her department benefit from this relocation, (c) for how long
will such benefits exist and (d) how sustainable is this move? CW198E
REPLY:
1) Following the clarification provided at the recent meeting of the
Portfolio Committee, there is no need for a scientific or expert
evaluation of the decision to fully integrate the Fisheries Branch
into the structures of the Department.
2) In terms of the clarification provided, the duplicated
corporate/support functions will be rationalised and located in
Pretoria. Fisheries services will continue to be provided in the four
coastal provinces, with an increased emphasis in the future on
providing freshwater/inland fisheries support services in all nine
provinces.