. Despite concerns raised by the Committee on the use of consultants, which in the previous financial year was confined to the Fisheries Management division (R3 million for six consultants), this has increased in the year under review. In the year under review, the Department has made use of 19 consultants to the value of R7.6 million for 1 931 work days. Of this total amount, 74 per cent (R5.6 million) has been used by the Forestry and Natural Resources Management division for seven consultants in a period of 575 work days. The Committee also noted with concern that: