Abalone Update: Minister Sacked?

Abalone Update: Minister Sacked?: Many years of utter mismanagement has finally come home to roost, and the commercial
abalone fishery has officially come to ruin.

The newest total allowable catch for abalone (TAC) has been announced at about 12 tons (last
season was about 42 tons.)
To put it in perspective, my quota is now 30kg for the year. The abalone price has dropped to
about R500 per kilo, meaning the value of the abalone awarded to me is about R15000 before
costs.
Costs include catch permit, transport permit, vessel licence, SAMSA certification, abalone levies
to DFFE, satellite tracking system fee, fuel, crew, harbour fees, maintenance on vessel and
towing vehicle, diving medical, vehicle and trailer licences and of course tax. From this it should
be clear that it is unlikely that there is profit in harvesting this abalone. You certainly cannot
make a living from it.
On the other hand, the department has for many years traded very large amounts of confiscated
abalone, often selling it at below market prices. They have been both competing with the legal
abalone sector and driving market prices down. Estimates are that they have earned more than
a billion rand this way over the past 20 years. Efficient anti-poaching measures will of course put
an end to this income stream, which might explain much about the current state of our resource.
Several corruption scandals within the department with regards to confiscated abalone have
come to light over the years, making one wonder how many instances of corruption went
undetected.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the latest TAC is more or less an accurate indication of the health of
our abalone resource. In fact, in my opinion certain areas where they have still awarded quotes
should be closed down completely. The abalone industry will generally not be happy if I say
these things. Blatant honesty about the true state of the resource is however essential,
otherwise it will never be corrected.
The only future for our fishery, as well as the many fishers that legally depend on it, is the
immediate implementation of a recovery plan involving these fishers. As reported, such a plan
was submitted to the department, but they were not exactly excited about it.
The latest abalone working group meeting was another big disappointment. It was poorly
attended by officials with no decision makers present, even though they were specifically
requested to attend.
DFFE scientist Melissa Davis was a breath of fresh air, the only official present who indicated
willingness to meet to discuss an Abalone Recovery Plan. Unfortunately follow up emails made
it clear that her tailfeathers were plucked, and it was indicated to us that it would not be
“appropriate” to meet. Apparently the Scientific Working Group will now make their own “better”
and “improved” recommendation to the department, without any public consultation at all.
Remember, before we raised the matter, nothing of the sorts was on the table.
Call me cynical but it was under the watchful eye of this same Scientific Working Group that the
majority of our high value fisheries are in ruins today.
As a side note. I find the use of the word “inappropriate” in the communications especially
amusing. After all, it was not as if we suggested a “quicky” in the broomcloset. Just joking,
please don’t sue me, but why on earth would you decline brainstorming solutions with all
roleplayers?
Adding to this circus it seems that someone is now pulling strings high up in the DA; and that
Steenhuisen has now called Minister Dion George onto the red carpet. He seems likely to be
replaced by Willie Aucamp.
The Daily Maverick suggests foul play is at hand with captive wildlife breeders at the center of it
all, and Willie Aucamp one of the latter. See sacking of Minister George. The DM has gone far
out on a limb to publish this article, therefore it is probably true. What a disgrace.
While I have not been kind to Minister George in my previous posts, at least he was making
noises in the right direction. I can only imagine how hard it would have been for him to facilitate
changes in an entrenched, inefficient and often corrupt fisheries department that has been doing
things the ANC way for 20 years.
I can only hope that these posts will help put an end to the insanity.

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map