Small-scale vs Commercial. Accuracy Required in the Give and Take

Although the small-scale sector is yet to get off the ground, and little is known publicly re the exact number of communities/co-ops, where they are situated, and who are the individual fishers making up these entities, the sector will (and has to some degree already had an impact on the commercial sector). One has only to look at the recent World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Total Allowable Catch (TAC) court challenge on the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF) to see a sector under pressure to satisfy both commercial and small-scale “needs” whilst maintaining sustainability.

In order to limit the effect on already established commercial operations who have jobs and investment to maintain (not to mention the vast commercial spin offs to the surrounding communities), it is incumbent on the implementers of the small-scale sector to properly assess what the realistic needs and capacities of a small-scale community/entity will be with regard to each species of fish to be placed in the “small-scale basket”.