Commercial Traditional Linefishery on Tenterhooks …

Possibly the most complicated history of the South African fishing industry belongs to the commercial traditional linefishery. This multispecies, multi-user fishery is currently shared by commercial traditional linefishers, recreational fishers and coastal community small-scale fishers. Cumulatively they target fin fish species inhabiting inshore waters, many of which are now in a depleted state, or if overfished may not recover. There is however misperception that this is not the case, and that linefish species can sustain more pressure than what is believed. Will the new long term right allocation process (FRAP) 2021 be another challenge this sector has to face? This is Part 1 of 2 articles about this sector.