Publication Abstract

Is there progress? A perspective on South Africa's Fisheries management challenges

A.I.L. Payne

In the first edition of this new publication, I showed why I thought that, in world terms, South Africa's marine resources and their fisheries were in reasonable shape. As I stressed then, South Africa's offshore fisheries for hake and pelagic fish are being optimally but seemingly sustainably exploited, whereas the state of the inshore, accessible resources is giving scientists and managers cause for concern. Why is this so, what are the decision-makers doing about it, and what is the likely outcome?

The answers to those three questions need a crystal ball, but after some 30 years of working in and around the fisheries, I hope I can make some form of informed judgement. What I will do here is to highlight what I personally believe needs to be done to ensure that someone writing an article in this same journal 10 years from now will be able to say that the three cornerstones of the MLR Act (sustainability,stability, and equity) were met, that the resources are in as good shape as feasible given their state now, and that South African fisheries are as well managed as those anywhere in the world.

Reference:

A.I.L. Payne, 2000. Is there progress? A perspective on South Africa's Fisheries management challenges. p.236-238 In: Stuttaford M (ed.). Fishing Industry Handbook: South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique.