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Cape Town - Fishing rights in South Africa must change and some must exit the industry through having their rights removed, according to Cosatu.
"This should include old apartheid beneficiaries and black lawyers and teachers, who received rights after apartheid and had no links to the industry," the union said in a statement.
"People who have other sources of income or already have significant wealth should also be exited, no matter their colour. This must however be done fairly and objectively, with a fair transition being allowed till the appeals have been considered."
Cosatu said it supports the allocation of fishing rights that transforms the fishing industry and stops the historical domination by a few individuals.
"Most of these persons, who insist on continued rights, are the very same who got into the fishing industry under apartheid and were able to enrich themselves significantly," Cosatu said.
"Many of them, in fact, have alternate incomes and are relatively wealthy. In fact very wealthy in relation to the workers in the Industry."
Cosatu believes the natural resources of the country should be used to benefit the most marginalised, and undo the disadvantages of the apartheid era it says still exist in most industries.
"Many had a chance to enrich their families during the periods that they had guarantees of the fish income and should now understand that this is not a guaranteed lifetime concession," the union said.
"As Cosatu we want to see changes that makes the systemic environment more fair, whilst being cautious about the unintended consequences."
Cosatu would like to see the following:
- The fishing rights must shift to cooperatives of workers so that the benefits of the natural resources are spread more equitably and fairly; at present only a few are enriched;
- The value of the resources must also extend prosperity to all those involved in the industry - presently workers have an insecure existence;
- The fish must continue to be a cheap source of protein for poorer communities, promoting local value chains into communities;
- All the parties to the fishing industry must be consulted about their role in a future fishing industry, all along the value chain;
- Legitimate players in the industry will be supported in their interest, but the illegitimate ones will be sidelined.
"Cosatu will not allow the rights holders, who historically exploited the fishermen, to claim that they now also represent the fishermen’s’ interest," said Cosatu.
The union will insist that government assist fishermen with funding to buy boats from existing rights holders, to enable the fishermen to go out to sea for themselves.
"Often the fishermen crewed the boats of the wealthy rights holders, who sat at home and counted the money generated by their quotas," the union said.
"Cosatu will also be working with the hawkers to ensure that a more fair system evolves that secures their livelihoods and also ensures that the fish is sold at the most affordable prices."
The union said it will insist on a fairly managed transformation process that takes account of all the legitimate and just voices.
"We will do this wherever necessary, whether in court or in protest," said Cosatu.
"This should include old apartheid beneficiaries and black lawyers and teachers, who received rights after apartheid and had no links to the industry," the union said in a statement.
"People who have other sources of income or already have significant wealth should also be exited, no matter their colour. This must however be done fairly and objectively, with a fair transition being allowed till the appeals have been considered."
Cosatu said it supports the allocation of fishing rights that transforms the fishing industry and stops the historical domination by a few individuals.
"Most of these persons, who insist on continued rights, are the very same who got into the fishing industry under apartheid and were able to enrich themselves significantly," Cosatu said.
"Many of them, in fact, have alternate incomes and are relatively wealthy. In fact very wealthy in relation to the workers in the Industry."
Cosatu believes the natural resources of the country should be used to benefit the most marginalised, and undo the disadvantages of the apartheid era it says still exist in most industries.
"Many had a chance to enrich their families during the periods that they had guarantees of the fish income and should now understand that this is not a guaranteed lifetime concession," the union said.
"As Cosatu we want to see changes that makes the systemic environment more fair, whilst being cautious about the unintended consequences."
Cosatu would like to see the following:
- The fishing rights must shift to cooperatives of workers so that the benefits of the natural resources are spread more equitably and fairly; at present only a few are enriched;
- The value of the resources must also extend prosperity to all those involved in the industry - presently workers have an insecure existence;
- The fish must continue to be a cheap source of protein for poorer communities, promoting local value chains into communities;
- All the parties to the fishing industry must be consulted about their role in a future fishing industry, all along the value chain;
- Legitimate players in the industry will be supported in their interest, but the illegitimate ones will be sidelined.
"Cosatu will not allow the rights holders, who historically exploited the fishermen, to claim that they now also represent the fishermen’s’ interest," said Cosatu.
The union will insist that government assist fishermen with funding to buy boats from existing rights holders, to enable the fishermen to go out to sea for themselves.
"Often the fishermen crewed the boats of the wealthy rights holders, who sat at home and counted the money generated by their quotas," the union said.
"Cosatu will also be working with the hawkers to ensure that a more fair system evolves that secures their livelihoods and also ensures that the fish is sold at the most affordable prices."
The union said it will insist on a fairly managed transformation process that takes account of all the legitimate and just voices.
"We will do this wherever necessary, whether in court or in protest," said Cosatu.
