Small Pelagics

The small pelagic fishery dates back to the late 1940's when a fleet of privately owned purse-seine vessels began targeting sardine and horse mackerel. In 1953 an annual maximum catch limit of 270 000 tons was set but was never enforced. As a result, catches regularly exceeded this figure. By 1961, the maximum limit was repealed. In 1962, more than 410 000 tons of sardine were landed, but by 1966, the catch had dropped to 100 000 tons. The fleet then started targeting anchovy, using nets with a smaller mesh size. In 1987 anchovy catches peaked at 600 000 tons, but catches declined thereafter and in 1996 only 40 000 tons of anchovy were landed. Anchovy and sardine catches have subsequently increased, with landings of both species averaging around 250 000t each over the past five years. The fishery is currently managed in terms of an Operational Management Procedure ("OMP") that sets annual Total Allowable Catches ("TAC") for anchovy and sardine.

In terms of catch volumes, the small pelagic fishery remains the largest in South Africa. It is the second most important in terms of value. This fishery's management procedure is the most complex of the commercial fisheries. Two species are the main targets, namely sardine (Sardinops sagax) and anchovy (Engraulus encrasicolus), with associated by-catch species being red-eye round herring (Etrumeus whiteheadii) and Cape horse-mackerel (Trachurus trachurus capensis). Sardine are canned for human consumption while anchovy and most of the by-catch species are reduced to fishmeal, fish oil and fish paste.

Small pelagic targeting occurs inshore, primarily along the Western Cape's west and south coasts (anchovy and sardine) and the Eastern Cape coast (sardine).

The pelagic fleet consists of wooden, GRP and steel hulled purse-seine vessels, ranging in length from 15 metres to 30 metres. Ninety-five percent of workers in this fishery are historically disadvantaged persons. The value of fish landed is presently worth approximately R800 million per annum. The fishery is capital intensive, with right-holders having to invest in vessels and processing and marketing infrastructure, or gain access to such through catching and processing agreements.

Sector Facts (FOR SECTOR DETAILS PLEASE EMAIL FEIKE AT ssonday@feike.co.za)



Sector Challenges: Feike?s analysis of the allocation of rights and policy objectives for this fishery indicates the following challenges:

• Increasingly seeking to add greater value to sardine and anchovy harvests, particularly in light of massive cuts in the sardine TAC ? 47% alone between 2005 and 2006;
• Managing the fisheries compliance ?fall-out? emanating from the recent Scorpions-led investigations into over-fishing and under-reporting;
• Preparing for performance measuring exercises, particularly in light of the fact that black control of the TAC has decreased over the medium term and the perceived (within Marine and Coastal Management) high levels of IUU fishing in the fishery;
• Meeting the policy objectives of utilising anchovy for human consumption;
• Increasing not only black ownership of the TAC through ?internal transformation? but also focusing increasingly on the empowerment of staff, women and the communities in which right holders operate.

Sector Opportunities: Feike believes that the allocation of long-term rights will provide the small pelagic fishery with the following opportunities:

• Consolidation of the number of right holders, particularly those smaller right holders that have continued to rely almost entirely on sardines;
• Strategic co-management relationships with Marine and Coastal Management, particularly with respect to research, compliance and management;
• Strengthening of the Industry representative body, particularly to drive the agenda around performance measuring and EAF;
• Developing a case over the medium term for ITQ's as a form of management as opposed to quota allocations.