Fishing quota protest turns violent
FISHERMEN in Hout Bay and Hawston have staged a protest against fishing rights allocations. In Hout Bay the protest got out of control when hundreds of other community members joined the protest to air other grievances.
The City ‘s Safety and Security directorate had their hands full supporting police in keeping public order. A water cannon was deployed and stun grenades were used to disperse the protesters in Hout Bay.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said: “Protesters looted several boats in the harbour, set alight a vehicle and stole signal flares which they used to shoot at police.
“The group of rioters closed off Harbour Road with burning tyres and rubble.”
Community members claimed fishing communities were struggling to survive due to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’s recent fishing quota allocations‚ which they said favoured large companies at the expense of new entrants.
Isaac Claassen, chairperson for the Hawston Fisherman Folk, said he was unhappy with the current permits allocated as the process was wrong.
“We do not want to poach, but we are forced by the department to poach, as we have applied but our application came back as unsuccessful after we have paid money.”
Venin Abrams said he was unhappy the bigger companies were getting all the money while they have to fill in papers and wait for unsuccessful applications.
“We will fight the system until the ministers hear us. Our complaints have landed on deaf ears for long. We will get less than R24 000 per year and that is not enough; only large business will be gaining. We are prepared to fight as we are suffering,” Abrams said.
By late last night law enforcement officers were still patrolling the area.