Small-scale fishers have voiced their displeasure at the 2015 regulation forcing them to form one co-operative per community.

According to the press this week the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is insisting that each community be allowed to form only one co-operative.

Speaking at a national workshop organised by the Masifundise Development Trust, Oliver Schutz said, “This regulation is forcing people to have one co-operative. We do not know how much is going to be in the basket. This will further reduce their fishing rights.”

DAFF small-scale fisheries director, Craig Smith says that marine resources are limited and therefore cannot support the proliferation of co-operatives, that was why only one co-operative per community could be allowed under the new regulation.

Trust spokesperson Nosipho Singiswa said that fishers are still waiting for DAFF to complete the identification, verification and registration process and then decide on appealing the regulation and fishing rights.

This week saw the HMS Portland sail into Durban harbour. The Type 23 frigate, part of the British Royal Navy, made headlines as the eighth ship to bear the name and the 15^th and penultimate ship of the “Duke” class of frigates.

Also making headlines this week was the 17^th Conference of Parties (CoP17), which took place in Sandton, Johannesburg.

For the first time the European Union (EU) is participating as a full member of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), seeking stricter international measures against wildlife trafficking in line with the EU action plan on wildlife trafficking.

The conference is aimed at providing a forum for parties to review the implementation of the Cites convention, which covers more than 35,000 plants and animals, ensuring that trade remains legal, traceable, and sustainable.