Directions Regarding Measures to Address, Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19 Relating to the Freshwater and Marine Fishing Sectors

1. Definitions

In these Directions, any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Regulations, the Marine Living Resources Act, and any regulations promulgated in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act, bears the meaning so assigned and, unless the context otherwise indicates—“estuary" has the meaning assigned to it in section 1 of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008);“exemption" means an exemption granted in terms of section 81 of the Marine Living Resources Act;“freshwater system" means any body of freshwater including rivers, dams and lakes excluding an estuary;“licence” means a licence issued to a fishing vessel in terms of section 23(1), 39(2) or 41(1) of the Marine Living Resources Act;“Marine Living Resources Act” means the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998);“recreational fisher and recreational fishing” means any fishing done in the sea, an estuary or a freshwater system for leisure or sport and not for sale, barter, earnings or gain;“Regulations” means the Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act and published on 29 April 2020 in Government Notice No. R. 480 of Government Gazette No. 43258; and“right” means any existing right granted in terms of section 18 of the Marine Living Resources Act.

2. Purpose

3. Application

These Directions apply to—(a)mariculture, commercial and small-scale fishing rights, permits and exemptions;(b)commercial and small-scale fishing vessel licences;(c)fish-processing establishments’ rights, permits and exemptions;(d)permits or exemptions to import or export fish; and(e)recreational fishers.

4. Prohibition of sports and recreational fishing activities

Given the health risks associated with COVID-19 and in alignment with the restrictions already implemented tor public recreational activities in terms of the Regulations, recreational fishing is not allowed.

5. Extension of timeframes

Timeframes as contained in any permit, exemption or licence, or any condition with respect to such permit, exemption or licence, including—(a)timeframes with regard to validity periods as outlined in the Fisheries COVID-19 Public Notice titled "Exemption in terms of section 81 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998) to all holders of licences, permits, and authorisations issued in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998) to operate without permits tor the next ninety (90) days”; and(b)the second Fisheries COVID-19 Public Notice titled “Exemptions issued to all fishing sectors in terms of section 81 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998)" issued by the Department on 24 and 26 March 2020 respectively,which have lapsed during the lockdown period of the national state of disaster declared for the COVID-19 pandemic, or which will lapse during the Alert Level 4 period, are hereby extended, or deemed to be extended, until the termination of Alert Level 4 in accordance with the Regulations.

6. Commencement and duration

These Directions come into effect on the date of publication in the Government Gazette, and shall remain in force for the duration of Alert Level 4.