Govt given ultimatum on its abalone decision

Cosatu is to declared a maujor dispute with government if it goes ahead with its plans to stop commercial fishermen from diving for abalone.

Government announced earlier this week that it will stop abalone permit holders from fishing for the delicacy from the first of November. Leaders of fishing communities along the Western Cape coast met with Cosatu and government in Cape Town at the weekend.

The fishermen are currently preparing a court interdict in an attempt to reverse government's decision.

Abalone once thrived along the Western Cape coastline, but there's been a steady decline in numbers in recent years. This is the only thing that government and fishermen agree on.

Fisherman Naseegh Jaffe says they are aware of the threat to the natural resource, but they want to work with government to find a solution." The department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism acknowledges that it made the decision without consulting finsing communities.

Illegal overfishing
Fishermen say illegal overfishing and poaching are the reasons the species is threatened.

They blame government for not policing the poaching situation properly. They are also questioning government's back-up social plan aimed at the affected communities who make a living out of the sea. Fishermen say this plan is not viable.

Government has been given until midday to decide whether it will withdraw its plan. Community leaders say if government does not agree to this- they will not be able to stop their communities from taking matters into their own hands.