Abalone deadline extended

Abalone are a species of shellfish

The Masifundise Development Organisation and the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) have extended a deadline given to the environmental affairs ministry to withdraw a suspension on commercial abalone fishing. Originally Masifundise, along with Cosatu, issued an ultimatum to environmental affairs minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk to withdraw his decision to close the commercial abalone industry by midday today.

Masifundise director Naseegh Jaffer said that the environmental affairs department had liased with his organisation over the past two days. "We have now agreed to meet with the minister directly to discuss the matter," said Jaffer.

A meeting between the parties will take place at 5.30pm today at the minister's office in parliament. "Accordingly we have shifted our ultimatum until after this meeting," said Jaffer. Last Thursday, government announced that all wild abalone (perlemoen) fishing would be suspended from November 1.

Government Communications head Themba Maseko said the suspension was based on the fact that abalone stock was in crisis and threatened with commercial extinction. He said a social plan to address job losses resulting from the decision had been approved. - Sapa