Fisheries Management Branch welcomes the investigation of the public protector
09 Jan 2014
The Fisheries Management Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) welcome the news of an investigation by the Public Protector into the Fishing Rights Allocation Process 2013 (FRAP 2013).
The Fisheries Management Branch has absolute confidence that the process it undertook since April 2013 to allocate the fishing rights that expired at the end of last year has been fair and legally defensible. The process was in-line with the laws of the land and also cognisant of the transformation imperatives as was set out in the objectives of the Fishing Rights Allocations General Policy and the Traditional Linefish Policy.
Desmond Stevens, acting DDG of the Fisheries Management Branch of DAFF said, "To date, we have not received any official communication from the Public Protector's office, however we have noted the media reports that they will be investigating the allocation process and we will gladly cooperate when the time comes."
"As the delegated authority of the FRAP 2013, I wish to categorically state that the department has nothing to hide as repeatedly claimed some so-called legal experts and mischievous politicians in the media using our people as fronts to rubbish the department," further said Stevens.