SA hake accreditation safe for now

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

SA faced suspension this month after Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson suspended the MSC-required scientific observer programme to ensure the fishery's sustainability.

"The bottom line is that it remains certified‚ although the audit picked up certain things‚ such as the lapsed observer programme‚" MSC Southern Africa programme manager Martin Purves said.

The MSC‚ the industry and the Department of Agriculture‚ Forestry and Fisheries were hoping to release a joint statement later on Friday‚ he said.

Tim Reddell‚ chairman of industry umbrella body Fish SA‚ said: "I'm not relieved‚ I'm ecstatic‚ but there is a whole lot of work that needs to be done."

Purves said four new conditions had been added to the previous eight conditions SA had to meet to keep its MSC accreditation. They included reinstating the observer programme and improving enforcement of rules and legislation aimed at maintaining the health of SA's fish stocks.

The report issued on Friday by Intertek Moody Marine‚ which MSC used as an independent third party‚ covered the period from March last year to this March‚ "so issues that came up since March (this year) will be picked up in the next audit and there are some red flags".