Department spokesman Lionel Adendorf said, however, it was unknown if the European Union, one of the biggest importers of South African fish, would use the DAFF report to determine if South African marine resources were at a sustainable level.
The South African fisheries sector is worth about R6bn a year and directly employs, in the commercial sector, about 27,000 people.
Adendorf added there was no news on when the fisheries research vessel, the SAS Africana, would return to sea after experiencing engine trouble during her research cruise last month, BDLive reports.
Go to http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/agriculture/2012/12/28/fish-stocks-down-in-line-with-world-trends-report-shows for more info
