DAFFisheries 2.83

ABOUT US
The mandate of the Fisheries Management branch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is to manage the development and sustainable use of South Africa’s marine resources, to maximize the economic potential of the fisheries sector; and to protect the integrity and quality of the country’s marine ecosystems.

The Marine Living Resources Fund (MLRF) finances the operations of the Fisheries Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Fisheries Branch is responsible for managing the development, management, monitoring and sustainable uses of marine living resources, to protect the integrity and quality of the marine ecosystem, and to ensure the growth of the aquaculture sector. The MLRF covers the operational costs four Chief Directorates, as well as the operational and administrative costs of a number of support components as follows:

• Aquaculture and Economic Development which promotes the growth of the aquaculture sector by providing public support and an integrated platform for the management of aquaculture. The Chief Directorate also facilitates the development of alternative livelihoods for coastal communities and the management of the 12 proclaimed fishing harbours.

• Fisheries Research and Development which promotes the sustainable development of fisheries resources and ecosystems by conducting and supporting appropriate research;

• Marine Resource Management which fosters the sustainable use and the equitable and orderly access to marine living resources through improved management and regulation.

• Monitoring, Control and Surveillance which ensures the protection and promotion of sustainable use of marine living resources by intensifying enforcement and compliance efforts.

The MLRF also covers the operational and administrative costs of the Chief Director: Fisheries Operations Support, the Chief Directorate Financial Management for the MLRF and the support components of Communications, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal Services; International Relations; Stakeholder Relations; and Customer Services.