MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Viking Inshore Fishing's 179 employees, who faced retrenchment, received good news following the results of the departmental appeal process that were published late last week.
The Viking Inshore Fishing Mossel Bay staff were in the firing line after the company had lost 60% of its quota for trawling hake and sole.
The announcement by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Senzeni Zokwana, of the results of the departmental appeal process for inshore trawler fishing has returned a substantial portion of Viking's hake and sole trawling quota, saving the jobs of scores of locals in the fishing and related industries.
The High Court recently ruled against Viking in a case which sought to prevent fishing until the minister had reviewed the outcome of the DAFF's initial quota allocations. This allocation reduced Viking's quota for trawling hake and sole by 60%, severely threatening the future of its processing factory in Mossel Bay and the jobs of its 179 seagoing and fish-processing employees.
Satisfied
"Reason has prevailed and we are satisfied with the eventual outcome of the process," said Tim Reddell, group operations director for Viking Fishing Holdings.
"Only a week ago we were contemplating the closure of our factory, the retrenchment of our staff and the rationalisation of our fleet. After the outcome of the appeal process, we will strive to regain the ground lost over the past six months and will work with other companies in the industry to ensure our vessels remain active and our factory and fish shops open," Reddell said.
"The minister set aside the contested 'quantum allocation mechanism' his department used in the original allocation. This mechanism only took into account the black ownership of the companies that succeeded in securing rights. Its consequence was to dramatically cut the quotas of established companies, like Viking Inshore Fishing, and reward new entrants with little or no investments and experience in the fishing industry," the company said in a statement.
"We went to court to secure the jobs of our employees so they can provide for their families. As a constructive industry player committed to real and sustainable transformation, Viking will continue to engage with the DAFF. We have a great deal of expertise, proven fishing capacity and an ethical, sustainable business model to utilise for a greater and wider good," Reddell said.
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