Minister Barbara Creecy extends Fishing Rights Allocation Process appeals period

• Published date: 27 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, has decided to further extend the period for appeals by an additional 60 days to 29 July 2022. The period for FRAP appeals thus commenced from 29 March 2022 and will now lapse on 29 July 2022.

A number of applicants who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the 2021 Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP 2021) have submitted formal requests to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (the Department), in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act No 2 of 2000 (PAIA) for access to information relating to FRAP 2021, on the basis that the information requested is necessary to enable them to finalise their appeals against the FRAP 2021.

Considering that the information requested is personal and commercial information of other applicants, the Department made only certain FRAP 2021 information available in a redacted form. This was to ensure that the personal and commercially sensitive information of the affected applicants was not released in a manner that would contravene the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act, Act 3 of 2013 (POPIA) and PAIA.

However, potential appellants have indicated that they are dissatisfied with the release of information in a redacted format and that they seek access to all information relating to FRAP 2021.

The Department has thus sought legal advice on the issue and were advised that before the release of personal and commercially sensitive information, the affected applicants must be notified of the release of their information and be given an opportunity to respond thereto.

Moreover, the Department has...