The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has increased the sardine Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for areas west of Cape Agulhas by 6,000 tonnes, raising the overall limit from 30,500 tonnes to 36,500 tonnes.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp announced the decision on Tuesday, stating it will protect more than 5,000 livelihoods. “I am very pleased that we have saved more than a thousand jobs, whilst also ensuring the protection of our natural resources,” the Minister said. “Creating jobs and growing our economy does not stand in opposition to the protection of our environment, which was again evident in reaching this decision.”
The 6,000-tonne increase consists of two components: 3,000 tonnes supported by revised survey timing corrections, and an additional 3,000 tonnes made available through the conversion of existing sardine Total Allowable Bycatches (TABs).
The adjustment follows requests from stakeholders in the commercial Small Pelagic sector regarding a sardine shortage for processing in the region. The shortage caused socio-economic hardship, forcing several right holders who had already harvested their local TAC allocations to scale down operations, which placed more than 1,000 jobs at risk.
In response, the Minister instructed the Small Pelagic Scientific Working Group (SWG) to investigate the availability of additional short-term sardine TAC for the area to alleviate these impacts. The SWG reached its decision on Monday, 29 June 2026. The determination of the TAC is governed by the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998).
The department confirmed it will continue to monitor the resource status through established scientific assessments and stakeholder engagement processes. It stated that any future adjustments to the management of small pelagic stocks will be considered strictly within the framework of applicable scientific advice, sustainable resource management, and legislative requirements.