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On 31 October 2025, Dion George issued a set of decisions in the sardine and anchovy fishing sectors that recorded his intention to institute, what he referred to as, a self-review application in the small pelagic fisheries (sardine and anchovy sectors).  George announced that the decisions taken by both the delegated authority (March 2022) and Minister Creecy (2024) were so unlawful that he could not take decisions on some 30 other applications already reviewed and set aside by the Western Cape High Court in 2025. [The self-review did not apply to the decisions taken by Creecy with respect to Category A sardine right holders].  George decided that at the end of October 2025. That was 4 months ago and his successor, Minister Aucamp - although noting in December 2025 that a self-review would be instituted -  has failed to institute such a review. On 4 November 2025 my clients, Atlantic Choice and Imperial Trading, were preparing to have their pilchard and anchovy review ap...

In July 2024, the DA was gifted executive control over the Fisheries & Environment department when they joined the Government of National Unity. Unlike any other political party, the DA had an extensive and detailed policy on the management and governance of fisheries and oceans . Instead, over the past 18 months, the Democratic Alliance has squandered the opportunity so comprehensively that it boggles the mind.  Instead of even basic changes to governance that could support and promote economic growth in fisheries, the DA elected to continue implementing destructive and anti-fisher policies and litigation.  The DA keeps talking about fostering economic growth and reducing unemployment (like the ANC) but like the ANC, when loaned power by the electorate, it has chosen failure instead.  We are witnessing the catastrophic mismanagement of the Foot and Mouth Disease and the procurement of vaccines by the DA's leader himself as the Minister of Agriculture.  Is the DA...