The trout industry in Mpumalanga, one of the mainstays of tourism in the province, is once again in an uproar.
On 7 March the commercial trout producers were informed by the Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency (MTPA) that as from 1 March the annual permit required for stocking trout would be replaced by a monthly permit with an additional warning that it could take up to 2 to 3 weeks to process an application. Furthermore, one may not apply for multiple permits in advance, and it should be noted that at present it often takes the MPTA well over month to approve applications made on an annual basis. As many of the fly-fishing lodges and resorts stock throughout the year and often during the peak season several times a month this move by the MTPA will close down virtually every destination in Mpumalanga’s Trout Triangle. Those who were lucky enough to receive their 2022 permit prior to March may continue to receive trout for the remainder of the year, but many others have been left high and dry with no chance of offering their clients stocked waters as the fish supplier may not stock fish unless the client is in possession of a valid permit.
When Stephan van der Merwe, the chairman of the Northern Trout Association which represents commercial trout producers and the majority of trout destinations in the province received notification of the change he initially thought there must be some misunderstanding on the part of an official in Nelspruit. Not only was the change completely impractical but there had been no prior consultation as required by the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA). However, despite urgent emails and phone calls from him there was no response from the MTPA.
On advice of Ilan Lax, national chairman of FOSAF, Van der Merwe sought the assistance of well-known attorney, Richard Spoor, who wrote to the Acting CEO of the MTPA, Mduduzi Vilakazi. Once again there was no immediate response to this letter, but after some delay the Acting CEO advised that the MTPA’s legal representative would contact Mr Spoor to arrange a meeting. This is where the matter stands for the moment and hopefully it can be resolved very quickly and in a satisfactory matter without any further legal action required.
Peter Arderne.
Secretary to the NTA.
09/05/2022
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