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 > Home  > Services for organisations  > Export  > Fish on commercial basis
    
Application for a permit to export fish on commercial basis
    

Description | Steps to follow | Legal framework | Service standard | Cost | Forms to complete | Contact details

Description

Commercial fishing is to carry out a fishing related activity such as exporting marine fish for trade purposes. To export marine fish to foreign countries or outside the borders of the Republic of South Africa, you must apply for an export permit which is granted by the Minister of Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or the delegated authority. No person shall export marine fish without a permit. When the existing export permit expires after three months, you must apply for a new one. Failure to adhere to permit conditions may result in its suspension or cancellation.

NB: This export permit excludes fresh water fish which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Applications for export permits for fresh water live temperate or tropical fish must be made to the Department of Agriculture.

Species listed in the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) should not be imported. (For more information about CITES visit www.cites.org).

Export Permit issued for the abalone species must be accompanied by a CITES certificate for each consignment.

Export permits issued for bigeye tuna, southern bluefin tuna, swordfish, Antarctic toothfish, and Patagonian toothfish must be accompanied by the relevant catch statistical document for each consignment. Catch statistical documents are available form the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Branch: Marine and Coastal Management, Directorate: Offshore and High Seas Fisheries Management.

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Steps to follow

  • Apply for an export permit.
  • Obtain an export application form and the CITES application form from the Marine and Coastal Management Office (see contact details below) or the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries branch office.
  • Read the application form carefully and make sure that you satisfy the application requirements and conditions.
  • Provide the following information:
    • physical addresses of importers in the destination country
    • the common and scientific names of the species to be exported
    • quantities of species to be exported
    • in the case where an agent is involved, an agreement between two parties needs to be attached together with the ID copies of signatories
    • copies of catch statistical documents need to be provided for all bigeye tuna, southern bluefin tuna, swordfish, Antarctic toothfish, and Patagonian toothfish exported under the previous export permit.
  • If the export permit applicant is not a fishing right holder, provide the following documents:
    • proof of supply and the physical addresses of the suppliers of the marine fish to be exported
    • common and scientific names of the species to be exported
    • quantities of species to be exported.
  • Submit certified copies of the following documents:
  • Inform your nearest branch of South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) about your export consignment if the fish you intend to export is not fresh and not for human consumption. If the fish is fresh and for human consumption inform the Port of Health.
  • An application fee of R225 (incl.) is required.
  • Complete, sign and post the export permit application form with the required documentation to the Marine and Coastal Management Office. (See address below).
  • Original applications must be posted, failing which a permit will not be issueded.

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Legal framework

(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

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Service standard

The application process may take 7 working days or more subject to proper lodging of the application.

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Cost

An application fee of R225 (incl.) is required. Fees are subject to an annual review or determination by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism or delegated authority, jointly with the Minister of Finance.

Banking details for Import Permit Application Fees:

Bank: FNB
Branch: Corporate Account Service Cape Town
Branch code: 204109
Account: Current
Account No. 62123256382
Account Name: Marine Living Resources Fund
Ref No. Please contact: Customer Service Centre at 0861 123 626.

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Forms to complete

(Forms are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

Application for an export permit

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Contact details

Regional offices
Province: Western Cape
City/town: Cape Town
Tel: 021 402 3911
Fax: 021 402 3367
Physical address: 2nd Floor, Marine and Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Foretrust Building, Martinhamerschlag Road, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8000
Postal address: Private Bag X28012, Roggebaai, Cape Town, 8012

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Last reviewed:18 May 2010
    
 
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