The broadening of access to marine living resources is one of the most striking changes to have taken place in the South African fishing industry in the past 10 years. In so doing, it has re-established relative stability in the South African fishing industry and has set the platform for the allocation of long-term fishing rights.

Throughout the allocation of medium term rights, the Department has been mindful of the controversy that plagued the allocation of fishing rights in the past. Traditionally larger established companies dominated and controlled the marketplace, including pricing and profitability. Although there has been major transformation in the fishing industry as far as quota allocation is concerned, this has not necessarily translated into a redistribution of opportunity. The smaller fisherman is still not able to get the best price for his catch. This can only be achieved through an open-market system where all potential buyers and the seller (fisherman) are placed in direct contact with each other, through an independent medium.

Furthermore, historical factors such as access to capital, privilege and the necessary assets and equipment required to harvest, process and market fishing stocks have resulted in structural problems, which are challenging to overcome. Small fishing concerns also have no direct access to independent logistic service providers, to transport and/or process their catch to market, and they are therefore forced to trade on unequal terms, and lose all bargaining leverage.

WCE has developed fishcommex.com to provide the SA fishing industry with a Web-based trading solution, which assists all traders in addressing these issues, and to obtain a fair, market-related price for all fishcommex Traders, irrespective of size and influence. WCE provides access to many international Traders, and will continue to actively expand this network of buyers and sellers, who are familiar with this trading mechanism.