[8] Trawler owners and operators produce a mix of fresh and frozen products, supplying them to retail and food-service markets both locally and internationally.
SADSTIA maintains a professional relationship with a number of scientific and management organisations, which enables it to comment and provide advice on a wide range of issues pertinent to the offshore demersal trawl fishery in particular, or the South African fishing industry as a whole.
For example, the Association was instrumental in harnessing industry and government support for the assessment and accreditation of the South African trawl fishery for hake by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The expansion by SADSTIA members into markets in northern Europe (Germany and Switzerland for example) has largely been on the strength of the fishery's MSC certification.
In fact, the structure of the offshore demersal trawl fishery has changed substantially since 1994, in keeping with South African laws and guidelines on black economic empowerment.
[5] Workers employed in the South African offshore and inshore demersal trawl fisheries are well compensated compared to others in the fishing industry.
[17] The offshore demersal trawl fishery for hake has been tightly managed and closely monitored since November 1977 when South Africa declared its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under the United Nations Law of the Sea.
[18] Having gained sovereignty over its fisheries resources, South Africa immediately began implementing regulatory and conservation measures, working with the trawling industry to rehabilitate the hake stocks that had been devastated by international fishing fleets.
[12] Today, the setting of an annual total allowable catch (TAC) remains the primary management measure for regulating the hake fisheries.
These measures are as follows: Enforcement of regulations and permit conditions include monitoring of all landings, imposition of fines in the case of minor offences, or full legal action under Section 28 of the South African Marine Living Resources Act that could result in the loss of rights in the event of successful prosecution.