Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa, Senzeni Zokwana says the relations between Maldives and South Africa has grown from strength to strength over the years.
Speaking on Talk Maldives TV Programme, aired on PSM News, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa, Senzeni Zokwana said that what is good between the two countries is the rapport and understanding between each other.
The South African Minister said that Maldivian authorities need to work together and play the role to ensure coastal states are not deprived of their rightful resources. He said that as for working for the betterment of the coastal states, all countries needs to do more networking and to work together for the intended cause of protecting the interests of each other in the Indian ocean, particularly in ensuring fisheries resources are not taken from rightful owners.
"What has been good between the two countries, even before the ministers met, it was the rapport and the understanding between our negotiators. Our teams began to work together. And we have presented a formidable voice. And the fact now at ministerial level we need to play our role, we need to attend these meetings where negotiations take place, so that we give support to our technical people. You may have all the best arguments, but people may not listen we are able to. And also to do networking, I think we need to do more networking, so that the none-participating countries, and those who are fishing in our waters, understand that there should be a co-existence between that what we and they need. But key to all, sustainability of our natural resource is key. Not only to our generations, but also for future generations,” the South African Minister said on the programme.
Speaking on Talk Maldives, Minister Zokwana noted that South Africa has learnt much from Maldivian fisheries sector, technically and policy wise. Minister Zokwana said that the relationship between Maldives sand South Africa has grown, noting that when he first met the Minister of Fisheries of Maldives in South Africa, they began to discuss to the real intricacies of fisheries, especially the trans boundary fisheries, like tuna and tuna like species.
Minister Zokwana said that his Maldivian counterpart made him aware of the shortcomings of the current processes of the allocation. He said they began to discuss that the fact that fisheries is not more about economy it is more about the ability of our coastal communities to access the rich resources.