Madam Deputy Speaker, thus far, the reorganisation and renaming of government departments has not been a smooth process. Some confusion still exists, most notably in the portfolios of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and water and environmental affairs.
The name of the department or portfolio named "Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries" clearly indicates that fisheries is a substantive component of that portfolio. There can be no other interpretation.
The reality, though, is that only a tiny part of fisheries, namely aquaculture - that is fish farming - falls under the portfolio. Aquaculture production represents a mere 0,4% of all fish production. This means that 99,6% of fishery-related matters, including marine and coastal management, permits, quotas, resource management, etc, therefore fall outside the brief of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The department responsible for this 99,6% of fisheries affairs is indeed the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs. Nothing in the name or portfolio of that department suggests that fisheries are part of it. This is a confusing and unsatisfactory situation which should be corrected.
We call on the President and his advisers to take a fresh look at the names of these two departments and, or, to reorganise them. Thank you.