Thank you very much. Madam Speaker, I wish to refer the hon. Member to my reply made to PQ B/987 at the Sitting of 11 November 2025 where I had informed the House that our lagoons have been overexploited and depleted over the years. The previous government had gone against sustainable fisheries by issuing a substantial number of new Fishermen Cards. Furthermore, at the Sitting of 09 December 2025, I had informed the House that with a view to ascertaining the genuineness of registered fishermen, my Ministry had submitted the list of 2,546 fishermen to the Mauritius Revenue Authority and the Central Business Registration Department. The information submitted by these institutions is being examined by my Ministry. Furthermore, I am informed that from January to December 2025, a total of 62 applications for fishermen cards have been received at the 14 Fisheries Posts across the island. Another 2 applications have been received between January 2026 to date. As regards parts (a) and (b) of the question, these 64 applications are not being processed for the time being. A decision will be taken after the verification exercise. Madam Speaker, I reiterate that as a committed and responsible government, we have a duty to protect the traditional fishermen.

Yes, Mr Apollon.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, just to make an appeal to the hon. Minister not to make the same mistake like the previous government giving cards at the eve of the election. Can the hon. Minister inform the house if there are any new criteria to maintain better control while delivering these cards?

I am not going to circulate the list of criteria for eligibility but as you know, we are seeing to it that there is full compliance to existing criteria.

Yes, Mr Beechook.

Madam Speaker, will the hon. Minister conduct a thorough enquiry on the number of fisherman cards that were distributed to undeserving political agents who don’t even know how to tie a l'hameçon on the eve of the last elections and following that, give due consideration to deserving people who are waiting since long for a fisherman card?

I am not going to say that we are long way to Tipperary but if he had heard me well, I have said that the matter has been referred to MRA and the Central Business Registration specifically to look into those who should not have been given these fisherman cards.

Yes, Mr Rookny.

Madam Speaker, it is one thing that the fishermen having fisherman cards are eligible to weather allocations and quite another for genuine fishermen wanting to earn a living going out to fish. Will it be the case that those people will be precluded from fishing if they don’t have fisherman cards?

Are you referring to the appeal which you made to me and the Junior Minister?

No.

What are you saying? in relation to…?

The question is simple. If people don’t have fisherman cards, can they still fish? Like if I want to go and fish, can I?

Of course not!

We are good.

The law is an ass but we have to comply to the provisions of the law.

Exactly. Okay, we don’t all go fishing every day. Ms Savabaddy, First Member for Port-Louis North and Montagne Longue. SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS AUTHORITY – PRIMARY SCHOOLS – AUTISTS – ADMISSION DELAY