A sea of opportunities for local small-scale fishers
For more than a decade, small-scale fishers have been searching for solutions in a frayed and difficult fishing environment in South Africa.
And now – one year on from being officially declared Small Scale Fishers, and with their 15-year fishing rights awarded by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) – this collective is transitioning to sustainably utilise the ocean’s resources. They are committed to operating within the framework of strict permit conditions, ensuring compliance with regulations that support marine conservation.
The small-scale fishers had for years struggled to legally gain access to marine resources – despite formal historical connections to the coastline and ocean which dates back more than 100 years. This community was also not included in any decision-making processes, thereby impacting their ability to be formally recognised as stakeholders.
Historical conflict
The challenges were sparked by a new law, the Marine Living Resources Act, which came into being in 1998. This led to considerable conflict between the fishing community in the Kogelberg (as was the case for other areas in South Africa) and government departments.
At the time, it also resulted in an increase in illegal fishing activity, and the potential for overexploitation of marine resources, a threat also seen across the rest of the Western Cape. Other threats included a lack of monitoring regarding the use of marine resources, and lack of control in the local Marine Protected Area.
Improving resilience
Since 2015, the community joined hands with Kogelberg Biosphere Marine Working Group (this includes stakeholders such as CapeNature, WWF South Africa and the Kogelberg Biosphere), to develop and implement improvement projects. The goal of these projects was to improve resilience in the face of livelihood changes.
WWF South Africa has in particular played a key role in providing support in the form of training, resources and guidance to help fishers operate sustainably and effectively.
According to co-operative Treasurer Morné Yon, the Kleinmond Protea Small Scale Fishing Primary Cooperative, consisting of 78 members from local towns, is hard at work. They have been awarded permits to harvest a variety of species, depending on the season.
Above: Chair person: Alfred Olivier. Vice Chair: William August. Secretary: Julia Arthur. Vice Secretary: Althea Olive. Treasurer: Morne Yon. Additional members: Mary Hull and Daniel Smit.
And they do so according to strict permit conditions – which includes a rule that no harvesting takes place in marine protected areas. Currently the co-op is busy harvesting kelp, alongside their fishing activities.
The co-operative, however, does require additional funding to support operational needs, given that its Board of Directors have been elected and are managing the business. However, according to Morné, “The business must go on for the Kleinmond Small Scale Fishers.”
Sources:
- Kogelberg Biosphere Newsletter: September 2024
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