MPA FORUM SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES: FROM POLICY TO IMPLEMENTATION 26th OCTOBER 2016 BY: CRAIG SMITH Director: Small-Scale Fisheries Management Photographs courtesy of Robert Tarr

Presentation Outline Background to the SSF Policy Current Status of Coastal Fishing Communities A New Vision Progress on Implementation Process Challenge

Background to the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy Communities have been living in coastal areas since historic times and have traditionally harvested marine resource for consumption, livelihoods, medicinal purposes, and as part of cultural and spiritual practices. In the past, these traditional fishers were largely excluded from acquiring long-term fishing rights The Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA) did not recognize traditional/ small-scale fisheries Disgruntled fishers took MCM to court, and in 2007 an Equality Court Order compelled government to redress the inequality suffered by small-scale fishers. The Small-Scale Fisheries Policy was adopted in 2012 to provide guidelines for redress. This Policy was developed through extensive consultation with communities ,and under the oversight of NEDLAC.

Current Status of Coastal Fishing Communities A lengthy history of dependency on marine resources for food security, cultural practices, jobs and source of revenue, but limited legal access to marine resources. High unemployment rates Poverty Fishing skills, but limited processing and marketing skills Poor infrastructure Poor safety measures and high fisher fatality rate Social ills – low levels of literacy, health issues, substance abuse, child-headed households, gender discrimination, exploitation and high levels of conflict. Poaching and the link to gangsterism, organised crime, syndicates, drugs, illegal arms

A New Vision Legal access to marine resources Equitable access to marine resources Orderly access to marine resources Co-operatives Co-management structures Food security Decent jobs Improved infrastructure Alternative livelihoods Tourism Aquaculture Ranching A New Vision

A New Vision cont… Skills development Co-operative training Alternative livelihoods Value chain Business acumen Safety-at-sea Sustainable fishing practices

A New Vision cont… Abalobi (one-stop App for Info Management System) Fisher registration Fisher catch information Independent catch data monitoring Co-operative requirements incl ICS, traceability Safety-at-sea Market

Progress on Implementation Process 2013 Small-Scale Fishery Implementation Plan, Drafting and consulting on MLRA Amendment Act. 2014 MLRA Amendment Act passed into law, Roll-Out Plan adopted by DAFF Exco 2015 Expression of Interest process, Drafting and consultation on the Small-Scale Fishing Regulations

Progress on Implementation Process cont… 2016 Amended MLRA promulgated SSF regulations approved Expression of Interest closed Registration conducted (NC, WC, EC, KZN) Socio-economic baseline survey conducted for all communities Verification and assessments conducted (NC, WC, EC, KZN) Announcement of provisional lists of successful fishers (NC, WC) Appeals process (NC, WC) Appeals assessed (NC) Post appeals – finalize fisher list, mobilize into co-operatives, allocate rights SSF Rights to be allocated from March 2017

Progress on Implementation Process cont…

Progress on Implementation Process cont… Registration and verification by numbers: 4 coastal provinces 5 months community work 55 DAFF officials & 60 service provider staff 316 communities 22 601 people registered

Be Part Of The BIG CHANGE THANK YOU