Fisheries in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Portfolio and Select Committees Fisheries in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park 29 August 2017

Superlative natural phenomena (sense of place) Unique ecological and biological processes Biological diversity

Presentation Questions Indicate whether there have been cases of park-people conflicts; When did these conflicts start? Please state the trend; Direct and underlying causes of these park-people conflict; Number of poaching-related human fatalities and/or injuries in the Park over the past five years; Clarify whether those poaching incidents were wildlife-related or fisheries-related; Indicate whether members of neighbouring communities had been shot at, and who did the shooting in the past five years: police or Park rangers; Indicate whether fishing is allowed in the Park, and if so, how; Point out the interventions that the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has put in place in deescalating park-people conflicts; and Any other issue that the Park would like the Committee to know in respect to the above.

Question 7: Indicate whether fishing is allowed in the Park, and if so, how: There is a zonation for the Park in the IMP and the MLRA The zonation makes provision for: (a) 20 vehicular access points for small-scale/subsistence fishers viz., Kosi mouth, Bhanga Nek, Dogs Point, Castle Rock, Black Rock, Rocktail Bay, Lala Nek, Manzengwenya, Nine Mile, Mabibi, Sodwana Bay, Cape Vidal, Mission Rocks, Main Beach, Jabula Beach, Ngwenya Beach, Estuary Beach, and Maphelane. (b) Eighty two (82%) of the iSimangaliso coastline is open to traditional subsistence line fishers and harvesters. There are bag limits for fishing which are determined after considering the available science The Oceanographic Research Institute has been doing research for some 30 years in the Park. The research shows that the biomass in iSimangaliso is low compared to the more nutrient rich, temperate ecosystems to the south (e.g. in the Southern and Western Cape) and there has been depletion of surf-zone fishing.

Question 7 cont: Indicate whether fishing is allowed in the Park, and if so, how: Fish stocks in iSimangaliso are important because they are central to (a) livelihoods of communities (b) Commercial fisheries - some of KwaZulu-Natal’s most important commercial linefish stocks such as slinger, scotsman, yellowbelly, rockcod and many others are heavily reliant on the spillover that takes place from the iSimangaliso MPA. It is believed that without the existence of the iSimangaliso MPA these stocks would have collapsed to such a low level that commercial fishing for these species would no longer be economically viable. There are 15 recognised small-scale fishing communities in the Park excluding approximately 1000 individual subsistence fishers DAFF issue permits to fishers under the national small-scale fishers policy in conjunction with iSimangaliso DAFF is in the process of verifying small-scale fishers Compliance is done by Ezemvelo and DAFF

Questions 1, 2, and 3: Indicate whether there have been cases of park-people conflicts; When did these conflicts start? Please state the trend; Direct and underlying causes of these park-people conflict; Yes there have been cases of people-park clashes The conflicts are intermittent There does not appear to be a predictable pattern or trend It is believed some of the contributing factors are (a) lack of alternative economic opportunities – some 80% of the people living around the Park are dependent on social grants (b) depletion of natural resources in the areas that are not protected placing greater reliance on the resources in the Park (c) inducements by outside parties in particular in relation to rhino poaching

Questions 4, 5, and 6: Number of poaching-related human fatalities and/or injuries in the Park over the past five years; Clarify whether those poaching incidents were wildlife-related or fisheries-related; Indicate whether members of neighbouring communities had been shot at, and who did the shooting in the past five years: police or Park rangers; There have been 10 incidents in the last five years Seven poachers were fatally wounded Four poachers were injured Eight were wildlife-related (seven rhino poaching and one bush meat) Two were fisheries-related (gillnetting) One poacher was Mozambican, the other poachers were from local communities The clashes were with field rangers from Ezemvelo

Question 8: Point out the interventions that the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has put in place in deescalating park-people conflicts Environmental Awareness programmes Issue-based consultation forums A new stakeholder communications and consultation strategy Redevelopment of the Park – now A suite of local economic development programmes which include: community-public private lodges – three operational with community equity; one under EIA; one under construction; 14 in scoping Tourism activities – implementation of reserved bid system for local community owned companies; nine local community-owned (upwards of 70%) activity operations operational 8 co-management agreements with land claimants Payment of 8% of commercial revenue on an annual basis to land claimants.

Question 8 cont: Point out the interventions that the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has put in place in deescalating park-people conflicts A suite of local economic development programmes which include: 215 entrepreneurs in the SMME programme (R7.8m has been disbursed to 106 business Job creation targets in all third party service contracts (members of local community fill 90% of jobs created through third-party services) 87 bursaries to students since 2010 through the iSimangaliso Higher Access Education Programme 14 internships. All of the interns have secured permanent placements – eight of which are in iSimangaliso 40 tourism guides trained. These guides are now going through a second programme and an additional ten new guides are being trained

Question 8 cont: Point out the interventions that the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has put in place in deescalating park-people conflicts A suite of local economic development programmes which include: Environmental education programme - 55 schools on average per annum participate in iSimangaliso’s Environmental Education Programme Equitable access - 70 000 people obtain free access annually as part of iSimangaliso’s equitable access programme Natural resource harvesting programme, which includes 3 500 ncema harvesters and 1 000 subsistence fishers 14 agricultural gardens - these were established to improve food security and support sustainable agricultural practices. Funding is needed to continue this project Training of 200 crafters and 50 artists - some of these artworks can be seen in the Presidential Suite of the Moses Mabhida stadium in KZN, as well as Dube Tradeport. Two commissions sold for R100 000 each to a private buyer. Newly secured funding will allow the programme to continue this year.

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