Protecting Marine Resources : a tangled net A grassroots Perspective Presented by : Pedro F. Garcia Chairperson : SAUFF Co –chair : the COLLECTIVE

Within the South African context What are the current perceptions at a grassroots level What is the relationship between communities and the various law-enforcement agencies. Small scale fisheries and the FRAP dilemma Vulnerability of coastal communities Grassroots communications frame-work Ownership and co-management of coastal marine resources

Communities, law-enforcement & monitoring agencies Fco’s Patrol vessels Saps Saps water wing National parks Local law enforcement Specialized units Near-shore monitors IR monitors Green Scorpions – DEA??

Perceptions Daff has become like the Mafia.(West Coast) Laws and regulations being put in place to deny communities access to resources (Overberg Region) Fco’s are involved with poachers and focus on soft targets like community fishers to hide their wrong doings. (West Coast) Abalone – when fisheries was closed SA was exporting 2000t legally. After re-opening SA exporting 4000t with a legal TAC of 92t????? (Cape Town) Fco’s are easily corrupted. Everyday 400 – 500 divers are entering our waters. Daff criminalize members of coastal communities. Different agencies employ different approaches in terms of regulations which is confusing...

Small scale fisheries and the FRAP dilemma IR – equality court ruling 2007 (WC/NC) Subsistence fisheries (EC/KZN) Sector policy, permit conditions SSFP 2012, SSF impl plan, SSF regs Overarching policy MLRA MPA’s, Msp Bill, Phakisa (oceans economy) NDP

Constitutional obligations Restitution Transformation and the redistribution of wealth. Acknowledgement of traditional and ancestrol rights. Right to basic needs such as water and electricity Food security Right to dignity and respect Intl guiding principles; VGGT’s, AFRM etc.

Grassroots communications frame-work Realistic rights allocation plan for next 5-10 Collective Platform through which agencies can communicate with communities Single largest near-shore org in SA

Ownership & co-management Christian Adams Chairperson Coastal Links South Africa Co-chair – “the Collective” When we want to establish good working relations between fishers and FCO’s, we must first change the FCO mindset from Apartheid policing to a mindset of co-management. Only when FCO’s see small scale fishers as legitimate users of the resources that will we be able to co-manage.

Everything else is tinckering Thank you, but…… Everything else is tinckering