Submission to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on: Marine Living Resources Bill 2013 by Naseegh Jaffer - Masifundise

Who are we? Masifundise have a vision of empowered fishing communities with sustainable livelihoods, where all live in a democratic and socially just environment. Our mission is to facilitate mobilisation and organisation of fishing communities at the grassroots level, in order for communities to become empowered and capable of taking part in political and economic decision making processes. This will facilitate good governance and enable fishing communities to secure their social, economic and political rights. Furthermore, our mission is to continue lobbying for and advocating coherent governmental policies that build on the principles of social, economic and environmental justice. Much of our work over the last ten years has focused on ensuring the adoption and implementation of a progressive small-scale fisheries policy that enhances the prospect of sustainable livelihoods for fishers along the coastline.

Where do we work Two fishing communities in the Northern Cape 22 communities in the Western Cape 30 communities in the Eastern Cape 30 Communities in KwaZulu Natal Plans are being made to reach more communities in order facilitate SSFP implementation Partners in Reincorpfish, Too Big to Ignore and centrally active with FAO to develop International guidelines on SSF as agreed to by COFI.

Why this Bill It is needed in order to recognise, define and legitimise Small-scale fishing To enable the implementation of the SSF policy adopted by cabinet in 2012 To enable fishing rights to be allocated to community based legal entities and not individuals only To promote development in fishing communities

Deficiencies with existing Act It treats all fishing as “commercial” fishing and does not recognise the tradition and customs in small-scale fishing communities – hence leading to food insecurity, exploitation and marginalisation It constrains subsistence fishing to food only and it may not be sold – thus subjugating these fishers to impoverishment and criminalisation does not adequately nor actively lead to transformation in the fishery – only the elite benefit

Advantages of this Bill Recognises collective rights – as opposed to individual quotas at community level; It will enable fishers to earn an income throughout the year via the multi-specie approach; It promotes conservation of marine living resources through the “preferential” fishing zones and co-management; Will lead to women’s empowerment, income generation, job creation and local economic development especially in rural coastal towns;

Why protect, promote & develop SSF On a scale studies at FAO and other research institutions show that SSF is no match for commercial fishing in that: -Number of fishers employed (indirect Food Security) – advantage to SSF -Fish caught for human consumption – even -By-catch discarded at sea – advantage to SSF -Fish caught for fish meal and oil – advantage to SSF -Fish landed per tonne of fuel – advantage to SSF -Fishers employed per million invested – advantage to SSF -So there is no debate as to whether small should become big!

Concluding Remarks The Bill and the SSF policy conforms to much of the provisions of the UN-FAO Guidelines to be adopted in June 2014 thus placing SA in an advantageous position; This Bill fundamentally addresses the legacy of dispossession in marginalised fishing communities and parliament has a duty to act on this dispossession; It will lead to a reduction in poaching by legitimising and regulating SSF – section 19 of the bill; Co-ops and or collective forms of small-scale fishing rights holding is empowering, promotes equity for women & youth, and mitigates against exploitation. SACFC was never a co-op it merely masqueraded as one.

Thank you very much