1. 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

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Progress on Implementation Process cont…

11. 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
people registered

12. Be Part Of The BIG CHANGE
THANK YOU