FishersNet Published by: Coastal Links and Masifundise Development Trust 1 Station Road, Mowbray, Cape Town 7700 Tel: 021 685 4549 • Fax: 021 685 3816 VOL. 35 - APRIL 2018 Email: [email protected]
CLNC examining the wall of the kofferdam in Alexander Bay.
mining, with the mines linked to the coast by are under threat in the Northern Cape. Extractive diamond significant investments in rail transport. Rich SINCE late 2017 fishers from Coastal Links mining threatening the deposits of alluvial diamonds into the sea off branches in Port Nolloth and Hondeklipbaai the Northern Cape, carried from Kimberley have been actively mobilizing, in partnership livelihoods of small-scale via the Orange River, has made this coastline with other local civil society organisations an attractive and extractive offshore mining and environmental activists, to advocate for fishers in the Northern area for decades, with minimal benefits for changes in the way two large diamond mining the local population. companies – Alexkor and Transhex/West Coast Cape THE success of the Small-scale Fishing Resources are operating along the Northern THE Northern Cape has some unique Policy in this province depends upon local Cape coastline. These two companies, along features. It is the largest province in South fishers in each coastal province being able to with De Beers Namaqualand (DBN), hold a Africa, covering 30% of its landmass and, the turn any rights gained through the policy into monopoly on mining concessions along the smallest population (1.2 million residents) more sustainable livelihood opportunities 350km coast, from Alexander Bay in the north and economy of any of the provinces. Its and, the longer-term sustainability of its economy has historically been dominated by marine resources and breeding grounds. Both Continued on page 3
THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION THIS PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTED BY MASIFUNDISE THE views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission Editorial IN November 2017, small-scale fishers in the Northern Cape were the first fishers to qualify for rights in terms of the Small-scale Fisheries Policy. They were also the first fishers to be introduced to training by DAFF service providers on the proposed establishment of cooperatives in Port Nolloth and Hondeklipbaai. These two developments mark the latest milestones in their long and protracted struggle to ensure that benefits promised to them in the policy are delivered to them in ways that build a more secure and sustainable livelihood for small-scale fishers in the province. They know only too well that many challenges lie ahead. Many fishers, especially women and youth, never made it onto the final list. The constitution DAFF is proposing for the new cooperatives falls short of ensuring that their long-term rights under the policy are secure. Access to They their coastline is minimal due to the large are doing all number of diamond mining concessions along the coast, blocking the fishers from of this because easy access to their traditional fishing areas. this is their life - “I And, the increasing presence and scaling know no other up of diamond mining thorough Coffer Dam mining along the entire coastline is life” “This is my destroying their marine resources – their life”. entire basket of species – as well as the coastline’s marine biodiversity. The fishers know that their struggle to achieve food sovereignty is far from over. They are determined to make the policy and the many value-chain opportunities that accompany their fishing rights work. They are busy networking with other civil society organisations and environmental activists to challenge Coffer Dam mining in the area. They have their own ideas on how the cooperatives should work, based on their own indigenous knowledge and understanding of local conditions and the fishing sector. With the active participation of strong women, like Rosie Malan and Renthia Van Wyk, they are rethinking how to use the abandoned fish factory buildings in Port Nolloth. They are doing what they can to fix their boats and register them on the DAFF system so that they can get them back onto the water. They are doing all of this because this is their life - “I know no other life” “This is my life”.
When Andries struggled long and Although his tragic “Mannetjies” hard to make the death rocked fishers Klassen drowned Small-scale Fisheries up and down the off the coast of Port Policy work for coast, he will always Nolloth in early his community in be remembered by April, he was doing Hondeklipbaai and those left behind what he loved – all fishers in the to take their fishing for food Northern Cape. unfinished struggle and a livelihood Everyone respected forward. This edition for his family. But Mannetjies for his of FishersNet is Mannetjies was dedication and dedicated to the more than that. He commitment and life and memory of was an activist who love of fishing. Mannetjies.
Andries Klaasen, fondly known as Mannetjies drowned at sea in April 2018. FishersNet Vol 35 - April 2018 2 Continued from page 1 to the Groen Rivier in the south, blocking the secondly, pumping out the water access of fishers to many of their traditional from the dam area and, along fishing areas. with this, all the marine resources THE fishers estimate that they currently living inside the area; thirdly, send only have access to less than 5% of this in large machinery to dig the coastline, adding additional transport costs diamonds out from the drained and time to their fishing operations. In marine bed, leaving in its wake addition to the issue of lack of access, the an abandoned Coffer Dam for fishers and small-scale mining producers are “mining rehabilitation” yet to see up in arms about an even more worrying the light of day along the coast. feature – the escalation of what is called Coffer IN January 2018 Coastal Links Dam diamond mining all along the coast. in the Northern Cape sought the ALTHOUGH Coffer Dam mining is not new assistance of the Legal Resources to the area, the way in which it is currently Centre in Cape Town to launch being practiced and escalation of mining a legal challenge the way Coffer activity is a huge concern. Previously built Dam mining is taking place along out of sand and, therefore not very harmful the coastline. They, along with to the marine environment, these Coffer other environmental and lobby Dams are now being built out of quarried groups, based on extensive rock, stretching out into the sea for up to 250 research, argue that the mining metres, at a rapid rate. companies have not complied IN addition to the damage these “dams” do with existing South African to the beach and local shoreline, this system environmental legislation. possible, Coffer Dam mining, along with the of diamond extraction is extremely damaging AS of writing the campaign against Coffer ongoing lack of access to local fishing areas, to the local marine environment and Dam mining in the Northern Cape seems to seriously undermines any gains the fishers biodiversity. The production process involves be gaining momentum as it becomes more make under the Small-scale Fishing Policy, firstly, the building of the rectangular shaped widely publicized and known to the South seriously threatening their present and future dams made up of quarried rocks and stones; African public. Unless resolved as soon as livelihood opportunities. The lack of infrastructure support for fishers in Port Nolloth and Hondeklip Baai IN addition to the lack access to traditional at the once thriving harbor and, revive departmental red tape between national fishing areas and threats to sustainable activities aligned to fishing that offer the and provincial government since 2015. marine resources, small-scale fishers in the many unemployed women and youth in the MORGAN Johnson, a Coastal Links leader Northern Cape argue that government is area potential livelihood opportunities. “I do in Port Nolloth, argues that things need to not doing enough to provide them with the what I can, getting support from members in change and that fishing along the coast is kind of infrastructure the fishing industry the community, the local Spar and others…..I hazardous and unsafe for small-scale fishers. needs to make it a more vibrant part of the won’t stop because I know no other life.” He also wants answers to questions about local economy, despite numerous broken NEITHER town even have designated or safe millions of government Rands allocated to promises. landing or off-loading areas for the boats of improve conditions which nobody to date THIS is confirmed by any visit to small-scale fishers, adding to the already many has seen. “There are cranes that don’t work. Port Nolloth and Hondeklip Baai, both safety hazards of a harsh and unpredictable There are planks missing along the existing characterized by a lack or, evidence Northern Cape coastline. Small boats jetty. I have to walk across floating tyres to of abandoned or decaying fishing donated to the fishers by the Department of get my boat out to sea…We have many infrastructure along the coastline. The Rural Development and Land Reform in the meetings with the provincial, district, and Northern Cape still lacks an adequate province, lie unused by along the shore in both local municipality and written many letters harbor to support either commercial or towns, caught up in a tangled web of inter- but still we get no answers” small-scale fishing. Once vibrant fishing factories, operated by companies like Ovenstone or Oceana, now lie abandoned or under-utilised in their once thriving fishing harbours. Monuments to the closing down of these factories, leaving in their wake, hundreds of fishers, mostly women, impoverished and unemployed. ROSIE Malan, a Coastal Links member and activist from Port Nolloth has worked in the local fishing industry since childhood, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. She has been doing whatever she can do get support from government and local private businesses to resuscitate the dilapidated fishing complex
3 FishersNet Vol 35 - April 2018 FishersNet Vol 35 - April 2018 4 5 FishersNet Vol 35 - April 2018 Voices from the Coast: Despite many challenges, fishers in Port Nolloth and Hondeklipbaai look towards a brighter future
Renthia Van Wyk: The Hondeklipbaai government must just give fisher: We can us control so that we can change all of operate the cooperatives this if we can just using our own knowledge work together and understanding of local to produce what conditions. That is my vision, God gave us as because we can see the fishers from the potential that exists in this sea. We can use place. I can see that the youth our common have been watching the way sense and decide that we are doing it for we have struggled these past ourselves and not rely on government 30 years. As our children grow promises. I believe we can make fishing up they see how we have successful if we stand together. struggled and feel that we are going nowhere. The youth Morgan: We say that the sea produces no want to see the money. They don’t understand cooperatives that the sea is the foundation work. There are of our wealth. We must bring only two fishing back that sense of trust and communities here pride in fishing. That’s why it is in the Northern so important to fight to make Cape – Port Nolloth this policy work so that it and Hondeklipbaai benefits us. So that our youth – and, if these and future generations can cooperatives can work, they will greatly build on what we struggled to improve the life and livelihoods of many achieve for them. local people Face2Face The only life Aunty Rosie Malan from Port Nolloth knows is the sea and she is deter- mined to make the value chain fishing of- fers improve the local economy
I was born in Port Nolloth and grew up Department of Agriculture here. All my family – my mother, my that were just lying grandmother, my grandfather, and me. My around. So, I went to take mother was fired from the factory because a look. We used money she gave the workers water on a warm day. we had to buy pipes, oil, We all worked in this fish factory until it and other things to get closed-down. them up and running. I am one of the first workers to come Everything was good. In back to this building to ask the owners for February when people help. I know no other work. We wanted from the Department to create a place to sell fish and chips. visited us we showed We did this, fetching fish in a bakkie from them the tractors. They Doringbaai and other places along the were so impressed. Now we are using them West coast. But we were stopped by the to pull our boats in and out of the water. can get safety equipment and other parts inspectors who told us we didn’t have We are using the money we get from the so that we can begin to get the small boats permission to do this. fishers for doing this to pay for ongoing that are laying around on the shore up and In January this year Oom Piet asked me repairs and maintenance. Now I am busy running and back onto the government if I could make a plan with tractors from the talking with the older fishers to see if we system again.
FishersNet Vol 35 - April 2018 6 NC Fishers discussing the Constitution. Fishers in the Northern Cape dig in their hills on the DAFF constitution for Cooperatives
“WE support the cooperatives. We want them raise their concerns with the Cooperative to work. But we are not happy with the way “This process and constitution with Craig Smith, DAFF has implemented their establishment Director of Small-scale Fisheries in DAFF, at nor with the proposed Constitution for the is our life. It a National Roundtable meeting convened Cooperatives” is our right to a by Masifundise in late April this year. At the SMALL-SCALE fishers in the Northern livelihood. What meeting, in which Craig Smith once again Cape were the first to qualify for rights in outlined the roll-out of the policy since 2016, terms of the SSFP with the publishing of their happens if my the fishers heard some of government’s final list of qualifiers in November 2017. They husband dies? concerns and, had an opportunity to engage were also the first to undergo training by face to face with him on some of their service providers hired by DAFF in February concerns. 2018 on a constitution drafted by DAFF for AT the all-day meeting the unresolved the day to running and management of these issue of the exclusion of many fishers, mostly legal entities. Like many fishers from Kwa- retirement or, death. women and youth, from being part of the Zulu Natal, the Northern Cape fishers have “THIS is our life. It is our right to a policy and rights allocation process was once expressed many concerns and argue that livelihood. What happens if my husband dies? again raised. Craig Smith’s explanation of the they should have been consulted about its I will be left with nothing” (Rentia van Wyk) verification and appeals process, in which content before being presented with a long ANOTHER area of contention are clauses fishers were excluded in one of the members and complex document, in English and not specifying that the Cooperative needs to of the verification panel deemed that they Afrikaans, with little time to study or process consult DAFF for approval. The fishers argue failed to qualify, surfaced a long-held concern its content at the two-day workshop. that this is not in line with the existing South that the rights verification process is viewed ” We should have been consulted. We African Cooperatives Act and undermines by many fishers as being less than fair. know the situation here, on the ground. What their right to decide on the operations of the “WHEN Craig Smith explained on what do consultants from Johannesburg know Cooperative. grounds fishers were excluded it all fell into about fishing?” (Rentia van Wyk, Coastal Links “IF the government allocates fishing rights place for me. Fishers know who the fishers leader from Port Nolloth) to a company it doesn’t interfere in how the are in their local community. We put forward ONE of the key bones of contention is company works. I am not saying that DAFF 240 names but when the final list came out the clause pertaining to ownership of the has no right to monitor us, I agree with that only 74 fishers from Port Nolloth were on the Cooperative which excludes an equal share- 100%, but how we run the Cooperative needs list…. I think that the entire process needs holding right. The fishers are adamant that to be left to us” (Stanley Young, Coastal Links to be reviewed” – (Morgan Johnson, Coastal they don’t just want to have membership leader in Port Nolloth) Links leader from Port Nolloth). rights. They want a right that gives them COASTAL Links members from the AS of writing (May 2018), the issue of the the ability to pass on their share in the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Constitution and implementation of the cooperative to their family in the case of and Kwa-Zulu Natal, had an opportunity to policy remains unresolved. 7 FishersNet Vol 35 - April 2018 This was the case this year, the permits arrived very Jetty in a bad condition. late in an already short fishing season.
Safety at Sea ON the 10 April 2018, a well-known and the precariousness and dangerous life “THE fishers push themselves because loved Coastal Links member and leader fishers face every day that they go out to there is not enough time left for them from Hondeklip Baai, Andriea “ Mannetjies” sea. Secondly, the extra dangers of fishing to catch fish in the fishing season if their Klaasen, tragically lost his life while fishing in unfamiliar coastal waters. In this case permits from DAFF get delayed. This was the off the coast of Port Nolloth. Mannetjies off the coast of Port Nolloth, well known case this year, the permits arrived very late in played a key role in advocating for the for its rough seas and unpredictable an already short fishing season. That is why fishing rights of small-scale fishers through weather changes. The arrival of a thick and fishers like Mannetjies take risks going out to the implementation of the Small-scale unexpected mist while Mannetjies was sea. Packing in as much fishing as they can Fishing Policy for his community and fishers at sea is seen as a key reason for such a in a shorter period of time” in the Northern Cape, with many ideas and seasoned fisher. And, last but not least, the THE death of Mannetjies reminds us not dreams on how the policy could improve possible reason why Mannetjies pushed only of how much time and energy he gave the lives and livelihoods of fishers in the himself to go out fishing twice on that day, to improve the life and livelihoods of small- province. rather than once. scale fishers in the Northern Cape and, how THE tragic death of Mannetjies ONE explanation for this was offered by much more needs to be done to improve illustrates some important things. Firstly, Naseegh Jaffer, Director at Masifundise the safety of fishers at sea.
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