Weekly Information Update
This information sheet is published every Wednesday and distributed via our database, our website and social media. It provides information on the work of Masifundise Development Trust (Masifundise) and Coastal Links South Africa (CLSA).
9 July 2014
New guidelines to improve impact of Marine Protected Areas
UCT’s Environmental and Evaluation Unit (EEU) has developed guidelines aimed at making Marine Protected Areas more meaningful to society in terms of addressing social, economic and ecological objectives.
Marine Protected Areas are supported as far as they protect marine resources but have been criticised where they exclude communities and favour powerful interests.
The guidelines were the outcome of a project that included a number of PHd and Masters Dissertations as well as input from Langebaan, Ocean View, Hluleka, Dwesa and Struisbaai fishers.
The guidelines are titled ‘Integrating Human Dimensions into MPA Planning and Management.
Read more here: http://www.wwf.org.za/media_room/publications/?11401%2FPeople-centric-guidelines-for-MPA-management
Western Cape Fishers map out a growth path
Members of CLSA provincial executive committee held a meeting yesterday (8 July) in Cape Town.
On the discussion table was the upcoming World Forum of Fisher Peoples’ General Assembly, the August Annual General Meeting of CLSA, its constitution and programme.
The meeting was attended by representatives from CLSA branches in Langebaan, Hawston, Paternoster, Saldanha, Mamre, Gansbaai, Pearly Beach, Buffeljagsbaai and Hout Bay.
CLSA has more than 4 000 members nationally organised into about 90 branches and committees. The Western Cape is a traditional stronghold and is where the organisation started.
CLSA is pursuing strategies that will enhance its resources, expand its membership and speed up the implementation of the small-scale fisheries policy. CLSA, Masifundise and other partners have played key roles in the development of the new policy.
CLSA advocates gender equity and youth involvement in the fishing industry. These issues came under the spotlight at the provincial meeting on Tuesday.
CLSA will hold its AGM from 29 to 31 August, just before the start of the General Assembly of the WFFP.
Fisher representatives prepare for world conference
Representatives of small-scale fishing advocacy groups from around the world are preparing for the General Assembly of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples that takes place in Cape Town from 1 to 5 September 2014.
Masifundise staff and members of Coastal Links are making the necessary preparations to ensure a successful conference.
The WFFP General Assembly will bring together 150 delegates from South Africa and about 40 other countries in the world.
The five day conference will focus on a range of issues, in particular the threat of oceans being privatised and, more positively, the implementation of a set of guidelines for small-scale fishers that was last month adopted internationally.
Multi-media platforms will be set up in the next few weeks to provide media, civil society and role players in the sector with critical information about the conference.
Masifundise and CLSA Annual Report details the work of 2013
The 2013 Masifundise and CLSA annual report is now available on our website. The report details the achievements, victories and challenges of Masifundise and CLSA during this period.
The history and progress of the much-awaited small-scale fisheries policy is outlined as well as the significant progress that has been made in the spheres of organisation and communication.
Read the report here: https://www.masifundise.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/MasifundiseAR201314Hlow.pdf
Small-Scale Fisheries Policy Handbook – A focus on Key objectives
The Small-scale fisheries (SSF) policy handbook, published in April 2014 by MDT, PLAAS and Too Big To Ignore (TBTI), is an important book, guiding South African fishing communities through the small-scale fishing policy.
Masifundise, CLSA and partners have distributed close to 10 000 English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa and isiZulu handbooks to fishers countrywide. There is a huge demand for more Handbooks to be printed.
There will be ongoing attempts to create awareness of the policy. Below, we focus on the key objectives of the policy, found on Page 3 of the handbook.
The policy introduces new ways to approach the small-scale fisheries sector and specifically focuses on human rights, gender and development.
The key Policy objectives are (read more: https://www.masifundise.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SSFpolicyENG1.pdf