Wednesday, 23 October 2013
This weekly update provides short bits of information on the work on the work of Masifundise Development Trust (MDT) and Coastal Links South Africa (CLSA). It will appear every Wednesday.
Parliamentary submissions
Members of CLSA and MDT made submissions to parliament on Wednesday 16 October, in support of the Marine Living Resources Amendment Bill.
The following people addressed parliament: MDT Director, Naseegh Jaffer; CLSA chairperson Christiaan Adams; Hahn Goliath from Doringbaai, Neville Luyt from Steenberg Cove, Dawie Phillips from Port Nolloth, Sarah Niemand from Buffeljagsbaai, Ponono of Centane, Lindane Ngubane from KZN. The submissions were well delivered and received.
Making an impact in France
IMPAC3 is the 3rd international Congress on Marine Protected Areas. It is held every three years and is aimed at researcher and organisations whose work is connected to marine parks. This year MDT Director Naseegh is attending IMPAC3 to chair and facilitate a workshop on “MPAs through the eyes of fishers”. Presentations at the workshop deal with the challenges that MPAs present for fishers and how these can be met.
This is organised jointly by the Food & Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
For more information visit: http://www.impac3.org/en/
Coastal Links NEC to meet in Port Elizabeth
The National Executive Committee of CLSA is meeting in Port Elizabeth from 28 to 30 October 2013.
Delegates from around the country will deliberate about the recent submissions made to parliament, the MLRA amendment bill and the implementation of the Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) policy.
Pan African Programme
Role players are currently compiling the first draft policy recommendations relating to small-scale fisheries that will be delivered to fishery ministers at conference of African Ministers of Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA) in March 2014.
The document is based on inputs from partner organisations across the continent as well as the International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries, which MDT has played a key role in developing. Meanwhile, our first Pan African Fishers Net, produced last month, is being sent out to countries across Africa.
MDT team strengthened
MDT has added two filed workers to their team. Sithembele Tempi from the Eastern Cape and Lindani Ngubani from Kwazulu Natal (KZN). The two gentlemen will assist MDT with mobilising and communicating with small-scale fishers from the EC and KZN respectively.
Communication
MDT presentations to the parliamentary portfolio committee on the MLRA Amendment Bill were covered in various newspapers and on radio stations in the past week. We have complemented this with content on our website and social media platforms.
DAFF: West Coast Rock Lobster Meeting
DAFF (Fisheries Branch) will hold a special West Coastal Rock Lobster meeting, on the 23 of October 2013, from 2pm-4pm at the Sea Research Aquarium, Lower Beach Road, Sea Point. For more information call Thandikhaya on 021-4023733 or 0718693398
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