Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Happy New Year and welcome to our first Weekly Update of the year. 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 (MDT) and Coastal Links South Africa (CLSA).
First CLSA NEC Meeting in 2014 held in Langebaan
The National Executive Committee of Coastal Links South Africa, representing over 4 000 small-scale fishers along the country’s coast line, met last week in Langebaan to consider key issues affecting the sector.
The discussions included:
- The current commercial Line Fish Allocation Process,
- The MLRA changes and the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy implementation process,
- Adoption of CLSA Constitution,
- WFFP – South Africa Conference and
- The path to financial sustainability
Financial sustainability
The CLSA executive wants to start a process that moves the organisation to financial sustainability. Various forms of fundraising, including nominal members fees, have come under discussion.This was discussed at length and a plan of action will be circulated amongst the branches of CLSA for adoption.
Line Fish Allocation Process
The line fish allocation process has attracted the attention of media around the country. MDT together with CLSA issued articles and letters via the mainstream media to state its position regarding the process. We strongly support a rights allocation process that will not further discriminate against small-scale fishers and their right to a sustainable future. For the near-shore the small scale fishing policy does that – not commercial fishing rights.
Read one of the letters that appeared in the Cape Argus here: http://wp.me/p29R58-dV
MLRA must be finally adopted
CLSA and Masifundise will lobby for the quick adoption and support of the MLRA by the National Council of Provinces so that the implementation of the small-scale fisheries policy can proceed. The new policy can bring substantial benefits to small-scale fishers, if properly implemented.
Click on the link to read a media statement from CLSA about the MLRA:http://wp.me/p29R58-dR
MDT against Privatisation of the Sea/ ITQ quotas
The next Conference of African Ministers of Fisheries & Aquaculture (CAMFA) will be held in Entebbe, Uganda from 14 – 18 March 2014. CLSA and MDT continue to oppose attempts to privatise the oceans and to promote the Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ) system.
This video, co-produced by us, is therefore still highly relevant:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGki2BKHoEQ
Watch the video and let us make noise against the privatisation of our sea and protect the livelihoods of the many small scale fishers around the world.
Illegal fishing charges against Langebaan fishermen dropped
Criminal charges against four fishermen who were accused of fishing illegally in Zone B at the Langebaan Lagoon were thrown out by the court earlier this month.
This is a result of the court case being postponed several times because of the High Court review that was launched to set aside the decision that the traditional net fishers cannot fish in Zone B. With the High Court review taking very long because of the State not filling the record of its decision, but coming with more settlement offers the court decided to throw out the criminal matters in this case.
Josh Cox spreads his wings
Masifundise staff member Josh Cox, is leaving the organisation at the end of January. He is getting involved in another community venture. Josh has been with Masifundise for three years during which he worked on the Pan African programme and other initiatives. “Josh has been a valuable staff member and his presence will be missed”, said Masifundise Director Naseegh Jaffer. “We wish him well in his new endeavour.”
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