Masifundise host first SSF National Strategic Forum

As part of the efforts to implement the SSF Guidelines, on 12-16th  April 2021 Masifundise, a South African civil society organisation working with small-scale fishing communities in South Africa and member of the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP), hosted its first SSF National Strategic Forum. The Forum brought together representatives of the Community-based Organisation Coastal Links and inland fishing communities from across the country, together with national and international CSOs and NGOs.

This event has been carried out in the context of the “Ensuring the social-economic rights and decent work conditions for South Africa small-scale fishers” project, which Masifundise is implementing in partnership with Centro Internazionale Crocevia, FIAN International and the Transnational Institute. The project seeks to contribute to the realization the human rights of small-scale fishing communities, using the SSF Guidelines and other HR instruments to build the capacity of fishing communities to engage in policy processes, including the implementation of the Small-scale Fisheries Policy and the development of an Inland Fisheries Policy.

More than 90 small-scale fisheries representatives attended the forum. About 20 to 40 met physically in different venues, observing strict Covid-19 protocols. The provincial gatherings connected online together with other partners, who were also connecting online from South Africa, Italy, Germany and Denmark.

The SSF National Strategic Forum looked to empower members of small-scale fishing communities to explore, analyse and develop a shared understanding of the current political, socio-economic and key emerging issues that affect these communities. It included workshops and inputs on co-management, localization of food systems and the increasing rise in extractive activities on coastal shores. This forum highlighted the need for strengthening participatory governance at all levels, enabling fishing communities to secure their social, economic, and political rights and to demand the redistribution of access to natural resources and the roll-back of harmful development initiatives.

On the last day of the event, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, and relevant officials from the Fisheries Department and FAO where invited to attend an SSF Platform meeting, with the goal to create a space for representatives of small-scale fishing communities to engage directly with officials on issues pertaining to small-scale fisheries recognition and development. CSOs, NGOs and academics were also invited to attend.

As a result, the Fisheries Department committed to continue engaging with Masifundise and Coastal Links to solve issues and work towards the realization of human rights in small-scale fisheries, in line with the principles and objectives of the SSF Guidelines.