Fisherfolk Livelihood at Risk

 Sea mining, oil exploration and water treatment projects are set to destroy the ocean and life within

Multiple companies hope to exploit our ocean through projects such as seismic testing, sand winning and the construction of a desalination plant. They will plunder the oceans resources for their own gains, leaving the fisherfolk, who rely on the ocean, to suffer.

Hitachi are proposing a desalination plant for the Bluff community. This facility will bring destruction to the environment, community and livelihoods of fishermen who depend on the ocean. Brine is dumped into the ocean by the plant. Brine is created when the salt is seperated from sea water. Brine causes an increase of salt content and a decrease in oxygen levels in the ocean, causing a permanent loss of habitat, meaning fish will not occupy that area anymore.

Proposed seismic testing will be devastating to the marine environment. Petroleum Geo – Services are planning 2D and 3D seismic testing from the coast of Durban all the way to the coast of Mossel Bay. Seismic surveys are carried out during marine oil and gas exploration in order to investigate whether there is oil in the seabed. If they do find oil, offshore drilling rigs are erected and the oil is drilled from the seabed. The proposed seismic area is along the Agulhas current. The Agulhas bank is an important spawning area for small bait fish such as anchovy, pilchard and mackerel. Seismic testing along this area will disrupt this spawning area, the fish will either leave the area or be killed.

Sandwinning will have a drastic effect on the environment and people. Sandwinning is mining of the ocean seabed for sand. Transnet are the developers and they are proposing to mine a critical sand bank 1.5KM from the mouth of the Durban harbour. The sand bank Transnet is proposing to mine is an important mussel cracker bed that forms part of a marine protected area. Removal of this bank, means the removal of important marine species that is vital to sustainable fishermen. Sandwinning will cause a disruption in the habitats of certain fish species, mussel and cracker. This disruption will lead to these fish, mussel and cracker species leaving the area or be killed.

Some Important information fishermen need to know is; the amount of shad a fisherman can catch and keep has now decreased to two fish per quota. The Transnet permit for the mining of sea sand may be rescinded as fishermen won’t have access to the North and South Piers. Fishing banned on most Durban’s beaches and some fishing piers collapsing  

Plans for Action

·         7^TH June 2017 at 6.30pm Fisherman’s meeting at John Dunn Hall

·         16^th of June 2017 at 10.00am Fishermen’s Rally Unit 11 grounds Chatsworth.

·         20^th June 2017 at 09.00am March through Durban

CONTACT: KZN FISHERFOLKS RIAZ KHAN - 0842531157

                     :SDCEA CHADLEY JOSEPH – 061 843 6580