Fishermen’s walk to focus on subsistence anglers’ plight

FISHERMEN will unite in a walk along the Durban promenade on Saturday, 8 July to highlight the concerns of those who fish to put food in their fridges.

READ ALSO: South Durban anglers want fish prioritised over oil

The fishermen’s walk, hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Subsistence Fishermen’s Forum (KZNSFF) and South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), will begin at 8am.

Fishermen from the Bluff, Amanzimtoti, Chatsworth, Crossmore, Lamontville, Morningside, Newlands, North Beach, Overport, Park Rynie, Phoenix, Reservoir Hills, Shallcross, South Beach, Sydenham, Umbilo, Umkomaas, Umkomaas, Umlazi, Umzinto, Wentworth and Winklespruit will walk from snake park pier to uShaka.

“The walk is to raise awareness of the plight that subsistence fishermen of Durban face daily. Japanese, Chinese and other international fishing trawlers are allowed by our government to fish within our maritime coastline our oceans in the winter months when sardines and shad are in abundance. They deprive local subsistence fisher folk who are trying to eke out a livelihood through fishing,” said SDCEA project officer, Chadley Joseph.

The troubles of the fishermen will be brought to the attention of authorities, as they struggle to find sufficient, safe spaces for fishing to provide for their families where they are not chased away by police or security.

“The fishermen’s walk will also be used as a platform to oppose harmful developments that will take place in the Durban Harbour and the Indian Ocean – developments such as a proposed desalination plant for the Bluff community, 2D and 3D seismic testing along the east coast of South Africa and sandmining 1.5km off Durban’s harbour mouth, which will all have detrimental effects on subsistence fisher folk as well as beach uses and businesses who utilise our oceans,” said Joseph.

READ ALSO: Desalination plant proposal remains in the pipeline

“SDCEA and KZNSFF met with Moshe Motlohi and other Transnet officials to discuss the concerns of the subsistence fishermen of KZN. Fishermen who have no permits to enter the harbour will receive the application forms on the day.”

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