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Eastern Cape MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), Nonkqubela Pieters, is set to hand over critical fishing gear and equipment to small-scale fishing enterprises in Port St Johns on Wednesday. This initiative aims to empower local fishermen and cooperatives, enhancing their ability to harvest marine resources and improve their livelihoods.
The province’s 75 fishing cooperatives, holding fishing rights, have long struggled with inadequate infrastructure, gear, and equipment. To address this, the Department has invested R1.7 million in the 2023/24 financial year to support small-scale fishing cooperatives along the province’s coastline. This support will benefit 5 cooperatives with 195 fishers in the OR Tambo, Amathole, and Alfred Nzo District municipalities.
As custodians of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform programs, the Department says it prioritizes supporting previously disadvantaged communities and individuals. The fishing enterprises receiving this equipment are small-scale fishing permit holders who obtained their permits through government efforts to ensure they have proper equipment and gear for fishing.
The equipment includes essential items such as fishing rods, lines, landing nets, and safety gear like wetsuits, life jackets, and diving masks. This initiative aims to enable subsistence and black fishing cooperatives to derive optimal economic benefit from their agricultural activities.
By providing this critical support, MEC Pieters and the Department are driving agricultural development programs, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and empowering local communities to thrive.
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