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The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture held a successful Seaweed and Small-scale Fisheries Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in East London on 25 November 2025 to strengthen support for the provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Strategy. Stakeholders, led by the World Bank, discussed the strategy’s priorities and the PROBLUE Technical Assistance grant focused on seaweed and small-scale fisheries in the province.
What Happened
The workshop brought together government officials, experts, researchers and coastal stakeholders. They gathered to improve collaboration on seaweed development and small-scale fisheries. Participants received findings from the Seaweed Utilization Scoping Study. They also explored the next steps needed to build a viable seaweed value chain in the Eastern Cape.
Speakers emphasized new economic opportunities for coastal communities and small-scale fishers who stand to benefit from emerging blue-economy industries.
Official Response
Facilitators emphasized the need to fix technical, policy, economic, social and environmental challenges. These issues slow growth in fisheries and aquaculture. The discussions helped outline a new technical assistance programme. The programme will strengthen co-management in small-scale fisheries and improve coastal value chains. Stakeholders said the sector can grow only if government, communities and partners like the World Bank work together.
Community Impact
The workshop is expected to open new pathways for income generation in coastal towns where unemployment and limited fishing rights remain long-standing concerns. Better management practices, improved policy alignment and targeted support may help small-scale fishers access new markets and benefit from the province’s blue-economy potential.
