DEAR Editor:
A meeting was held at Craigieburn Community Hall recently at which several important local issues were discussed. The meeting was held under the auspices of the South Durban Community Alliance (SDCA), and members of Wild Oceans, Oceans not Oil, as well as Umkomaas line fishermen took part. Following a short presentation by the principle organisations, the floor was opened for local community members to discuss common problems.
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Considerable discontent is being expressed by line fishermen due to recent developments in which many local fishing spots are now being barred from subsidence fisher folk. It would appear that these fishing spots are now classed as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and are off limits for fishing activities.
Speakers all expressed their support for the MPA concept, as they, more than most, are acutely aware of dwindling stocks of fish both in size and type, and because of their urgent need to feed families. Surviving this issue is paramount to them.
In fact, it is perhaps because of the importance of dwindling fish resources that they brought this matter to the attention of local government. However recent behaviour of certain organisations towards fisher folk has been more reminiscent of the ‘old apartheid regime’ than present-day.
Accepting that inter-tidal areas are a most important part of marine ecology preservation and albeit important to preserve as much of this environment as possible, it is extremely unlikely that damage done to long-term fish stocks is due to line fishermen activities.
Not when:
– Just off-shore, activities of foreign factor fishing ships trawling with nets the size of the Moses Mabhida Stadium remove or destroy all marine life in its path.
– foreign oil interests conduct off-shore exploration, using seismic air guns that would kill most micro organisms (the food source of much of marine life) and cause major harm to larger aquatic animals. This is the current status and it does not include what might happen when oil spills happen.
– the amount of pollution entering our seas off the coast poisons much of the food chain, including all marine animals, and will in turn eventually enter the human food chain.
– the major earth modification (climate change) – a phenomena which is NOT understood by the general public or ‘experts’ alike is not considered. Changes already have caused oceans to become more acidic which has resulted in untold damage to coral shoals and aquatic life.
It would appear that yet again the notion that ‘Government by the people for the people’ is a far cry from the reality. Once again, the poor and needy are overlooked and decisions favouring big business interests and the more affluent are promoted.
It appears in most cases involving any ‘consultation’ process that central government has made up its mind already, but it condescends to discuss proposals with the general public so that it can ‘tick the box’. Currently the attitude of those in power is arrogant and dictatorial and almost a mirror image of times gone by, but of course it will not be recognised as such.
Every problem presents an opportunity to develop a new way of working and resolving – and to stop making the errors of the past.
In the words of Albert Einstein, probably one of the world’s greatest scientists, “How can we resolve the problems of tomorrow with the thinking of yesterday, when the problems of today were formed”.
Let us work together with imagination and make positive changes ahead of natural disasters that are on the horizon if we fail to make the transition to a new way of living.
CROSS
Concerned Resident Of Scottburgh South
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