Towards Equity, Sustainability and Stability: A Sector Planning Approach to Fishing and Mariculture Development in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa, Peter Britz, Warwick Sauer, Dinty Mather, Lionel Philips


Towards Equity, Sustainability and Stability: A Sector Planning Approach to Fishing and Mariculture Development in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa By Peter Britz, Warwick Sauer, Dinty Mather and Lionel Philips ABSTRACT A development mandate is explicit in South Africa's recently enacted fisheries legislation, the Marine Living Resources Act of 1998, which is based on the principles of equity, sustainability and stability. The new policy represents a significant departure from that of the previous Government, which largely confined its role to that of resource management, and thus presents a challenge in terms of the development of institutional strategies and capacity to promote socio-economic goals. A case study of a sector planning approach to fishing and mariculture development in the Northern Cape Province is described, as well as lessons learned from the experience. The economy of the Namaqualand coastal region Northern Cape Province is dominated by mining which is in decline, however fishing and mariculture offer a significant opportunity for sustainable economic development provided appropriate interventions are made. Specific initiatives have included the establishment of a representative community based Fishing and Mariculture Development Association (FAMDA), mentor support for emerging fishing and mariculture entrepreneurs, a socio-economic baseline and impact assessment of the potential of mariculture and fishery development, research support to promote fishery and aquaculture development, and the development of new projects and investments. It is concluded that the single biggest constraint to fishing and mariculture development remains institutional, and that well coordinated planning and institutional arrangements will be required if development goals of the South Africa's new marine living resources policy are to be realised. KEYWORDS: South Africa, fisheries, mariculture, policy, development, sector planning View Equity, Efficiency, and Communities Session View Full Paper (PDF file)

Instructions for authors Conference Program Contact us IIFET 2000 Web Menu

Towards Equity, Sustainability and Stability: A Sector Planning Approach to Fishing and Mariculture Development in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT