Small-scale Langebaan fishers may not be able to continue traditions as permits throttle their lifeblood
Solene Smith, who spoke to Eyewitness News just before her untimely passing, highlighted the plight of small-scale fishermen in the Western Cape, lamenting their way of life may be cut short.
Small boats docked at the Langebaan Yacht Club. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - A dying wish of a small-scale Langebaan fisherwoman for more support from the provincial government will be top of mind for her fellow fishers as they prepare to cast their votes in the coming weeks.
Solene Smith, who spoke to Eyewitness News just before her untimely passing, highlighted the plight of small-scale fishermen in the Western Cape.
Martin Blake and Solene Smith are part of the small scale fishers from the Langebaan area. Smith, who was the Coastal Link chairperson in Langebaan, has since passed away. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/Eyewitness News
Delays in the processing of permits and a reduction in the number of boats permitted to fish have all adversely impacted the households of those who rely on marine life for survival.
Government recently announced tighter regulations on catch limits for small-scale fishers. This means only three out of 11 boats owned by individual fishers will be allowed to work.
Smith had been in the forefront in the fight against the government to obtain fishing permits for more small-scale fishermen in the seaside town.
However, her efforts were cut short by her untimely passing a week after speaking to Eyewitness News.
Before she passed on, Smith said most fishers had been sitting at home without permits since February, even though they had applied for them in time.
And almost as if she knew her time was limited, Smith shared a dying wish.
“Maybe I will pass away, but I have children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, they also want to take the tradition forward and be part of fishing, but as things go now, there’s nothing for them.”
The former Coastal Links chairperson in Langebaan aspired to vote in the upcoming general elections, however, she had little faith that politicians could help them.
“I’m not so sure that a new political party will do better, maybe and maybe not, but what I believe is that the people who are in power don’t worry for the people who are not in power.”
Advocacy groups fighting for the rights of small-scale fishermen have been trying to get the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy to revise the small-line fish allocation to ensure a fair and equitable distribution promised to fishermen over the years.