In the heart of South Africa’s coastal communities, a quiet revolution is taking place. Small-scale fishers from Port St. Johns and Port Edward are stepping into leadership roles, not just as stewards of the ocean, but as trainers, mentors, and data champions. Through ABALOBI’s ‘Train-the-Trainer’ model, these fishers are taking ownership of their data and shaping the future of sustainable fisheries management.

From Fishers to Trainers: A Knowledge-Powered Shift

The challenge was clear: Small-scale fisheries depend on reliable data for better resource management, but relying solely on external data collectors meant gaps in coverage, accessibility, and local ownership.

Enter the ‘Train-the-Trainer’ model - a game-changing approach that turns fishers into community-based trainers, equipping them with the skills to collect and share vital fisheries data. Instead of a single data collector covering vast coastal areas, each cooperative now has trained fishers actively logging catch data, mentoring their peers, and building a culture of informed decision-making.

Bringing Training to Life: Port St. Johns & Port Edward Take the Lead

In January 2024, ABALOBI hosted an intensive training session with 14 cooperative members, handpicked to become the next generation of fisher-trainers. The week-long session in Cape Town provided hands-on experience with the ABALOBI Fisher and ABALOBI MONITOR apps, reinforcing the importance of data collection for co-management and sustainability.

Key moments from the training:

• Warehouse Tour: Fishers saw first-hand how their catch data influences pricing, quality control, and market access.
• Hands-on Data Collection: Participants practiced logging data using digital scales and measurement tools.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: The group engaged in peer-learning, ensuring that knowledge would flow back into their cooperatives.

The impact? When these 14 trainees returned home, they didn’t just bring back knowledge—they brought a movement. Within months, cooperative members started submitting more data than ever before, filling critical knowledge gaps about fish landings, species composition, and economic trends.

Scaling Up: More Data, More Impact

By May 2024, ABALOBI noted a significant uptick in data submissions, with some trainees completing over 80 hours of data collection within their communities. The initiative proved so successful that ABALOBI issued five additional smartphones to increase data access and enable even more fishers to contribute.

This data isn’t just sitting in a database - it’s actively informing cooperative decision-making, market strategies, and co-management discussions with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

Why This Matters

Empowering fishers with data literacy and technology means that they are no longer passive participants in the seafood supply chain. Instead, they are knowledge holders, decision-makers, and advocates for their own industry.

The ‘Train-the-Trainer’ model is proving that when you invest in local leadership, the impact ripples across entire communities. More accurate data leads to better policy decisions, stronger co-management structures, and ultimately, more resilient small-scale fisheries.

What’s Next?

The momentum isn’t stopping here. More training sessions are planned for 2025, ensuring that even more fishers can take up the mantle of data champions. And with continued support from ABALOBI and WWF, this model could become a blueprint for community-led fisheries management across the globe.

This is more than just training - it’s about empowering coastal communities to own their future, one data point at a time.