Meet Dumisa Mbewu, a resilient and passionate fisherwoman from the Nomncingi fishing cooperative in Port St. Johns, located along the breathtaking Wild Coast of South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Every day, Dumisa journeys along the Ntafufu River and the rugged coastline, traveling tens of kilometers on foot. Her mission? To gather essential data with the ABALOBI Monitor app, a tool empowering local fishers to document their catch and report on the health of their environment.

In Dumisa’s words:

"We feel proud when we fish. This is more than a job—it's our way of life, our bond with the sea. Here, employment is rare, so we’re lucky to make a living from fishing. Selling our catch to visitors lets us put food on our tables. When lobster season opens, it’s a busy time for us, and during the off-season, we rely on other fish to feed our families. This is how we live. We belong to the ocean that provides for us."

"With the little money we earn, we send our children to school, buy uniforms, and provide the basics like mielie meal so they can eat. Often, the ocean is our only livelihood. It lets us support our families and educate our children."

Dumisa is one of many women who are vital to the future of fishing communities and the preservation of marine biodiversity. Through ABALOBI, these communities are equipped to collect data that not only contributes to the sustainable management of ocean resources but also protects their way of life.

Women like Dumisa are often the unheralded champions of the fishing economy, and ABALOBI proudly celebrates their efforts to drive change. Together, they’re shaping a more sustainable future for small-scale fishers, their communities, and our oceans.