During July 2024, ABALOBI held a three/four-day workshop for a diverse group of 10 members from the Mooiuitsig Fishing Cooperative. The purpose of the workshop was to empower the SSF cooperative with crucial skills, facilitate discussion and share insights.

Seven of the participants were female and three were male, ABALOBI is committed to assisting women to empower themselves within the fisher community. Women are often disenfranchised within the fishing community as it is a historically male-dominated industry so our team works hard to train women in areas where they can carve out their own space within the community, such as data collection or quality control.

Who is the Mooiuitsig SSF Cooperative?

The Mooiuitsig SSF Cooperative is a small-scale fisheries cooperative with 22 members, primarily women, from the fishing community of Betty's Bay in the Kogelberg area. Notably, their Vice-Chairperson is the first qualified female skipper in the Kogelberg area.

The Workshop

The workshop kicked off with some brief (and informal) introductions by the SSF cooperative members and ABALOBI that set the intimate tone for the workshop that was to follow. The co-op members openly discussed the challenges that they face, including:

• Obtaining line fish permits;
• Access to boats, fishing equipment and infrastructure (they must conclude agreements with boat owners that naturally, can become a daunting task);
• Conflict, communication and time management issues among SSF co-op members; and
• The working relationship between the Mooiuitsig SSF cooperative and the WWF as well as other SSF cooperatives in the area.

ABALOBI as an organization. The SSF cooperative members were introduced to ABALOBI as an organization, its objectives and initiatives that focuses on leveraging technology, strengthening local communities, preserving traditional fishing practices and enhancing sustainability. Before the workshop was held, there were many misconceptions among the co-op members on how they could benefit from partnering with ABALOBI which benefits became evident as the workshop progressed.

The ABALOBI FISHERApp Thereafter, the SSF co-op members were introduced to the ABALOBI FISHERApp, highlighting its features and possible benefits with practical demonstrations on how to log data. The majority of the participants downloaded the app and were able to log data in a simulated test run. The fishers were impressed by how easy it is to use the app and how conveniently and rapidly one could log the data. The fishers' engagement was evident from the questions that they asked and how oriented they were towards the app's practicability.

Financial Awareness. Lastly, a work session was also held on financial awareness by means of an interactive spending game focused on good spending habits and savings. The fishers shed some light on the financial challenges that they face and how difficult it is sometimes to survive and make a living as a fisher. The fishers were hopeful that they could apply some of the tips and advice discussed in their daily lives.

Feedback

100% of the participants rated: their experience at the ABALOBI training event as very good/excellent.

“I loved everything - from the benefits of using the FISHERApp,, the practical on how to log a catch, how to budget etc.” - Samantha Adonis

“I enjoyed the whole training. ABALOBI presented in a way for us to understand clearly and used a lot of everyday examples for us to relate. My least favourite part was to say goodbye.” - Solene Dudley

“I enjoyed financial awareness the most. Thumbs up also to Eben & Llewelyn for the manner in which they presented - clear simple language for all to understand - and letting the group participate fully." - Gonda Haydricks

“I am looking forward to more future training with ABALOBI. This is all helpful, also to learn more about Abalobi” - Melvin Jooste

Conclusion

ABALOBI equips cooperatives and fishers with essential tools, knowledge, and support, empowering men and women all over South Africa to lead their communities toward a more resilient and sustainable future. ABALOBI is eager to continue collaborating with fishers and cooperatives in the years to come.