In a vibrant and transformative week in the Eastern Cape, ABALOBI joined forces with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) to engage and empower fishers in Port St. Johns. With over 70 cooperative members in attendance, the sessions were not just workshops but a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to sustainable small-scale fisheries. Here’s a look at the highlights, challenges, and impactful moments from this engagement.
Starting the Day: Reflecting on the NORAD Blue Economy Project
The morning began with a recap of the NORAD Blue Economy project. Instead of a traditional presentation, cooperative members were invited to actively recount key events and activities. This hands-on approach not only illustrated the breadth of accomplishments but also underscored the power of collective action.
Connecting the Dots: Data Feedback and Insights
One of the session’s highlights was the data feedback exercise. Using the information collected through the FISHER App, ABALOBI presented visual summaries of fishers’ logs, including catch data and expense breakdowns. The graphs spurred lively discussions. When the power unexpectedly cut out, the team adapted seamlessly, sharing interesting statistics verbally - a testament to the flexibility and resilience of both the facilitators and participants.
A key moment of recognition came when five fishers who had logged over 100 trips in the past year were applauded for their commitment. This served as both a motivational milestone and a call to action for others to engage more actively with the platform. Excitingly, co-ops were informed that they would soon receive tailored dashboards, empowering them to take ownership of their data.
Bringing Value Chains to Life
The workshop took a creative turn during the session on value chains. Using paper and crayfish lures, facilitator, Casha, led a hands-on demonstration of the Eastern Cape Rock Lobster (ECRL) process flow. The room buzzed with energy as fishers discovered gaps in their understanding of their own value chains. Beyond the buyer pickup point, much of the system was unfamiliar territory. This activity proved eye-opening, sparking conversations about the potential for greater transparency and control.
DFFE representatives were deeply engaged, praising the interactive format and even suggesting that future workshops “leave the projector at home” in favour of these tactile, collaborative methods.
Addressing Challenges and Exploring Solutions
Throughout the day, the fishers candidly shared their challenges, ranging from infrastructure issues like poor roads to the exclusion of women and youth in cooperatives. The discussion also touched on the difficulties posed by permit conditions and the lack of alternative livelihoods during closed seasons. These challenges were met with actionable suggestions, including:
Engaging tribal authorities who own much of the land to secure better support for co-ops.
DFFE compliance meetings with cooperative task teams to address permit and invoicing concerns.
Enhanced mentorship, with mentors committing to regular sit-downs with co-ops to document issues and craft solutions collaboratively.
Building Trust Through Data
An underlying theme was the importance of truthful and consistent logging in the FISHER app. While some participants expressed fatigue with data collection, ABALOBI emphasised the value of data as a tool for proving their livelihoods and demonstrating supply capacity to buyers. As Themba from DFFE poignantly noted, “I haven’t been in a meeting lately where people are actively involved. It's enriching.”
Looking Ahead: Empowering Fishers for the Future
The partnership between ABALOBI and DFFE in Port St. Johns exemplifies what’s possible when communities, organisations, and government come together with a shared vision.
As the co-ops prepare to receive their dashboards and implement the insights gained, the energy and momentum from these sessions are sure to ripple far beyond Port St. Johns. Together, ABALOBI, DFFE, and the fishers are charting a course for a thriving and equitable Blue Economy.