Where and Why?

The ABALOBI Climate Resilience Workshop was held at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, at a venue generously sponsored by the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.
The workshop brought together 20 fishers from six communities (Lamberts Bay, Saint Helena Bay, Vredenburg, Struisbaai, Arniston, and Buffeljags) across various roles (Skippers, PHQC, Crew, Pantry) in the value chain, with the aim of deepening our understanding of the challenges they face.

Through open discussions, participants shared valuable insights into the struggles they encounter within their communities. This collaborative effort resulted in the co-design of a network of fishers, where they can openly share their challenges, enabling us to develop solutions that provide valuable insights in response to shocks to their livelihoods.

Outcomes

Participants engaged in story-sharing activities, generating real-time data on risks and broader impacts affecting fishers' lives and their communities. These discussions highlighted critical areas that require further attention and action. Through these shared experiences, we strengthened the bond among participants, forming a network of co-researchers, the ABALOBI ULWAZI Net-Work, committed to gathering data on the challenges faced by fishers in their communities.

One key outcome of the workshop was the identification of specific issues that participants wanted to gather more data on. By capturing their interests and actively involving them in the process, we aim to design a more inclusive and effective system that will better meet the unique needs of fishers.

This event marked an important step in building a stronger, more resilient community, where fishers play an active role in shaping the solutions that will help them thrive in the face of climate change.

Behind the scenes at the Aquarium

The Two Oceans Aquarium kindly sponsored our group a free pass into the Aquarium where we got to have a look behind the scenes - this was a huge highlight as many fishers had not visited the aquarium before.