Browsing by Author "Sowman, Merle"

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    A preliminary assessment into perceptions of accuracy and utility of the environmental impact assessment screening tool, South Africa
    (2022) Lambrecht, Michael; Sowman, Merle; Day, Kirsten
    Screening is an essential stage within the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. In this stage, the type and scale of the environmental assessment are determined based on the potential environmental impacts of a development. The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) has implemented a national web-based spatial screening tool which became mandatory when applying for environmental authorisation as of October 2019. The screening tool identifies environmental sensitivities and prescribes the relevant specialist assessments associated with a development footprint. Since the introduction of the screening tool, environmental assessment professionals' (EAProfs') perceptions regarding the functioning of the tool remain undetermined. Therefore, this research project aims to undertake a preliminary assessment of EAProfs' perceptions of the screening tool's accuracy and utility. A mixed-methods approach involving interviews and an online survey was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from EAProfs, respectively. The research findings reveal mixed perceptions of the screening tool but with some more unequivocal findings. The results suggest EAProfs generally do not believe the screening tool accurately assigns sensitivity ratings for the various biodiversity themes. In terms of utility, the research found that EAProfs hold a neutral opinion meaning they do not believe the screening tool is useful or not useful, as per the survey. The interviews revealed that several EAProfs believe that the screening tool increases the time and costs of the EIA process, adding nuance to the survey results. Based on these findings, a recommended solution to the accuracy issues is to implement a specialist feedback loop. Additionally, better communication from the DFFE on the process of assigning sensitivity ratings could also enhance perceptions. A potential way forward is for the screening tool to adopt a less prescriptive and more voluntary approach, as used by CapeFarmMapper and Ireland's Environmental Sensitivity Mapping Webtool. Lastly, this research opens avenues for further work on how the accuracy and utility of the screening tool can be improved.
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    Addressing sustainable development issues in integrated development plans in the Western Cape Province
    (2008) Cooke, Penny-Jane; Sowman, Merle
    The integrated development plan (IDP) has been described as a key tool to ensure the incorporation of sustainability considerations at the local planning level within government. In the South African context this suggests a linking of planning and environmental management functions within local level government. Various theoretical studies have been conducted regarding the incorporation of environmental and sustainability concerns in the integrated development planning process. Evidence from these studies indicates that consideration of the environment and sustainability issues is largely inadequate. Furthermore, the need to consider the environment as a cross-cutting issue has not been realized at the local government level, subsequently the environment is still considered as a separate sector or as an add-on after plan and project formulation. These findings are further indicative of the fact that a gap exists between policy and practice at the local government level. In terms of sustainability concerns and the integrated development plan, there are few empirical studies that provide evidence to support these claims. The broad aim of this study has been to determine to what extent sustainability concerns are being incorporated into Integrated Development Plans (lOP) at the metropolitan, district and local municipal authority level within the Western Cape Province of South Africa. To address the aim of this study, four main methods were employed. Firstly, a literature review was carried out to provide the theoretical and conceptual basis for the research. Secondly, the legislative and policy context in South Africa in terms of integrated development plans, environmental management and planning was examined. Thirdly, an analytical framework was developed based on a set of environmental and sustainability questions that need to be taken into consideration during each phase of the IDP process. Fourthly, this analytical framework was used to review and analyse a sample of lOP documents within the Western Cape Province. Lastly, interviews were conducted with various key officials at all three levels of government involved in different aspects of the IDP in the Western Cape.
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    An analysis of the perceptions surrounding the re-zoning of the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area
    (2019) Muhl, Ella-Kari; Sowman, Merle; Mbatha, Philile
    Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an increasingly important tool for sustainable marine governance. However, their effectiveness is improved if designed to consider how people value and interact with coasts and marine resources designated for protection. This research critically examines the different perceptions of stakeholders towards the rezoning of Africa’s oldest MPA, the Tsitsikamma National Park (TNP) MPA. In South Africa, MPAs created prior to 1994 under the Apartheid regime disregarded local communities’ rights to the coast and in some cases removed or restricted access, with no consultation. In December 2016 the TNP MPA was rezoned from a 'no-take’ MPA to a partially open protected area with the aim of readdressing historical exclusion and to provide managed access and benefits to adjacent communities. This thesis explores the perceptions of different stakeholders to the rezoning process and the underlying values, worldviews and beliefs that influence these perceptions. The research also examines the nature of participation in the rezoning process, including issues of representation, trust and legitimacy. Data collection is based primarily on 55 semi structured key informant interviews from the nine different communities adjacent to the Tsitsikamma MPA, scientists, NGO and government officials, as well as a focus group with eight representatives from South African National Parks. Data sources are supplemented with census and mapping information, field observations and a participatory film project. Findings from this research identified and examined the diverse perceptions of stakeholders about the re-zoning and highlighted how different groups have very different perceptions about the benefits of the rezoning for either marine conservation objectives or community economic, livelihood and wellbeing aspirations. What emerged clearly was that perceptions are influenced by values, worldviews and beliefs and that failure to recognize and incorporate these perceptions in planning, discussions and decision-making leads to ongoing contestation and conflict. The research thus highlights the challenge of balancing community rights and needs with conservation goals in a rapidly changing marine context, and highlights that understanding different perceptions and values that underlie these perceptions and providing the space to allow these different views to be shared is important for collaborative governance of MPAs in South Africa. Based on an enhanced understanding of perceptions, recommendations are made regarding the importance of recognizing and incorporating perceptions in planning and decision-making and promoting greater participation in governance.
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    An exploration of the post-harvest activities of the Olifants Estuary Small-Scale Fishery: recommendations for equitable market access and beneficiation
    (2021) Louw, Tayla Susan; Sowman, Merle
    Small-scale Fisheries (SSFs) play a key role in poverty alleviation of rural coastal populations through the provision of food security and income generation. Yet, many SSFs fail to maximise the value potential of the seafood products they produce as a result of post-harvest losses and marketing challenges. SSFs within South Africa are no exception and are particularly disadvantaged as a result of historical discrimination, marginalisation, management, data deficiencies and inequitable market access. The financial, technical and information challenges that characterize small-scale fisher households present many barriers to accessing and maximizing market opportunities. Worldwide, and in South Africa, understanding of post-harvest losses, limitations and market constraints, is limited. Therefore, this research aims to better understand the post-harvest activities of the small-scale fishers of the Olifants estuary in order to identify opportunities for value addition and improved market access. A mixed-methods approach was employed including analysing data from community fisher logbooks and conducting semi-structured interviews with both fishers and marketers. This research has demonstrated that inadequate facilities, lack of technology and transport as well as limited knowledge have all contributed to post-harvest losses and affected the income potential for these fishers. Inequitable market forces have been shown to exist in the Olifants fishery value chain. Consequently, these small-scale fishers are price-takers since they lack the capacity required to participate in value chain negotiations and development. Furthermore, these fishers are vulnerable to the consequences of poor governance, the vagaries of marketers and the misperceptions and preferences of consumers regarding their fish products. Recommendations include building capacity and skills of the Olifants fishers to professionalise their operation, adjusting several of their postharvest activities and incorporating those suggestions offered by the marketplace that are achievable.
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    Assessing the contribution of interim relief measures to food security and income of small-scale fishers of Ocean View, Western Cape
    (2009) Shanyengange, Mekondjo ET; Sowman, Merle
    ABSTRACT The overall aim of this study is to understand the contribution made by small-scale fisheries to food security and income of fisher households. The study also investigated the characteristics of Ocean View small-scale fishers and their dependence to marine resources for food and livelihood. The study further examined the international and regional instruments as well as domestic legislations managing small-scale fisheries and promoting food security and fishers' participation in management and decision-making. The study focused only on interim relief permit holders from Ocean View. Data were collected by means of literature review of research papers, government documents and reports as well as articles in the press. Group discussions and semi-structured interviews were held with Ocean View interim relief permit holders to assess fish consumption patterns, income earned from fishing, fishing nature, participation in management and decision-making to document fisher perceptions on management of resources they harvest. Informal discussions were also held with key informants from the community. The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism introduced interim relief measures in 2007 and consequently 2008 for traditional small-scale fishers who hold no fishing rights to harvest marine resources for household consumption as well as to sell their catch. Based on the study findings, IRMs contributed significantly to fisher household food and livelihood needs particularly, during the period when fishers were harvesting both West Coast Rock Lobster and line fish species of snoek and hottentot. The consumption of fish increased significantly in fisher households as fish was the most consumed meat protein in the households. The study also showed that households with limited sources of income were selling a large proportion of their line fish catch compared to better-off households. Although there was a positive contribution by IRMs, there is a concern about the sustainability of the harvested resources during inconsistent monitoring and enforcement by officials. Furthermore, the study showed that management decisions on marine resources in South Africa are still centralised and rely mostly on scientific inputs as the rights and livelihood needs of small-scale fishers are seldom considered in decision-making. The study further indicated that participation of fishers in management and decision-making is lacking due to little interest shown by government officials. ii In conclusion, this study highlights the need to adopt an integrated and inclusive approach to small-scale fisheries management and ensuring that livelihood needs of small-scale fishers are taken into consideration to enhance and sustain their food and livelihoods.
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    Beneficiary participation in subsidy-based housing development : a comparative case study analysis of three housing projects in the Cape Metropolitan Area
    (2000) Ollis, Dean Justin; Sowman, Merle
    In this dissertation, it is proposed that the level of satisfaction experienced by the beneficiaries of subsidy-based housing is strongly dependent on the degree of involvement by the beneficiaries in the decision-making process associated with housing development initiatives. A comparative case study analysis of three subsidy-based housing developments in the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA) has been undertaken. One of the case studies was a housing project in Philippi East that forms part of the Integrated Serviced Land Project (iSLP), while another was a cross-subsidised housing project that forms part of an integrated development initiative at Westlake. The third case study was a People's Housing Process (PHP) project in Ocean View. The major obstacles to effective beneficiary participation in the three case study projects have been identified and discussed in this dissertation. It is suggested that many of these obstacles would be applicable to other subsidy-based housing developments in the CMA. Key lessons have been drawn as to how these common obstacles to participation in subsidy-based housing development could be overcome. The key lessons that emerged are as follows: * It is important that the housing development process is effectively facilitated. * There is a need for capacity building to form an integral component of all subsidy-based housing development projects. * Beneficiary control over the finances for subsidy-based housing development projects should be promoted. It is proposed that, if these suggestions are taken into account in subsidy-based housing developments, a relatively high degree of beneficiary participation should be realised and, subsequently, increased levels of satisfaction should be experienced amongst beneficiaries. This dissertation also proposes that subsidy-based housing projects implemented by means of the PHP (as opposed to the conventional developer-built route) should be characterised by effective process facilitation, relatively high levels of capacity building and a high degree of beneficiary control over development finances if they are carried out properly. Consequently, many of the common obstacles to beneficiary participation in subsidy-based housing development in South Africa could be overcome by effectively following-the inherently participatory PHP route to housing delivery.
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    Beyond rights : developing a conceptual framework for understanding access to coastal resources at Ebenhaeser and Covie, Western Cape, South Africa.
    (2013) Williams, Samantha; Sowman, Merle; Dietz, Ton
    Within the context of small-scale fisheries, increased claims and demands made for access, as well as fisheries governance processes, this thesis examines local resources users’ access to fisheries resources. The study identifies and analyses various mechanisms harnessed to maintain access to fisheries resources, as well as the various strategies put forward to make claims for access. In the property literature, where access has predominantly featured, the main focus has been on the role of rights and economic benefits, with limited attention paid to the wider social dynamics and governance processes associated with access to fisheries resources. This study draws on an alternative view of access– specifically, that popularised by Ribot and Peluso (2003) in their access theory. Here, it is emphasised that studying access becomes a wider investigation into the many social means, processes and relations, or ‘mechanisms’, by which actors are able to benefit from access to natural resources.
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    Booming illegal abalone fishery in Hangberg: Tough lessons for small-scale fisheries governance in South Africa
    (2014) De Greef, Kimon; Raemaekers, Serge; Sowman, Merle
    Marine capture fisheries around the world are widely perceived to be in a state of crisis, with growing recognition that conventional resource-centred management strategies are insufficient to counter ongoing problems of overexploitation. This is considered particularly true in the small‐scale sector, which employs the overwhelming majority of the world’s fishers but has historically been overlooked. To manage marine resources more sustainably, new approaches to fisheries governance have been sought that recognise the complex nature of fisheries systems, paying attention to the social dimensions of fisheries management in addition to important ecological processes. In South Africa, many of these new approaches have been embraced in a recently adopted policy for the small-scale sector. Attempts to reform marine fisheries have been ongoing in the country since the end of apartheid (a system of legalised racial segregation and white supremacy that ruled for almost 50 years) but have largely failed to bring meaningful change to impoverished fishing communities. Frustration at ineffective reform has contributed to widespread non-compliance – most notably in the abalone fishery, which has collapsed in the face of rampant poaching, driven by a lucrative, illegal export market to the Far East. Although the new small-scale fisheries (SSF) policy has been hailed as a progressive shift in thinking, questions remain about how it is to be implemented. One major challenge will be dealing with illegal fishing. The purpose of this study, was to profile the human dimensions of abalone poaching in the Cape Town fishing community of Hangberg and to draw lessons for implementing the new SSF policy. A qualitative multi-method research approach, based mainly on unstructured interviews and participant observation, was used to access the clandestine fishery and investigate its historical development, current structure, scale and methods of operation and main socio-economic drivers and impacts. It was found that abalone poaching has become deeply embedded in Hangberg, having evolved into a highly organized boat-based fishery in a period of less than 15 years. At least five local poaching groups – representing some 250 individuals in total – currently used dedicated high-powered vessels to access reefs around the Cape Peninsula. Profits earned from poaching are substantial but vary, with poachers operating according to a loose hierarchy and performing a range of different tasks in the fishery. This variation notwithstanding, the illegal fishery appears to have become a mainstay of the impoverished local economy, funding poachers’ expensive lifestyles, in addition to contributing more meaningfully to the livelihoods of an estimated 1000 residents.
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    Can process facilitation re-route ecotourism development? : case studies in facilitating ecotourism planning in South Africa and Madagascar
    (2000) Kingwill, Jonathan; Francois Odendaal; Sowman, Merle
    Ecotourism¹ is rapidly growing global phenomenon that has significant impacts on wilderness areas around the world (Honey 1999). Ecotoursim projects that have shown to be successful in achieving sustainability² are however rare³, despite the hope and funding that continues to be invested into them⁴. In order to distribute the costs and benefits of ecotourism equitably among the role players⁵ (RPs) and mitigate negative social and environmental impacts, a different approach to ecotourism development is required. The study aims to explore process facilitation and focusses on three main objectives. These objectives include assessing the relations and institutional arrangements between RPs, assessing the flow of information within the networks andfinally comparing the institutional arrangements and RPs for each case study. These aspects were studied in the Richtersveld region in north-western South Arica, well known for diamond mining. The historical trend of mining in South Africa has denied the local people access to financial benefits or development opportunities. The local economy is thus dependent on mining, which employs approximately half of the Richtersveld population. The diamond mines are scaling down as the non-renewable diamond stocks have become depleted. The region thus faces a rising issue of unemployment, which will place added pressure on the land. Alternative livelihood strategies therefore need to be developed in order to avoid the poverty trap and environmental degradation.
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    Challenges to interorganizational coordination in integrated coastal management in the developing world : a case study from southwestern Madagascar
    (2008) Kraus, Justin; Sowman, Merle
    This dissertation discusses the challenges to interorganizational collaboration in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) projects in the developing world. After roughly 20 years of implementation, ICM is just beginning to systematically review its initiatives especially in the developing world. The early reviews of ICM initiatives that have been published note several challenges that are hindering the effectiveness of many ICM initiatives. One of these challenges is how to implement effective interorganizational coordination in ICM initiatives.
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    Change begets change: employing a change perspective to inform South Africa's coastal community conservation policy-praxis disjuncture
    (2021) Rice, Wayne Stanley; Sowman, Merle; Bavinck, Maarten
    Contemporary biodiversity conservation is ‘wickedly complex'. This complexity stems from the need to address the diverse objectives of protecting biodiversity and enhancing social wellbeing. However, centralized and exclusionary conservation approaches are often ill-suited to tackling these coupled objectives. Consequently, increasingly calls have been made for the development of more holistic, participatory, nuanced and context-specific conservation governance approaches. Community-based conservation – which seeks to include local communities and their knowledge and priorities in conservation governance – offers a viable though context-specific alternative. However, thus far communitybased conservation initiatives have produced mixed results, largely due to a lack of understanding of how to effectively initiate, implement and manage such ‘wickedly complex' conservation initiatives. South Africa possesses enabling legislation for community-based conservation, but to date there has been no implementation of legally recognized communityconserved areas in the coastal zone. Accordingly, this research is guided by a desire to better understand this ‘policy-praxis disjuncture', and explores what factors, conditions and processes are required to enable South Africa to embrace a more community-orientated approach to conservation. It is proposed that greater understanding and potentially success can be gained by viewing communitybased conservation including, the initiation, implementation and governance of community-conserved areas, as a ‘change process'. Drawing on Commons Theory, Governance Theory, and the Theory of Change approach, a framework was developed to guide the exploration of the factors, conditions and processes that enable the shift to a community-based mode of conservation governance. Case study investigations were conducted in two established regional community coastal conservation cases, and one South African ‘case-in-progress'. Based on the findings of these cases, and the perceptions of South African conservation actors, this dissertation offers insights for tackling South Africa's policy-praxis disjuncture by developing a South African Empirical Community-Based Conservation Theory of Change Pathway. By exploring the initiation, implementation and governance of community-based conservation initiatives as a change process, this dissertation provides a framework for designing a process to facilitate and implement community-based conservation where contextually appropriate. More specifically, it emphasizes the need to develop a context-appropriate, strategic, systematic and iterative set of actions, with clearly articulated assumptions, which strive to address present or potential issues, to support the change to community-based governance. Consequently, this dissertation provides a framework for understanding how a shift to a community-based mode of conservation governance takes place, and offers a South African specific design pathway, with potential application by diverse conservation actors in other countries.
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    Changing coastal access patterns - A study of the Richards Bay Coast
    (2009) Jaumain, Sophia; Sowman, Merle
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    Climate change and coastal vulnerability: application of vulnerability assessment methodologies in two coastal communities in South Africa
    (2016) Griffiths, Chevon; Sowman, Merle; Raemaekers, Serge
    Climate and environmental change is a phenomenon which is having a significant effect on human-ecological systems around the world. It is predicted to have a detrimental impact on certain groups and populations; among those most at risk are those who have the highest exposure and sensitivity to the climate and environmental changes and the lowest adaptive capacity. This includes coastal fishing communities and therefore necessitates action at a variety of scales in order to build the resilience of these individuals and groups to the predicted changes and their potential impacts. Vulnerability assessments (VAs) have been identified as an effective way to discover who is most vulnerable and to what threats or hazards. This is valuable as assistance can then be provided to the individuals, groups, regions or countries identified as most vulnerable. VAs can be conducted at a variety of scales and can be either quantitative or qualitative. This research project focused on vulnerability assessments conducted at the local level. These community-scale assessments are important as they are able to elicit finer-scale details, identify the greatest hazards and stressors, and conceptualize adaptation strategies that are locally-informed, context specific and targeted towards a specific community. The focus of this research project was to first assess the vulnerability of two coastal communities in South Africa, namely Doringbaai and St Helena Bay, using a suite of mixed methods which included focus group discussions, the review of secondary data, and key informant interviews. Secondly, this project aimed to assess the potential contribution of a 'rapid vulnerability assessment' (RVA) methodology, conducted in the same two coastal fishing communities, to gain information required to identify appropriate adaptation strategies in the context of climate and environmental change. The RVA is conducted as a workshop over a two-day period and may be followed by key informant interviews on the third day, if appropriate and required. This research sought to compare and contrast the information emanating from the RVA workshops with information obtained from the triangulation of mixed methods used in this study with respect to: key threats and stressors faced by the two small-scale fishing communities, identified environmental changes, impacts of these changes on fisher livelihoods, current coping strategies and potential adaptation strategies. Criteria for assessing the performance of the two different approaches were drawn from the literature and systematically documented. The outcome of the assessment showed that the RVA has value as a VA methodology and is able to identify locally relevant, potentially viable adaptation strategies. It is an effective approach for obtaining a good overview of the vulnerabilities of a community and is thus especially useful in under-resourced and data-poor regions. The conclusion was therefore that it is an exceptionally useful tool as a starting point for vulnerability assessments but can be enriched by combining it with other methods such as the review of secondary data, focus group discussions, surveys, questionnaires and key informant interviews. Furthermore, it is recommended that the RVA includes follow-up research and focuses on flexible adaptation strategies.
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    Community participation in diversification options of the diamond mine, Alexkor Ltd : tourism and mariculture
    (1998) Rodkin, Hayley Amanda; Sowman, Merle; Odendaal, Francois
    As a diamond mining company, Alexkor Ltd has had a great impact on the Namaqualand region. Its non-mining section, ABT, has begun implementing a development strategy that is focused on internal transformation of the company and post-mining economic alternatives. This dissertation focuses on how marginalised communities have been incorporated into the planning, decision-making and implementation of the two Alexkor Ltd diversification projects, tourism and mariculture, in the Northern Namaqualand region. Their participation in these projects is crucial to ensuring that alternative economic options become a vehicle for socio-economic development in a post-mining economy. This is particularly important since the Namaqualand economy is heavily dependent on diamond mining, which has been scientifically predicted to decommission over the next few years. The social disruption caused by the inevitable downscaling of mining is a concern for mining companies and government. It is of greater concern for communities who will suffer the effects of retrenchments and therefore, loss of income, directly. The ABT facilitators of the diversification projects recognise the necessity of applying the development strategy at a regional level. This is to ensure that mine-linked communities, especially those who have been historically marginalised, will be socio-economically empowered by diversification, and that their capacity will have been built in order to participate in post-mining economic options. in addition, the nature of tourism and mariculture requires an IBM approach, which incorporates regional bio-geographical and socio-economic factors. Thus, the implementation of the diversification options has had to incorporate: * the socio-political history of South Africa and the Namaqualand region * relevant legislative and institutional policies and processes that espouse the need for transformation, reconstruction and nation-building at national, provincial and local levels. This study focuses on how the participation of communities has occurred over a period of about eight months. It concludes with recommendations and guidelines which development activists and facilitators could use for similar projects.
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    Community-based resource use monitoring at the Olifants River Estuary
    (2014) Soutschka, Nadine; Sowman, Merle
    Small-scale fisheries are increasingly seen as complex socio-ecological systems, requiring alternative management approaches. These new approaches to natural resource management advocate the inclusion of resource users in all aspects of management, including monitoring. Research suggests that involvement of local resource users in resource monitoring is beneficial as it promotes local empowerment, community stewardship and contributes to social and resource sustainability. This study aims to contribute knowledge about the nature and effectiveness of a community-based fisheries monitoring system at the Olifants River estuary in South Africa and documents lessons learned. This research reports on the revision and revitalisation of an existing community monitoring program operating at the Olifants River estuary and presents the results of data gathered from this one year monitoring program. It also compares these results with data gathered from previous years when the monitoring system was operational. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the community monitoring system are discussed. A participatory research approach was followed by employing members of the Olifants River community as catch monitors and working closely with the fishers and monitors to better understand their perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the monitoring system. Findings of this research suggest that despite weaknesses in the community monitoring system, the data gathered provided useful information about the catch effort trends for the fishery for the year under consideration and also enabled some comparisons of selected fisheries indicators with previous data to be made. These comparisons suggest that catch per unit effort for the target species, harder (Liza richardsonii) is stable and there is no indication of overexploitation of this resource. A key weakness of the monitoring is that it is ad hoc and funding is insecure. Due to poverty levels in the community, local monitors may take up short-term employment opportunities in the community and thus neglect their monitoring responsibilities. This means that the data sets are not comprehensive. Key strengths include the fact that it is simple, cost effective and can be implemented by community members. Furthermore, local involvement in resource monitoring builds capacity and skills as well as local empowerment. Finally, this research contributes to knowledge that can inform the implementation of community monitoring programs proposed by the recently published Small-scale fishing policy of South Africa. Key Words: Small-scale fisheries; natural resource management; participation, community monitoring, local empowerment.
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    Contextualising the bycatch 'problem' in the Olifants Estuary Small-Scale Gillnet Fishery using an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries
    (2015) Rice, Wayne Stanley; Raemaekers, S; Sowman, Merle
    Conventional fisheries management approaches have been shown, in many instances, to have been ineffective in dealing with complex conservation concerns such as bycatch. Greater considerations for broader-scale and holistic approaches, as proposed by the 'Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries' (EAF) and the 'balanced harvesting approach', are beginning to challenge some of the negative misconceptions around bycatch, especially in small-scale fisheries. The need for a more holistic approach to fisheries management, particularly in small-scale fisheries, in South Africa is highlighted by its commitment to an EAF and the recent Small-Scale Fisheries Policy, for which the Marine living Resource Act of 1998 provides the legal framework to implement. The case study of the Olifants estuary small-scale traditional gillnet fishing community, located on the west coast of South Africa, provides a particularly relevant example of a complex fishery requiring a holistic approach. Current regulations prohibit the harvesting or retention of any bycatch species. Fisheries management worldwide and in South Africa, generally view gillnet fisheries as destructive, due to the occurrence of bycatch and the fact that many of these bycatch species are considered overexploited, which has led to numerous attempts over the years to phase out the Olifants gillnet fishery. The purpose of this study was to, firstly, use an EAF framework to contextualise the issue of bycatch in the Olifants gillnet fishery, and secondly, to identify the relative contributions of all fisheriy sectors to the four key selected linefish species caught as bycatch by the fishery. An extensive review and analysis of available secondary data, as well as primary data collected for this study, have estimated, with acknowledged limitations, the magnitude of the exploitation by all known fisheries of these species. Key information from small-scale fisher interviews and community-monitoring data highlight the capture rate of key linefish species by this fishery. This is echoed by recent landings for 2012 indicating the relative contribution of the national beache seine and gillnet fishery to the overall catch of (Elf [Pomatomus saltatrix] - 26.94%; Silver Kob [Argyrosomus inodorus] - 0.88%; White Stumpnose [Rhabdosargus globiceps] - 1.05% - excluding the recreational sector). A significant finding of this study is the substantial levels of cross-sectorial exploitation of Silver Kob and White Stumpnose, and to a somewhat lesser extent Elf and White Steenbras.
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    The contribution of tourism to coastal livelihoods in Ponta do Ouro, Southern Mozambique
    (2014) Come, Juliana Arsénio; Sowman, Merle
    Tourism is increasingly seen as a panacea for the problems of rural areas, especially in developing countries. It is promoted by governments and international development organizations as a vehicle for achieving development, poverty reduction and economic growth. However, tourism has resulted in many unwanted economic, social, cultural and environmental consequences for local communities. Through a case study conducted in Ponta do Ouro, Southern Mozambique, this research sought to investigate the contribution of tourism to coastal livelihoods. The research assessed the extent to which tourism contributes to livelihoods of coastal communities of Ponta do Ouro, and their perception of benefits and negative impacts associated with tourism. Qualitative methods were used to collect data and included five focus group meetings, 46 key informant interviews, and participant observation. Findings of this study reveal that despite providing employment and other economic benefits to the livelihoods of the community of Ponta do Ouro, tourism also resulted in negative impacts on community livelihoods. These included overcrowding during high tourism seasons, loss of access to public land, rising prices of properties, goods and services, and an increase in crime, alcohol use and pollution. Therefore a pro-poor tourism approach is recommended as an attempt to ensure that benefits of tourism are better distributed and serve the needs of the local and broader community in terms of infrastructure development and improvement of social services and facilities.
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    Criteria for successful local level management of water resources : examples from two WUAs in the Eastern Cape
    (2008) Pollard, Derek; Sowman, Merle
    Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-31).
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    Customary governance and expressions of living customary law at Dwesa-Cwebe: contributions to small-scale fisheries governance in South Africa
    (2014) Sunde, Jacqueline; Sowman, Merle; Bavinck, Maarten
    Customary systems of marine resource governance have gained increasing attention internationally in the past three decades. Notwithstanding this, and despite the Constitutional recognition of customary governance and customary law in South Africa, the post-apartheid legislative reforms in the fisheries sector have failed to recognise customary systems of marine resource governance. Drawing on a case-study of the Dwesa-Cwebe community in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, this research aimed to describe and understand the customary marine resource governance system of this community and its relationship to living customary law. It explores how this customary system of marine resource governance has interfaced with statutory and other systems of law in the past and how it continues to develop in the current context. The findings from this research highlight the distinctive nature of the customary system of marine resource governance practiced by the community of Dwesa-Cwebe and their expressions of living customary law embedded in this governance system. The nature of this system is foundationally different to that of a Western statutory governance system. This customary system of governance has interacted with the statutory system for over a century, in part distorted by this system but retaining its integrity. In the context of the Constitutional recognition of customary systems of governance and customary law, this governance system now requires understanding and recognition in a new system of marine resource governance in South Africa. This thesis explores the contribution that this system of customary governance can make towards promoting socially just smallscale fisheries in South Africa. It argues that harmonisation of the statutory and customary system of marine resource governance demands an approach to governance theory and practice that is able to imagine an alternative ‘ecology of governance’.
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    Examining the mechanisms for and factors affecting benefit sharing in two South African aquaculture projects
    (2024) Agiotis, Brett; Sowman, Merle
    The Blue Economy, that gained traction at the Rio + 2012 Earth Summit hosted by the United Nations, has been put forward as a concept to fast-track socio-economic development in the ocean space in a way that integrates marine conservation and social equity. Aquaculture is one of the key sectors of the Blue Economy and is seen as a frontier for driving economic growth, enhancing food security, and relieving the pressure of capture fisheries. What remains uncertain is the extent to which these high-level policy interventions translate into benefits for people on the ground who are directly and indirectly affected by them. The aim of this study was to contribute to a better understanding of the perceptions of benefits marginalised individuals and coastal communities in South Africa derive from involvement in Blue Economy projects linked to aquaculture as well as the key factors enabling and inhibiting benefit sharing. In contexts where local people perceive that they benefit from Blue Economy activities, the study unravels whether the distribution of those benefits is seen as fair and equitable. The study used two aquaculture projects implemented in Doringbaai and Saldanha Bay on the West Coast of South Africa as a lens. These aquaculture projects were implemented with the aim of creating jobs, enhancing food security, building skills, and benefiting individuals and the wider community. Findings revealed that despite positive impacts through employment, skills development, and the establishment of aquaculture enterprises, several factors influenced the effectiveness of benefit sharing for individuals and coastal communities leading to negative perceptions regarding these interventions. Unequal power relations, flawed benefit sharing arrangements, and the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on benefit sharing outcomes envisaged for both projects. 3 Moreover, while the South African government made considerable effort to support individual and wider coastal community participation in the aquaculture sector, the level of postimplementation support from the state for these projects was lacking. Based on an enhanced understanding of how the projects were executed as well as individual and community perceptions of benefit sharing, this study argues that the nature of benefit sharing arrangements, the institutional arrangements, and power dynamics amongst actors involved in the aquaculture projects can significantly influence the extent to which people benefit. Other factors such as power dynamics, participation, transparency, transfer of skills, post-implementation support, robust institutions, and effective benefit sharing arrangements must be considered in the planning and implementation of Blue Economy projects and programmes. This is vital in order to ensure that aquaculture projects involving individuals and communities can be financially viable, sustainable, and achieve equitable social benefits.