2.3 Marine resources and the coastal zone

Social sciences:

Geography

Grade 8

Natural resources

Module 9

Marine resources and the coastal zone

Marine Resources

The oceans are the dominant feature of Earth which is aptly named the “blue planet”. They cover more than two thirds of its surface and play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle, the chemistry of the atmosphere, and the shaping of climate and weather. Although the oceans are so vast, their true biological wealth is concentrated in a relatively narrow strip along the continental shelves (with a maximum depth of about 200 m), coastal margins and estuaries. These include the major fishing grounds which produce more than 80 per cent of the world’s fishing catch, among the most important sources of nutrition for tens of millions of people. South Africa ranks 24 ^th among the world’s fishing nations, with more than 90 per cent of its annual catch (worth more than R1 billion annually) being taken in the highly productive cold waters off the west coast.

Both international and in South Africa little formal attempt has been made to manage the sea for multiple use; former and existing regulations have focused primarily on the exploitation of commercially valuable marine resources. Unsustainable fishing is the main threat to living marine resources, which in the past were frequently over-exploited. Some fish populations, like the pilchards off the coast of Namibia, have yet to recover. During the past decade, South African authorities have applied a quota system within a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for each of the various commercial species, as well as closed seasons and minimum size limits, as a means of achieving the sustainable utilisation of fishing resources.

Under South Africa’s old order, the traditional access to marine resources by fishing communities – “those who get their hands wet”, as the fishermen say – was gradually removed, with preference being given to major companies controlled by large shareholders.

• A few years ago the Western Cape government decided to introduce fishing quotas by means of legislation. This met with severe resistance amongst various communities. Two of the many responses in local newspapers are cited below:

Fish on the verge of extermination

It was with shock that I read an article in Die Burger of 18 April on the collapse of line-fish in our waters. Eight line-fish species are presently being caught faster than they can breed.

According to the report of Dr. Marc Griffiths of Marine and Coastal management, licence holders will have to be reduced in order to save the fish industry.

The report mentions that galjoen, Cape salmon, white steenbras, witstompneus and dark kabeljou are being caught faster than they can breed, and that the elf has already been overexploited. Apparently the dageraad has almost become extinct.

To save the fish resources from complete extinction, stricter measures will have to be applied.

Sacrifices will have to be made by rock- and beach anglers, as well as by coastal net and trailer-owners.

Additionally, the Government will seriously have to think about appointing more law enforcement officers, with a view to enforcing the regulations on the conservation of Marine and Coastal management, and applying them properly.