Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Bernice Swarts, leads the Eastern Cape Small-Scale Fisheries Summit at Mthatha Stadium.
- ECDC - Eastern Cape Development Corporation
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Today, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Bernice Swarts, led the Eastern Cape Small-Scale Fisheries Summit at Mthatha Stadium.
The Summit reaffirmed government’s commitment to implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy and the Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA), with a focus on strengthening engagement with fishing communities, bolstering cooperatives, and tackling pressing issues such as market access, infrastructure development, and skills enhancement.
A key highlight was the strong presence of the ECDC, whose targeted interventions are unlocking tangible benefits for local fishers. The ECDC exhibited a deep-sea fishing vessel constructed by a cooperative from the Alfred Nzo District- made possible through the Corporation’s financial support for boat equipment.
In addition, the ECDC has partnered with Sea Harvest to deliver accredited deep-sea fishing training to 72 cooperatives, while also providing direct funding, equipment, and operational space to six cooperatives in Tsweleni. The Mzamba cooperative further credited the ECDC for intervening timeously to resolve critical storage issues affecting their boat.
These success stories, prominently exhibited and echoed during interviews with the Deputy Minister, highlight the ECDC’s commitment to driving inclusive economic development. As the ocean economy continues to emerge as a growth frontier, the Summit underscored the value of strategic partnerships in transforming small-scale fisheries into sustainable, community-anchored enterprises.
