KZN fishermen want laws enforced along coast
KZN fisherfolk say government intervention is needed to stop illegal fishing in South African waters by foreign trawlers which they say are threatening their livelihoods.
More than 200 fisherfolk are taking part in public hearings being held by Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs' on the Marine Spatial Planning Bill.
The hearings are taking place at the Chesterville Community Hall, in Durban.
The bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the development of a marine spatial planning system that promotes economic growth while protecting the marine environment.
Desmond d'Sa of the #KZN subsistent fisherfolk says trawlers off the coast are one of the main issues affecting fishermen in the country pic.twitter.com/UJFdXOd9fl
— Jarryd Subroyen (@Jazz_Subs031) August 17, 2017
Desmond D'Sa from the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance says the fishing community is frustrated and has had enough.
"There's a lot of poaching taking place. We've also had the big Chinese and Japanese boats and there's been a lack of enforcement from the national department of fisheries and forestry to deal with the problem. We need a stronger enforcement of the law and marine spatial plan," he says.