This article was written by Wild Ocean SA.
There was a vibrant, celebratory atmosphere at the Fishing Rod Handover hosted by the Small-Scale Fishers (SSF) and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Project in Nqutshini yesterday.
The initiative brings to life early project discussions, where community members voiced a strong commitment to tackling illegal fishing.
Sandile Ntuli, SSF Project Manager, said, “We hope that providing these fishing rods will help reduce illegal practices in the area, such as gillnetting.”
Beyond the handover, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Trueman Buthelezi, engaged the community on sustainable harvesting methods, the laws guiding responsible fishing, and the regulations protecting specific species.
Thulebona Shandu, Chairman of the Matikulu Mouth Co-operative, expressed appreciation for WILDTRUST’s support, saying, “we are pleased that the conversations we had at the start of the project have now come to fruition, benefiting both the community and the environment.”
The day concluded with community members crossing the Matikulu River to a nearby beach, eagerly casting their new fishing rods for the first time.
This project is made possible by the Blue Action Fund, ICONIQ, Ocean CoLab and Oceans 5.
Picture: Supplied