PEOPLE, OCEANS AND COASTS

Conservation and Management of the sea and the coastal zone is involved as much with managing the people who live in the coastal zone as the coastal resources themselves. It is with this in mind that IOI-SA assists coastal communities by offering capacity building and research programs that will improve upon the sustainable livelihoods of these communities.

• People use marine resources (fishing, seaweed, sea sand etc)

• People develop infrastructure in the coastal zone (harbours, housing, hotels and resorts)

• People operate industries on the shore (power stations, fish factories)

• People depend on the long-term availability of these resources for their livelihoods

• Populations are concentrated on the coastline.

• There is competition for seashore space and usage.

• Many coastal communities are historically disadvantaged and impoverished.

• Resources are limited.

• Fish stocks are depleted.

• Access to fishing rights is competitive and difficult to obtain.

IOI-SA has embarked on a number of projects to assist communities in respect of poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods.

• Our staff and students study coastal communities to understand their problems and needs, and to find solutions (Project: Coastal Sustainable Livelihood Studies)

• Develop appropriate training for communities and authorities (Projects: Train-Sea-Coast Marine Pollution Control Course and GloBallast Course, seaweed mariculture course, skippers and diver training)

• Research, design and implement new businesses in conjunction with poor coastal communities as a means of generating sustainable livelihoods (Projects: St Helena Bay Seaweed Mariculture Initiative, West Coast Seafood Cookbook Project, Saldanha Seabait Project)

If you want to become involved in this programme contact the Programme Coordinator at:

IOI-SA
c/o Department Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
University of the Western Cape
P. Bag X17, Bellville 7535
South Africa
Tel. +27 21 959 2594
Fax. +27 21 959 1213