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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.
This is
because:
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People
use marine resources (fishing, seaweed, sea sand etc)
-
People
develop infrastructure in the coastal zone (harbours,
housing, hotels and resorts)
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People
operate industries on the shore (power stations, fish
factories)
-
People
depend on the long-term availability of these
resources for their livelihoods
But the
problem is:
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Populations
are concentrated on the coastline.
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There
is competition for seashore space and usage.
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Many
coastal communities are historically disadvantaged and
impoverished.
-
Resources
are limited.
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Fish
stocks are depleted.
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Access
to fishing rights is competitive and difficult to
obtain.
What does
IOI-SA do to intervene and find solutions to these problems?
IOI-SA
has embarked on a number of projects to assist communities
in respect of poverty alleviation and sustainable
livelihoods.
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Our
staff and students study coastal communities to
understand their problems and needs, and to find
solutions (Project: Coastal Sustainable Livelihood
Studies)
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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)
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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
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