DFFE’s Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Response Plan: A Critical Perspective

South Africa’s coastline – spanning almost 3000 km – supports vibrant fishing communities, from the line-fishers near Hermanus to intertidal harvesters in the Eastern Cape. Though coastal fisheries contribute less than 1% to GDP, they underpin livelihoods for ~28000 formal workers and over 40000 small-scale and subsistence fishers. For many, fishing is food security, cultural tradition, and identity – a lifeline that faces existential threats from climate change.