National Budget Must Provide Social Assistance Relief for Small-Scale Fishers

South Africa’s small-scale fishery sector stands at a dangerous crossroads. For thousands of coastal households, fishing is not merely an economic activity – it is a livelihood, a cultural identity, and often the only buffer against poverty. Recent reductions in vessel permits and tightened regulatory controls, while aimed at sustainability and resource protection, have had unintended but devastating socio-economic consequences for small-scale fishers.