FishNet Alliance Calls for Thorough Investigation, Cleanup and Compensation for Fishers
The rights to a decent livelihood such as artisanal fishing is one that is not only ethically, socially, economically and culturally sound for coastal communities, it is a right to live the must be protected. Often times, these rights have been denied fishers with reckless abandon. Fishers are among the most marginalized people. Their fishing grounds are either grabbed for exploitation or installation of offshore facilities or covered by spills from exploration and exploitation activities or from installations off or near shore.
On the night of the 8th of August 2022, local fisherfolks raised alarm about strong bad smell around the Isipingo Lagoon area and on Tuesday the 9th of August 2022, which was South Africa’s National Women’s Day (a public holiday), the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) was notified that hundreds of dead fish were washed up on and littered the shores of the Isipingo Lagoon.
It will be recalled that a similar incidence happed in 2016 and the devastating impacts are arguably still around. There are growing concerns about the reoccurring contamination of the Lagoon and Estuary that empties into the Ocean.
John Peter Narayanasamy, the Chairperson of the KZN Subsistence Fisherfolks (KZNSFF) noted that with the contaminated water flowing into the ocean from the estuary, we are going to have other marine species affected and you will find that artisanal fishers will get to their fishing areas and not able to fish.
In an interview, Ednick Mseweli from the Water and Sanitation, eThekwini Municipality, he acknowledged the level of devastation caused by the contamination by sewage from a faulty pump and also stated that there is the possibility that effluents from chemical plants in the area could also be contributory and agreed that the Authority is not sure what mix of chemicals have spilled into the lagoon.
Desmond D’Sa, the Coordinator of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and Leader of FishNet Alliance, South Africa said that the eThekwini Municipality must do more than just ban public access to the beach as this has done little to stop locals from collecting and eating the fish.
“Some of my colleagues were out there in the past couple of days and many people are picking up the fish, and you can imagine the kind of impact that fish will have on them if they eat the fish,” he said. The municipal officials only arrived on site the next day, 10th of August 2022 and they claimed that there was a malfunction at a nearby pump station, hence the lagoon became contaminated with sewerage. The municipality did deploy staff to remove the dead fish and place them into refuse bags for disposal, however the dead fish in the estuary and lagoon could not be removed due to a lack of access for the necessary equipment to enter the lagoon – he added. The municipality then via social media closed the Isipingo beach but no demarcation or notices were placed in the vicinity of the lagoon.
FishNet Alliance, a network of fishers in Africa uniting against destructive offshore, swamp and nearshore activities, calls for thorough investigation into the constituents of the sewage and other chemicals discharged into the lagoon and proper examination of the fish, water, and sediments to expose the risk factors. The Alliance through her coordinator, Stephen Oduware stated that a proper cleanup needs to be done while fishers, fishing in the lagoon must be provided compensation to ameliorate the burden and destruction of their livelihoods.
Fishers have over time been at the receiving end of offshore pollution. They pay the true costs for the negative impacts of these pollution. Their rights to life and livelihood as fishers must be protected.
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