TOWARDS HEALTHY OCEANS AND RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa outlines the concept and implementation of Small-Scale Fishing Zones (SSFZs) to support coastal communities and marine conservation in South Africa. It describes SSFZs as co-managed marine areas that prioritize small-scale fishing practices to enhance socioeconomic resilience and contribute to global biodiversity targets.

• Since 2023, more than 170 small-scale fishing co-operatives have been established, which operate as legal entities holding 15-year fishing rights under South Africa’s Small-Scale Fishery Policy.
• Small-scale fishing zones (SSFZs) are designated marine areas intended to prioritize small-scale fishing practices and empower coastal communities. While provided for in the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 (MLRA), they remain largely conceptual, with practical implementation steps currently being developed.
• SSFZs are implemented through a co-management framework involving small-scale fishers, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), and other stakeholders. Key components include preferential access for local fishers and co-governance in decision-making regarding natural resources.
• The establishment of SSFZs may allow them to be recognized as 'other effective area-based conservation measures' (OECMs). This would contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) '30x30' target, which aims to conserve 30% of the world's land and ocean by 2030.
• WWF South Africa supports these efforts by implementing coastal and marine ecosystem restoration pilot projects and assisting willing coastal communities in priority areas to establish co-operatives and identify sustainable activities.

APA

WWF South Africa (2026). TOWARDS HEALTHY OCEANS AND RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/ssfz-factsheet-draft-3_20may26.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. TOWARDS HEALTHY OCEANS AND RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES. 2026. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/ssfz-factsheet-draft-3_20may26.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=TOWARDS HEALTHY OCEANS AND RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES |date=2026 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/ssfz-factsheet-draft-3_20may26.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafrica2026towards, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{TOWARDS HEALTHY OCEANS AND RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2026}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/ssfz-factsheet-draft-3_20may26.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }