Mussel Harvesting

November 2, 2009;

MEDIA RELEASE No: 2009 - 14  

 MUSSEL HARVESTING PROJECT CELEBRATES 13th ANNIVERSARY
For Immediate release:

 
A sustainable marine resource harvesting project on the coast south of Cape St Lucia has recently celebrated its 13th successful year.
The Sokhulu Mussel Harvesting Project is the result of a co-operative approach between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the women of the Sokhulu community who live to the south of the Umfolozi River near Cape St Lucia.
In the mid-1990s a member of staff of Ezemvelo KZN Wildife recognised the need for research into the level of sustainable harvest of mussels along that stretch of the coast and EKZNW marine ecologists took on the project, part of which was an investigation into historic harvesting activities by local communities.
It was then realised that law enforcement activities by the former Natal Parks Board had, by making mussel harvesting illegal, driven the activity underground and had deprived the community of a traditional source of protein, while endangering the resource through inappropriate harvesting methods.
Researchers then involved the Sokhulu community and in the course of the research used local women to harvest mussels experimentally in a rotational manner which is very similar to the traditional method used historically..
The research results were positive and in co-operation with the Sokhulu community structures controlled mussel harvesting was again allowed.
Community fisheries monitors have been appointed and their function is to record data about the mussel harvesting activities such as quantities harvested, localities and number of harvesters.
The monitors also ensure that only an approved harvesting implement is used which enables harvesters to removed larger mussels without disturbing smaller, developing ones, thereby ensuring a healthy, well established mussel bed.
This information assists a co-management forum between EKZNW staff and members of the Sokhulu community to make informed decisions on the management of the resource.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife now oversees 17 other management committees involving 11 fishing communites along the entire KZN coast.
The communities exist in KwaMbila, Mabibi, Sokhulu, Nhlabane, Mpembeni, Port Durnford, Amatikulu, Nonoti. Umgababa, Mfazazane, and Nzimakwe near Port Edward.
Community marine resource harvesting now involves 1,168 people involved who sustainably harvest some 16,700 tonnes of food from the sea annually.

   AJG/ Media Release No: 2009 - 14 
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