Eastern Cape Hosts Seaweed and Small-Scale Fisheries Stakeholder Workshop

The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture recently held a Seaweed and Small-Scale Fisheries Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in East London. The session aimed to broaden stakeholder involvement and support the provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Strategy.

Led by the World Bank, stakeholders reviewed key priorities of the strategy and the PROBLUE Technical Assistance grant on Seaweed and Small-Scale Fisheries. Presentations included findings from a Scoping Study on Seaweed Utilization Potential and explored pathways for developing seaweed value chains in the province.

Speakers highlighted economic opportunities for small-scale fisheries and coastal communities. Discussions focused on technical, policy, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Participants aimed to define a technical assistance program to strengthen co-management in small-scale fisheries and coastal value chains.

The workshop underlined the potential of seaweed and fisheries sectors to drive sustainable economic growth and improve livelihoods in coastal communities.