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Toward Sustainability of South African Small-Scale Fisheries Leveraging ICT Transformation Pathways

Author

Listed:
  • Tsele T. Nthane

    (Environmental and Geographical Science Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa)

  • Fred Saunders

    (School of Natural Sciences, Technology, and Environmental Studies, University of Södertön, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden)

  • Gloria L. Gallardo Fernández

    (School of Natural Sciences, Technology, and Environmental Studies, University of Södertön, 141 89 Huddinge, Sweden)

  • Serge Raemaekers

    (Environmental and Geographical Science Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
    Abalobi NPO,1 Westlake Dr, Cape Town 7945, South Africa)

Abstract

Though Internet and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been employed in small-scale fisheries (SSFs) globally, they are seldom systematically explored for the ways in which they facilitate equality, democracy and sustainability. Our study explored how ICTs in South African small-scale fisheries are leveraged towards value chain upgrading, collective action and institutional sustainability—key issues that influence small-scale fishery contributions to marine resource sustainability. We held a participatory workshop as part of ongoing research in the town of Lambert’s Bay, South Africa, in collaboration with small-scale fishers and the Abalobi ICT project. We mapped fisher value chain challenges and explored the role of ICT-driven transformation pathways, adopting Wright’s ‘Real Utopian’ framework as the lens through which to explore equality, democracy and institutional sustainability. We found Abalobi’s ICT platform had the potential to facilitate deeper meanings of democracy that incorporate socio-economic reform, collective action and institutional sustainability in South Africa’s small-scale fisheries. Where fishers are not engaged beyond passive generators of data, this had the potential to undermine the goals of increasing power parity between small-scale fisheries and other stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Tsele T. Nthane & Fred Saunders & Gloria L. Gallardo Fernández & Serge Raemaekers, 2020. "Toward Sustainability of South African Small-Scale Fisheries Leveraging ICT Transformation Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:743-:d:311019
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    2. Manoj Kumar Dash & Chetanya Singh & Gayatri Panda & Diksha Sharma, 2023. "ICT for sustainability and socio-economic development in fishery: a bibliometric analysis and future research agenda," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 2201-2233, March.

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