Reimagining Coastal Futures: Alternative Livelihoods and Blue Justice in South Africa’s Eastern Cape

Coastal communities in South Africa’s Eastern Cape encounter complex socioenvironmental challenges, including declining fisheries, environmental degradation, and socioeconomic marginalisation. This paper explores the role of alternative livelihoods to enhance Blue Justice, ensuring equitable access to marine resources while promoting sustainable coastal development. By drawing on interdisciplinary literature and conceptual frameworks that link socioecological resilience, environmental justice, and coastal governance, the study examines how diversified economic activities, such as ecotourism, aquaculture, and small-scale coastal enterprises, can help address vulnerabilities in local communities. The analysis highlights the tensions between conservation imperatives, state policies, and local resource dependence, emphasising the critical role of participatory governance and community-led initiatives. By situating alternative livelihoods within a justice-oriented framework, the paper argues that achieving sustainable coastal futures requires integrating socio-economic empowerment with environmental stewardship. This conceptual exploration offers policy-relevant insights for governments, NGOs, and practitioners aiming to balance ecological sustainability and social equity in coastal regions. The findings underscore the need for context-sensitive interventions that recognise historical marginalisation, local knowledge systems, and the agency of coastal communities.