Dozens of small-scale fishers held a demonstration at the Paarden Eiland entrance to Cape Town Harbour on Monday. They want government to stop approving permits for oceanic oil and gas exploration.

They held placards that read: “Fishers’ rights are human rights” and “Oil and water do not mix”. Many passing motorists hooted in support of the demonstration.

Liziwe McDaid, The Green Connection’s strategic leader, said frustrated fishers had asked for help with the demonstration. She said the message to government was to “stop drilling the oceans”.

She said the fishers needed to have a voice in such decisions.

Solene Smith, chair of Coastal Links in Langebaan, said, “We have been fighting oil and gas exploration for years, but we have not yet won the fight.”

Camelita Mostert, chair of Coastal Links in Saldanha, said she hires about 54 fishers to work on her two boats. The catch is sold to the community.

“When foreign companies drill for oil in our oceans, fish die. The noise from drilling causes fish to disappear … We won’t allow the government and foreign companies to take over our oceans,” she said.

“Snoek season was bad. Small boats used to get between 160 to 250 fish per day,” she said. Now they only catch 20 to 50 fish per day.

Wendy Pekeur, Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement founder and coordinator, said, “As Minister of the Environment, [Barbara] Creecy should be the first person to say no to drilling in the oceans.”

The African Climate Alliance, 350org, Greenpeace Africa, Masifundise, Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth and the Social Justice Coalition attended the demonstration in solidarity with the fishers. DM

Originally published on GroundUp.