Mining threatens heritage of West Coast fishers
West Coast fishers warn that a surge in mining could threaten livelihoods, heritage and future generations along the coastline.
Image: Pixabay
Before sunrise on the West Coast, small-scale fishers head out to sea to feed their families, just as generations before them have done.
For Deborah de Wee, the ocean is more than a source of income, it is heritage, identity and survival.
As a wave of new mining and prospecting applications targets the coastline, she and others say they fear their way of life is being pushed aside as development expands along the shore.
Speaking at the Ripple Effect Gathering in Langebaan on March 14, De Wee said fishing communities feel increasingly excluded as development pressures intensify.
“The government does not protect the fishers of the West Coast, but gives priority to development and mining without sufficient concern for our livelihoods. This is unfair and unconstitutional,” she said. “Fishing is a cultural right of the indigenous people of South Africa. We should be treated as custodians of the ocean, and not just people needed for their vote.”
She said many fishers are already struggling, with any further disruption threatening their ability to put food on the table.
More than 150 representatives, including fishers, indigenous leaders, scientists and political figures, attended the gathering, which participants described as a critical moment for the region.
Organisers and researchers at the gathering said the region is facing what they described as a sharp increase in mining and prospecting applications, including for heavy minerals, rare earth elements and offshore diamonds, raising concerns about the cumulative impact on coastal ecosystems and livelihoods.
Mining remains a key economic sector in the region, supporting jobs and export revenue, but communities say the benefits are unevenly felt.
Indigenous leaders at the gathering stressed the importance of consultation. Gaob Martinus Fredericks, representing the Nama people, said sustainable alternatives such as ecotourism could offer longer-term benefits if communities are included in decision-making.
“Our people have lived here for thousands of years. We understand the value of our natural heritage and we want to safeguard our children’s livelihoods as well as our own,” he said.
The West Coast is widely recognised for its unique biodiversity and cultural heritage, supporting rare species and tightly connected coastal communities. Researchers and activists at the event said the region is increasingly under pressure from expanding mining activity, with potential long-term consequences for both biodiversity and people.
Adding to community concerns, Protect the West Coast managing director Mike Schlebach said research presented at the gathering suggests the region is approaching a critical threshold.
“The West Coast is at a tipping point. We risk losing birds, animals and ecosystems that cannot be restored. We urgently need to safeguard this unique heritage area for future generations while better providing for communities who live here,” he said.
He added that while some mining operations comply with environmental and social obligations, a more coordinated approach is needed to assess cumulative impacts and ensure development delivers sustainable, long-term employment.
Local government representatives acknowledged the challenges. Saldanha Bay Executive Mayor Marius Koen said municipalities were investing in alternative economic opportunities, but required stronger national support.
“As a municipality, we are investing in ecotourism and other sustainable development initiatives, but we can’t do this alone. We are calling on the national government to hold mining companies to account and to support sustainable development for the West Coast,” he said.
As development pressures grow, fishers say the question is no longer just about jobs or growth, but whether future generations will still be able to live from the ocean as their ancestors did.