I’m going to convince you tonight or at least I’m gonna try that if we really
least I’m gonna try that if we really
least I’m gonna try that if we really want to save the world’s ocean
want to save the world’s ocean
want to save the world’s ocean if one address overfishing address the
if one address overfishing address the
if one address overfishing address the fisheries crisis we need to keep eating
fisheries crisis we need to keep eating
fisheries crisis we need to keep eating fish
fish
fish perhaps we even need to eat more fish
perhaps we even need to eat more fish
perhaps we even need to eat more fish yes you heard me right
yes you heard me right
yes you heard me right more fish of course we need to choose to
more fish of course we need to choose to
more fish of course we need to choose to eat the right kind of fish caught by the
eat the right kind of fish caught by the
eat the right kind of fish caught by the right kind of Fisher Fisher man Fisher
right kind of Fisher Fisher man Fisher
right kind of Fisher Fisher man Fisher woman why because who fishes matters it
woman why because who fishes matters it
woman why because who fishes matters it matters to the sustainability of our
matters to the sustainability of our
matters to the sustainability of our oceans to our food systems now my
oceans to our food systems now my
oceans to our food systems now my argument might be quite different from
argument might be quite different from
argument might be quite different from what you may think or what you we hear
what you may think or what you we hear
what you may think or what you we hear in the mainstream media and believe me
in the mainstream media and believe me
in the mainstream media and believe me I’m a conservationist at heart otherwise
I’m a conservationist at heart otherwise
I’m a conservationist at heart otherwise I wouldn’t be standing here but widely
I wouldn’t be standing here but widely
I wouldn’t be standing here but widely advocate tools such as marine protected
advocate tools such as marine protected
advocate tools such as marine protected areas or very useful in very specific
areas or very useful in very specific
areas or very useful in very specific contexts if set up in the right kind of
contexts if set up in the right kind of
contexts if set up in the right kind of environment are not the best solution
environment are not the best solution
environment are not the best solution the most scalable solution to address
the most scalable solution to address
the most scalable solution to address the crisis in our oceans to unpack my
the crisis in our oceans to unpack my
the crisis in our oceans to unpack my proposition to to give you kind of a
proposition to to give you kind of a
proposition to to give you kind of a glimpse of my perspective I’m going to
glimpse of my perspective I’m going to
glimpse of my perspective I’m going to take you a bit of an on a journey I’m
take you a bit of an on a journey I’m
take you a bit of an on a journey I’m gonna go back a few steps and go back to
gonna go back a few steps and go back to
gonna go back a few steps and go back to where I started to get you through and
where I started to get you through and
where I started to get you through and how I’ve come at this conclusion I’m
how I’ve come at this conclusion I’m
how I’ve come at this conclusion I’m Sara markers
Sara markers
Sara markers I grew up in urban Europe and as a kid I
I grew up in urban Europe and as a kid I
I grew up in urban Europe and as a kid I was very quickly intrigued like many of
was very quickly intrigued like many of
was very quickly intrigued like many of you borrow oceans but their vastness by
you borrow oceans but their vastness by
you borrow oceans but their vastness by by the fauna I think I was thin when I
by the fauna I think I was thin when I
by the fauna I think I was thin when I could recite old dolphin and whale
could recite old dolphin and whale
could recite old dolphin and whale species by their Latin name yeah I went
species by their Latin name yeah I went
species by their Latin name yeah I went to every aquarium in Europe
to every aquarium in Europe
to every aquarium in Europe I learned to dive when I was 13 and by
I learned to dive when I was 13 and by
I learned to dive when I was 13 and by 15 I’d actually dive across the globe on
15 I’d actually dive across the globe on
15 I’d actually dive across the globe on trips with my parents I was privileged I
trips with my parents I was privileged I
trips with my parents I was privileged I am privileged I was groomed to become a
am privileged I was groomed to become a
am privileged I was groomed to become a conservationist and I studied by
conservationist and I studied by
conservationist and I studied by engineering at university I obviously
engineering at university I obviously
engineering at university I obviously went into marine biology
went into marine biology
went into marine biology to fishery science but in 2004 I came to
to fishery science but in 2004 I came to
to fishery science but in 2004 I came to South Africa to undertake a PhD and to
South Africa to undertake a PhD and to
South Africa to undertake a PhD and to do a stock assessment of abalone now
do a stock assessment of abalone now
do a stock assessment of abalone now stock assessments in fishery science
stock assessments in fishery science
stock assessments in fishery science sock assessment are done by using
sock assessment are done by using
sock assessment are done by using fisheries independent data and fisheries
fisheries independent data and fisheries
fisheries independent data and fisheries dependent data and putting all of that
dependent data and putting all of that
dependent data and putting all of that in a complex mathematical model so I had
in a complex mathematical model so I had
in a complex mathematical model so I had to dive count abalone and use particular
to dive count abalone and use particular
to dive count abalone and use particular research methods now what my supervisor
research methods now what my supervisor
research methods now what my supervisor hadn’t told me that I was gonna be doing
hadn’t told me that I was gonna be doing
hadn’t told me that I was gonna be doing this along the wild coast around the
this along the wild coast around the
this along the wild coast around the South African coast so we’re diving
South African coast so we’re diving
South African coast so we’re diving conditions in the intro area as a pretty
conditions in the intro area as a pretty
conditions in the intro area as a pretty terrible now penny never dropped but it
terrible now penny never dropped but it
terrible now penny never dropped but it gave me quite a bit of time it gave me
gave me quite a bit of time it gave me
gave me quite a bit of time it gave me quite a bit of time to connect with
quite a bit of time to connect with
quite a bit of time to connect with local traditional Fisher’s and I got
local traditional Fisher’s and I got
local traditional Fisher’s and I got interested in their story how are they
interested in their story how are they
interested in their story how are they fighting for fishing rights how are they
fighting for fishing rights how are they
fighting for fishing rights how are they trying to secure their customary
trying to secure their customary
trying to secure their customary practices their tradition what is the
practices their tradition what is the
practices their tradition what is the context of extreme poverty of limited
context of extreme poverty of limited
context of extreme poverty of limited opportunities together with millions of
opportunities together with millions of
opportunities together with millions of Fisher’s around the globe these people
Fisher’s around the globe these people
Fisher’s around the globe these people these small-scale Fisher’s contribute
these small-scale Fisher’s contribute
these small-scale Fisher’s contribute from some sixty to eighty percent of the
from some sixty to eighty percent of the
from some sixty to eighty percent of the global catch depending on the statistics
global catch depending on the statistics
global catch depending on the statistics years but I became very intrigued by how
years but I became very intrigued by how
years but I became very intrigued by how they understand how they perceive
they understand how they perceive
they understand how they perceive ecosystems how do they perceive
ecosystems how do they perceive
ecosystems how do they perceive ecosystems change how do they understand
ecosystems change how do they understand
ecosystems change how do they understand climate change in fact maybe I could
climate change in fact maybe I could
climate change in fact maybe I could learn something from them and that
learn something from them and that
learn something from them and that changed my whole trajectory I’ve learned
changed my whole trajectory I’ve learned
changed my whole trajectory I’ve learned vicious catching species that had even
vicious catching species that had even
vicious catching species that had even even know we could eat I’ve learned from
even know we could eat I’ve learned from
even know we could eat I’ve learned from Fisher’s how they can tell by the color
Fisher’s how they can tell by the color
Fisher’s how they can tell by the color of the lobster from which area it comes
of the lobster from which area it comes
of the lobster from which area it comes from how they can read the oceans to
from how they can read the oceans to
from how they can read the oceans to predict red tides how they have eleven
predict red tides how they have eleven
predict red tides how they have eleven different names for one fish depending
different names for one fish depending
different names for one fish depending on its size depending on the currents it
on its size depending on the currents it
on its size depending on the currents it swims and depending on how it interacts
swims and depending on how it interacts
swims and depending on how it interacts with other species and of course how it
with other species and of course how it
with other species and of course how it how its prepared in their traditional
how its prepared in their traditional
how its prepared in their traditional cuisine that local ecological knowledge
cuisine that local ecological knowledge
cuisine that local ecological knowledge can become any
can become any
can become any extremely powerful opportunity for ocean
extremely powerful opportunity for ocean
extremely powerful opportunity for ocean stewardship as these fissures are of
stewardship as these fissures are of
stewardship as these fissures are of course the ultimate observers they’re
course the ultimate observers they’re
course the ultimate observers they’re salt water running through their veins
salt water running through their veins
salt water running through their veins now the realization that local
now the realization that local
now the realization that local ecological knowledge can be a catalyst
ecological knowledge can be a catalyst
ecological knowledge can be a catalyst for ocean stewardship for better
for ocean stewardship for better
for ocean stewardship for better fisheries management it’s an asset for
fisheries management it’s an asset for
fisheries management it’s an asset for fisheries management that spurred me on
fisheries management that spurred me on
fisheries management that spurred me on together with a whole team and of course
together with a whole team and of course
together with a whole team and of course these fishers to embark and embrace the
these fishers to embark and embrace the
these fishers to embark and embrace the power of mobile technology to harness
power of mobile technology to harness
power of mobile technology to harness this knowledge we never realized that
this knowledge we never realized that
this knowledge we never realized that providing fishers with a simple mobile
providing fishers with a simple mobile
providing fishers with a simple mobile log book on their smartphones would
log book on their smartphones would
log book on their smartphones would become such a powerful tool fishers card
become such a powerful tool fishers card
become such a powerful tool fishers card fishing record various Oceanic and
fishing record various Oceanic and
fishing record various Oceanic and Atmospheric variables their catch of
Atmospheric variables their catch of
Atmospheric variables their catch of course their expenses their income the
course their expenses their income the
course their expenses their income the occurrence of illegal fishing activities
occurrence of illegal fishing activities
occurrence of illegal fishing activities and the catch of unusual species and
and the catch of unusual species and
and the catch of unusual species and then they take this data they look at
then they take this data they look at
then they take this data they look at their dashboards they look at these
their dashboards they look at these
their dashboards they look at these summary charts of their activities on
summary charts of their activities on
summary charts of their activities on their personal dashboards to make sense
their personal dashboards to make sense
their personal dashboards to make sense of their fishing operations to perhaps
of their fishing operations to perhaps
of their fishing operations to perhaps plan for better fishing operations or to
plan for better fishing operations or to
plan for better fishing operations or to understand the impact they have on their
understand the impact they have on their
understand the impact they have on their fishing operations they can then share
fishing operations they can then share
fishing operations they can then share this data with fellow fishers with
this data with fellow fishers with
this data with fellow fishers with stakeholders to look at MOCA aggregated
stakeholders to look at MOCA aggregated
stakeholders to look at MOCA aggregated catch more aggregated data or they can
catch more aggregated data or they can
catch more aggregated data or they can use the tool as an accounting tool to
use the tool as an accounting tool to
use the tool as an accounting tool to upgrade their activities or simply they
upgrade their activities or simply they
upgrade their activities or simply they can showcase that they exists that
can showcase that they exists that
can showcase that they exists that they’re legitimate in their informal
they’re legitimate in their informal
they’re legitimate in their informal fishery now a co.design approach and a
fishery now a co.design approach and a
fishery now a co.design approach and a co-ownership model has spurred on the
co-ownership model has spurred on the
co-ownership model has spurred on the movement of movement of fishers claiming
movement of movement of fishers claiming
movement of movement of fishers claiming their fishing rights claiming their
their fishing rights claiming their
their fishing rights claiming their human rights but showcasing to us that
human rights but showcasing to us that
human rights but showcasing to us that day to have a voice in science and
day to have a voice in science and
day to have a voice in science and conservation we’re seeing a big data
conservation we’re seeing a big data
conservation we’re seeing a big data movement in small-scale fisheries but it
movement in small-scale fisheries but it
movement in small-scale fisheries but it doesn’t stop there why because that
doesn’t stop there why because that
doesn’t stop there why because that local ecological knowledge can be
local ecological knowledge can be
local ecological knowledge can be channeled through a digital value chain
channeled through a digital value chain
channeled through a digital value chain your plate a few years ago I went to
your plate a few years ago I went to
your plate a few years ago I went to equip well-known Cape Town restaurants
equip well-known Cape Town restaurants
equip well-known Cape Town restaurants and I ordered a mixed seafood platter
and I ordered a mixed seafood platter
and I ordered a mixed seafood platter well I was served New Zealand mussels
well I was served New Zealand mussels
well I was served New Zealand mussels white fish caught by an industrial
white fish caught by an industrial
white fish caught by an industrial trawler and squid from Patagonia
trawler and squid from Patagonia
trawler and squid from Patagonia needless to say I wasn’t very thrilled
needless to say I wasn’t very thrilled
needless to say I wasn’t very thrilled about a year ago I went to another
about a year ago I went to another
about a year ago I went to another restaurant and he got the same muscles
restaurant and he got the same muscles
restaurant and he got the same muscles again from New Zealand only to be told
again from New Zealand only to be told
again from New Zealand only to be told by the waiter and that these mussels
by the waiter and that these mussels
by the waiter and that these mussels were caught artisanal fishers of Cape
were caught artisanal fishers of Cape
were caught artisanal fishers of Cape Point nice try but green mussels only
Point nice try but green mussels only
Point nice try but green mussels only occur in New Zealand and Kay point is a
occur in New Zealand and Kay point is a
occur in New Zealand and Kay point is a reserve at the same time our sir African
reserve at the same time our sir African
reserve at the same time our sir African small-scale fishers can provide us with
small-scale fishers can provide us with
small-scale fishers can provide us with an amazing variety of seafood they catch
an amazing variety of seafood they catch
an amazing variety of seafood they catch it with low impact gear some of these
it with low impact gear some of these
it with low impact gear some of these species are underutilized did you know
species are underutilized did you know
species are underutilized did you know that sea food production has one of the
that sea food production has one of the
that sea food production has one of the lowest carbon footprints of all our food
lowest carbon footprints of all our food
lowest carbon footprints of all our food items and stuff to think about so what
items and stuff to think about so what
items and stuff to think about so what we need to do is disrupt value chains
we need to do is disrupt value chains
we need to do is disrupt value chains from boat to plate from hook to cook we
from boat to plate from hook to cook we
from boat to plate from hook to cook we need to go back to a different kind of
need to go back to a different kind of
need to go back to a different kind of food systems to try to eat catch of the
food systems to try to eat catch of the
food systems to try to eat catch of the day
day
day where we can while at the same time of
where we can while at the same time of
where we can while at the same time of course offer a fair price for the Fisher
course offer a fair price for the Fisher
course offer a fair price for the Fisher who often is a price taker to the
who often is a price taker to the
who often is a price taker to the middlemen for example yellowtail in Cape
middlemen for example yellowtail in Cape
middlemen for example yellowtail in Cape Town here in some of the restaurants
Town here in some of the restaurants
Town here in some of the restaurants fetches a price of up to 250 even 300
fetches a price of up to 250 even 300
fetches a price of up to 250 even 300 Rand a kg we’re a small-scale Fisher
Rand a kg we’re a small-scale Fisher
Rand a kg we’re a small-scale Fisher we’ll get up to 30 R and kg that’s a
we’ll get up to 30 R and kg that’s a
we’ll get up to 30 R and kg that’s a massive margin so what if what if chefs
massive margin so what if what if chefs
massive margin so what if what if chefs retailers consumers like you and I could
retailers consumers like you and I could
retailers consumers like you and I could access what we call story seafood
access what we call story seafood
access what we call story seafood traceable seafood on a digital platform
traceable seafood on a digital platform
traceable seafood on a digital platform powered by a community technology that
powered by a community technology that
powered by a community technology that at the same time provides us with the
at the same time provides us with the
at the same time provides us with the data we need to better manage our
data we need to better manage our
data we need to better manage our fisheries to rebuild our fisheries but
fisheries to rebuild our fisheries but
fisheries to rebuild our fisheries but all of that on a foundation of local
all of that on a foundation of local
all of that on a foundation of local ecological knowledge well that’s the
ecological knowledge well that’s the
ecological knowledge well that’s the jury
jury
jury we’ve embarked on okay and that’s how
we’ve embarked on okay and that’s how
we’ve embarked on okay and that’s how Fisher’s in South Africa are empowering
Fisher’s in South Africa are empowering
Fisher’s in South Africa are empowering themselves in their communities
themselves in their communities
themselves in their communities it’s taken me from marine biologist to
it’s taken me from marine biologist to
it’s taken me from marine biologist to social scientist to the social
social scientist to the social
social scientist to the social entrepreneurship space I’ve had to learn
entrepreneurship space I’ve had to learn
entrepreneurship space I’ve had to learn concepts like FinTech and Lean Startup
concepts like FinTech and Lean Startup
concepts like FinTech and Lean Startup and agile development and unit
and agile development and unit
and agile development and unit econometrics hope because I want to try
econometrics hope because I want to try
econometrics hope because I want to try and drive the sustainability and the
and drive the sustainability and the
and drive the sustainability and the scalability of the program but also at
scalability of the program but also at
scalability of the program but also at the same time nurture his movement of
the same time nurture his movement of
the same time nurture his movement of fishers Fleming their space loud and
fishers Fleming their space loud and
fishers Fleming their space loud and clear in the future of our oceans in in
clear in the future of our oceans in in
clear in the future of our oceans in in their livelihoods in their tradition
their livelihoods in their tradition
their livelihoods in their tradition let’s face it people or the majority of
let’s face it people or the majority of
let’s face it people or the majority of the world’s population is poor and so
the world’s population is poor and so
the world’s population is poor and so are many small-scale fishers they can’t
are many small-scale fishers they can’t
are many small-scale fishers they can’t stop fishing
stop fishing
stop fishing they won’t stop fishing they shouldn’t
they won’t stop fishing they shouldn’t
they won’t stop fishing they shouldn’t in fact it’s been estimated that in
in fact it’s been estimated that in
in fact it’s been estimated that in Africa’s fisheries were well managed
Africa’s fisheries were well managed
Africa’s fisheries were well managed they would contribute more to food
they would contribute more to food
they would contribute more to food security than agricultural production
security than agricultural production
security than agricultural production that’s big at the same time these
that’s big at the same time these
that’s big at the same time these fishers can offer us an amazing food
fishers can offer us an amazing food
fishers can offer us an amazing food system and through technology it offers
system and through technology it offers
system and through technology it offers an opportunity for us to drive our
an opportunity for us to drive our
an opportunity for us to drive our conservation efforts with Fisher’s
conservation efforts with Fisher’s
conservation efforts with Fisher’s rather than against or without them so
rather than against or without them so
rather than against or without them so by purchasing storied seafood seafood
by purchasing storied seafood seafood
by purchasing storied seafood seafood with a story buying the right fish
with a story buying the right fish
with a story buying the right fish caught by the right Fisher we’re not
caught by the right Fisher we’re not
caught by the right Fisher we’re not only contribute to the Fisher’s economy
only contribute to the Fisher’s economy
only contribute to the Fisher’s economy but we also contribute to the generation
but we also contribute to the generation
but we also contribute to the generation of that data that we so desperately need
of that data that we so desperately need
of that data that we so desperately need for fisheries management so what we eat
for fisheries management so what we eat
for fisheries management so what we eat has the power to change the world
has the power to change the world
has the power to change the world for the worse or for the better no where
for the worse or for the better no where
for the worse or for the better no where in the world is storage seafood as
in the world is storage seafood as
in the world is storage seafood as important as in South Africa given our
important as in South Africa given our
important as in South Africa given our marine diversity but also against the
marine diversity but also against the
marine diversity but also against the backdrop of our political history and
backdrop of our political history and
backdrop of our political history and our prevailing social injustice so next
our prevailing social injustice so next
our prevailing social injustice so next time you go and buy seafood find out if
time you go and buy seafood find out if
time you go and buy seafood find out if it’s sustainable where when how it was
it’s sustainable where when how it was
it’s sustainable where when how it was caught but also ask yourself
caught but also ask yourself
caught but also ask yourself who caught it because record it truly
who caught it because record it truly
who caught it because record it truly matters that’s the idea I have to share
matters that’s the idea I have to share
matters that’s the idea I have to share thank you very much
”
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