Man has a long and rich history connected with the oceans. Fisheries have played an important part in the development of the South African culture and economy, with many coastal communities being dependent on the sea for their livelihoods.
Recent global declines of fisheries, as a result of over-fishing, are placing these communities at risk. Over and above these stock declines, the sea is a harsh, dangerous and unforgiving workplace and is not always kind to coastal communities, with many a life having been lost.
1 of 12: West Coast Rock Lobster Fishers row out to sea in their small wooden boat, Paternoster, Western Cape, South Africa
2 of 12: Aerial view of the Struisbaai Fishing Harbor, Western Cape, South Africa
3 of 12: Trek-net fishers launching their small wooden rowing boat into the sea, Strandfontein beach, False Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
4 of 12: A small-scale fisher throws his cast net from his wooden rowing boat, Sundays River Estuary, Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa
5 of 12: Coastal Fishers have a deep spiritual connection, Doringbaai, Western Cape, South Africa
6 of 12: Sand shark caught in a trek net haul and later released, Strandfontein, False Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
7 of 12: Small-scale commercial fishers on their boat, Struisbaai, Western Cape, South Africa
8 of 12: Kelp gulls hover over a trek net that is being hauled to shore. The gulls hope to steal fish trapped in the net, Strandfontein beach, False Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
9 of 12: Yellowtail catch at the harbour, Struisbaai Harbour, Struisbaai, Western Cape, South Africa
10 of 12: Daily fish catch of Yellowtail and Hottentot for sale, Kalk Bay Harbour, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
11 of 12: Subsistence fisher reaching into the catch from a beach purse-sein net, False Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
12 of 12: Mullet, otherwise known as Boggems, hangs out to dry in the sun, Veldrift, Western Cape, South Africa
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