Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast

Much has been written about specific resources and features along the KZN coast. Many materials exist that provide evidence of the use of these coastal resources and the creation of certain features; the relics of hunters and gatherers, the activities of farmers, conservationists, soldiers and traders, missionaries and the many ordinary men and women of KZN, both historically and in the present. The KZN coastline has undergone a transformation from a pristine coastline little impacted by early indigenous hunter-gatherers, to a highly developed coastal zone with pressure from increasingly rapid urban development.

The coast has cultural, historical and spiritual significance to the people of KZN, thus it is important that access to the coast be maintained. However, access to the coast was restricted for many in the past, making it imperative that equitable access be maintained in the future. In addition, coastal access provides opportunities for recreation, education and overall improvement of both mental and physical health.

A generally accepted definition of artisanal fisheries, also known as “small-scale” fisheries, is that they usually have a long history and tradition or culture; mostly make use of low technology fishing gear (often made by hand); and catch fairly low value resources. Subsistence fisheries refer to those fisheries where poor, unemployed people harvest fish or other marine organisms in close proximity to where they live as a means to meet their basic needs for food security.

The waters of the KZN coast are mostly sub-tropical and usually remain between 22-27⁰C, encouraging a number of recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, sailing and diving. In addition, the KZN coast represents a subtropical transition between tropical Indo-Pacific biota in the north-east and warm-temperate biota in the south, making it a premier destination for recreational activities such as fishing, surfing, scuba diving and swimming.