The Western Cape High Court has upheld an interim interdict granted to small-scale fishers that bans foreign companies, Searcher Geodata UK and Searcher Seismic (Australia), from seismic blasting in the ocean on the environmentally sensitive west and south-west coast of South Africa.
Searcher Geodata UK and Searcher Seismic (Australia) had challenged the interim order handed down on February 7, directing them to discontinue any activities related to the seismic survey. The interim interdict will be in force until the merits are argued in court on February 24 to decide whether it will remain in place until the outcome of the review proceedings.
Green Connection representative Liziwe McDaid said the small-scale fishers were “extremely pleased” with the court’s ruling.
“The ban against Searcher remains. We are happy that the law was once again on the side of the small-scale fishers, who are fighting for their right not only to sustain but also to decide their own livelihoods. For The Green Connection, the issue is simple. Development is not progress if it threatens or endangers our rich, yet delicate marine ecosystems, or if it risks dismantling thousands of livelihoods that have been established over many generations,” she said.
Several small-scale fishers held a picket outside court calling for the government to end its drive to pursue harmful offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling, which includes seismic testing.
Langebaan Coastal Links small-scale fisherwoman and an applicant in the case, Solene Smith, said: “We are so happy that the court has kept the ban against Searcher.
"We do not want them here in our waters because oil and gas companies from the United Kingdom and Australia could be a risk.
"We think about the disasters and poor treatment of vulnerable and indigenous peoples around the world.
"Maybe this is how Searcher treats indigenous communities in its own countries, but South Africa’s Constitution protects us from such abuses.”
Christian Adams from Steenberg Cove on the West Coast, a member of the South African Small-Scale Fishers Collective (SASSFC) and an applicant in the case, said 2022 is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture as declared by the UN Food and Agriculture Council.
“However, we do not see or hear any support for the small-scale fisher from our government.
"There was no support for us from the president during his State of the Nation Address (Sona), even as small-scale fishers continue to be threatened by decisions taken by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.
"Even the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment gives us no support. Today has been a good day, the law is on our side.”
