Page 122 - KBHA BULLETIN 3
P. 122
119
just stating some of the things that need to be considered.
The proposal to make False Bay a Marine Park must be one of the most exciting concepts
ever put forward for the area. With proper planning and foresight it could be a win - win
situation for everyone. One in which the local commercial fishermen can survive and at the
same time the resources could be properly managed and protected. The needs of the
recreational and sports fishermen can be catered for. The hotels, the tourist industry, and the
entire coast line could benefit. This idea seems to have slipped into the background and needs
to be revived and studied, especially with talk about mega cities in the future. This too is
mentioned in the book.
And so - to sum up - some things in Kalk Bay have not changed over the years. There are still
people with different visions for the area, some with hidden agendas behind their schemes.
While the fishermen are a little bit better organised than in the past, they are still not united in
the true sense of the word, and so we continue to see proposals being put forward and the
slogan “in the interest of the line-fishermen” being used to gain public support.
What has changed, though, is that today we have organisations and groups, like yourselves,
who are prepared to ask the right questions and to look at the long term implications, and to
study the promised benefits of these proposals before making decisions about supporting
them.
Well, I have probably put the cat among the pigeons and trodden on a few toes with what I
have said. But, in some small way, I am hoping that what we have written in this book is not
only a record of the past but will also stimulate some debate about what could be done for
future of this beautiful bay, and how we can help keep Kalk Bay’s Traditional Way of Life
alive.
Reference: Stibbe, G. and I. Moss (1999) The Traditional Way of Life - The Story of the Kalk
Bay Fishermen.

