|
SASSI was initiated in November 2004 in order to inform and educate
all participants in the seafood trade, from wholesalers to restaurateurs
through to seafood lovers. The initiative builds on an earlier
project started in Kwazulu-Natal Province which sought to educate
restaurant dealers about the MLRA and other marine conservation
issues. It has WWF-SA (via funding from The Green Trust) and the
South African Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism
(DEAT) as primary funding/support partners, and Ezemvelo KwaZulu
Natal Wildlife, Two Oceans Aquarium, TRAFFIC , Sea World
at uShaka, The South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity
(SAIAB), and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) as implementing
partners.
The 3 primary objectives of SASSI are:
1. Promote voluntary compliance of the law
through education and awareness
2. Shift consumer demand away from over-exploited species to more
sustainable options
3. Create awareness on marine conservation issues
These objectives are in line with the WWF-SA:
Marine Programme targets 3 and 4.
Over the next three years SASSI aims to establish a standardised
training network for seafood restaurants and retailers in the
major urban centres of South Africa, and to launch a public awareness
campaign that will educate consumers and enable them to make informed
and sustainable choices when buying seafood.
:: Contact SASSI: jbarendse@wwf.org.za
|
