Coastal resources in South Africa are vital for local coastal communities, many of whom live in abject poverty. These resources also hold significant value for a number of different sectors such as mining, fisheries, forestry and tourism, many of which supply expanding global consumer markets. Although these activities provide many opportunities for economic development and income generation, global patterns indicate growing levels of economic inequality between custodians of these resources and those exploiting them, as well as an increasing incidence of poverty. Benefit sharing is a popular term to describe interventions to redress inequalities, and thus alleviate poverty.
