The picturesque fishing village of Paternoster used to be one of South Africa's leading tourist attractions. For generations, fisherman tended their nets, relying on small-scale fishing for their livelihoods. Now their boats lie rusting on the beach and the tourists have been told to stay away. The massive depletion of fish stocks has forced the government to introduce fishing permits. But very few permits are available and the local fishermen are all unemployed. In Cape Town, the problem is more sinister. Companies have been offered government incentives to employ members of the black community. These companies have exploited their black employees to gain permits easily. But the profits are not passed down to the employees and the government has been urged to reform its policies. They know that they must strike the delicate balance between saving the environment and protecting the welfare of their fishermen.

Produced by SABC Special Assignment.