South Africa's Policy on National Environmental Management of the Oceans

1. South Africa’s Policy onNational Environmental Management of the OceansGreen Paper Presentation to Portfolio Committee16 slides (15-20 minutes)13 February 2013Department of Environmental Affairs

2. Introduction • Ocean Governance Failures / Challenges have been observed throughout the world • Several countries are finalizing Ocean management policies • Oceans policies seek to • improve sectoral management of the ocean sector • enhance planning and managing across sectors for accumulated and aggregated impacts

3. Policy Development2011 - 2012 • 2011-12 Towards developing the policy • Observations • Sectoral management of ocean users • Function to advance individual interests of sectors: shipping, mining, fishing… • No sector manages accumulated & aggregated impacts across sectors • Need for coordinated policy framework for conservation, protection & sustainable use of the oceans Review of sectoral stakeholders e.g. mining, fishing Review of National ocean sectoral policy e.g. shipping Ocean Policies of 12 countries compared Review of international agreements that SA is party to. Policy drafted Development of the Benguela Current Convention Text

4. SA Ocean’s – Global Perspective ch2 X_SA base

5. Global Ocean Circulation Circulation ‘Global Conveyor Belt’

6. SA Ocean Jurisdiction

7. Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill • 30 Billion US$ • 4.9 million barrels / 780 000 cubic meters • 6500 – 180 000 sq. km

8. Ocean Acidity INCREASED CARBON DI OXIDE LEADS TO INCREASED ACIDITY OF THE OCEANS

9. African Penguin Threatened What does this mean for South Africans?

10. Coelacanth • Coelacanth is one of the oldest species of fish in the world • Thought to have been extinct since the end of the cretaceous period over 65 million years ago. • Fossils of the coelacanth have been found that date back over 350 million years • 1938, a fisherman actually caught a live coelacanth off the coast of South Africa • “EVOLIUTIONARY LINK BETWEEN AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL SPECIES” • “old fourlegs"

11. OCEAN CONSERVATION MANDATE • South African Constitution s24 • International Agreements • Themes • Conservation • Sustainable Development

12. Ocean Goods & Services • Provision – • sea trade; fish; oil; minerals; pharmaceuticals; sewage & waste disposal etc • Regulation • environmental – climate – weather – e.g. re-cycling of carbon & nitrogen; heat distribution • Supporting • creating niche habitat for biodiversity e.g. mangroves • Cultural Environmental Affairs exists to ensure the sustainability & conservation of these goods & services

13. SA Ocean Policy - Objectives • Ecosystem Conservation; Protection; Stewardship • Provide framework for existing and new industries to access oceans responsibly >>> spatial planning • Maintain & enhance oceans goods & services Marine geo-engineering-artificial islands Fishing deeper, further; longer Bio-prospecting- chemicals/genetics Energy: wind; wave; currents Shipping expansion Carbon sequestration / storage Tourism Mining further / deeper for new materials Advancing technology>Advancing exploitation

14. Ocean Policy

15. An Example of the Policy in Action OBJECTIVE OUTCOME STATEMENT/ACTION • Population numbers of ocean top predators e.g. seabirds - penguins • Population numbers must not drop less than n breeding pairs – species management plan • Develop & Inform norms & standards that seabirds mortalities in fishing lines must be less than X per 1000 hooks • Seek partnership with DAFF to regulate and monitor norms and stds • Seek alignment of norms and stds with adjacent coastal states through Benguela Current Commission • Information • Knowledge • Management • Environmental Integrity • Indicator • Threshold • DEA • Intervention • Cooperation

16. CONCLUSION 5-10 years 0-5 years

17. 1.Ocean Environmental Information • Policy Statement 1.1: Ensure improved adherence with the ocean environmental reporting requirements contained in domestic legislation • Policy Statement 1.2: Enhance existing research and monitoring of ocean ecosystems 2.Ocean Environmental Knowledge • Policy Statement 2.1: Produce information tools to facilitate understanding of the natural functioning of ecosystems and human impact on the ocean environment • Policy Statement 2.2: Establish, in consultation with role-players, ocean ecosystem thresholds for human health and biodiversity conservation • Policy Statement 2.3: Provide information to promote sustainable development whilst maintaining the resilience of the ocean SECRET

18. 3. Ocean Environmental Management • Policy Statement 3.1: Provide timeous information on trends and extremes in ecosystem and earth system functioning • Policy Statement 3.2: Ensure the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of ocean habitat and species • Policy Statement 3.3: establish ecosystem and biodiversity management plans in consultation with role-players 4. Ocean Environmental Integrity Policy Statement 4.1: Cooperating at a national, regional and international level to advance sustainable ecosystem-based management of the EEZ, High Seas and Antarctica