CONSERVING THE OCEANS AND THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL A PRIORITY

ENHANCING South Africa’s role in the ocean and coastal environment, Antarctica and the islands in the Southern Ocean was a priority for the late Minister of Environment, Dr Edna Molewa.

In order to achieve this, the Minister played a key role in driving the procurement and delivery of the South African research and polar supply vessel, the SA Agulhas II, built in 2012 under Minister Molewa’s leadership, and dedicated to Mama Miriam Makeba. The vessel has been the base for cutting edge scientific research at Antarctic and Prince Edward Islands, and demonstrates her foresight and understanding of investing in knowledge production and the important role of science in the Antarctic and Southern Oceans.

The Minister had presented ocean science work as a concrete deliverable to the Indian Ocean Rim Association, stating that Africa must understand and value her ocean to really benefit from the opportunities that the seas present. The first of these Indian Ocean Expeditions was launched by Dr Molewa in October 2017. The second expedition, under the auspices of UNESCO, took place earlier this year.

The late Minister had insisted that the good science work undertaken must be translated into knowledge so that South Africans can easily access ocean and coastal opportunities, and so that threats can be addressed at all levels.

This vision is translated pragmatically into the National Oceans and Coasts information systems, which is being developed by the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Science and Technology, through the CSIR’s Meraka Institute. This information systems displays a variety of knowledge products derived from ocean studies and surveys, ranging from ship tracking to tracing harmful algal blooms. This work comprises the data collected from a variety of contributing departments and state entities and is an indication of Minister Molewa’s leadership and vision for collaboration between government departments to deliver meaningful products.

In 2014 Minister Molewa, together with 16 Cabinet colleagues, endorsed the plan to create a viable Marine Protected Area (MPA) Representative Network under the auspices of Operation Phakisa: Ocean Economy.

This network will protect the marine biodiversity of South Africa’s oceans, including ecosystems that currently receive no protection.

It would also facilitate the sustainable use of the ocean by fisheries and other sectors. In February 2016, a set of MPAs, representing 7% protection for South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), were proposed as part of Operation Phakisa: Ocean Economy.

A key component of Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy is marine spatial planning (MSP) development. Legislation in this regard was developed in 2016 to ensure the objectives of the Phakisa drive will be achieved through the implementation of an overarching, integrated ocean governance framework for sustainable growth of the ocean economy that will maximise sustainable socio-economic benefits while ensuring adequate ocean environmental protection.

Minister Molewa chaired the Benguela Current Commission’s Ministerial Conference during the 2011/12 financial year. During her tenure, the Commission was transformed from a fisheries focused entity to an inclusive organisation covering broader marine issues, including the ocean economy. The Convention was signed on the 18 March 2013, came into effect in December 2015 and was registered with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York, United States, on 13 July 2016.

She also led the SA delegation for the development of the BCC Strategic Action Programme (2015 – 2019) which stipulated a number of projects to implement the Convention, and which serve as the base to source funds from BCC development partners. South Africa hosted the Development Partners and Investment Conference in December 2014 in which support for the implementation of the BCC initiatives was pledged. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) had committed $10.9-million to support further development of the BCC, especially through private sector and inter-sectoral intiatives. The GEF had also committed $4 725 through the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to build resilience and reduce vulnerability of the Benguela Current marine fisheries system to climate change. The German Government committed €8.9 million for the implementation of a regional Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) project, while the Norwegian Government committed NOK 3.7 million to funding the ecosystem-based management programme.

South Africa hosted the 11th Abidjan Convention COP, in March 2014, with Minister Molewa being elected chair of the COP11 Bureau. COP11 took place within a context of expanded growth within the region, particularly in the maritime sector. This laid a good foundation for the exploration of the economic potential in the region. It was from this that the Operation Phakisa: Ocean Economy Programme was initiatied.

Minister Molewa, as the chair, convened the 12th COP in March 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The South Africa Operation Phakisa: Ocean Economy programmes was the flagship of COP12 and hailed as the success story for advancing integrated oceans management and successfully developing the oceans and marine sectors in South Africa, thus serving to inspire African member states to follow suit.