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Explore the status of legislation & policies regulating aquaculture development in coastal areas. Understand the challenges, initiatives, and future plans for aquaculture growth.
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(input from the Directorate: Coastal Pollution Management Status of legislation and policies regulating the development and practice of aquaculture Oceans and Coasts
Background • Aquaculture is practiced in both coastal and inland areas. • There are reportedly over 195 operating marine and freshwater aquaculture farms. • These are mostly small scale farmers producing between 5-50tons. • Thethe sector has planned to raise its production level from the current approx. 4000 tons to 20 000 tons p.a. • To achieve that, several initiatives were proposed, two of which are aimed at overcoming regulatory & permitting obstacles.
Status of legislation and policies Status of legislation and policies • DAFF commissioned a comprehensive review of legislation structures governing aquaculture in RSA. • The review covered, among others, legislation pertaining to: • Administration of the Sector • Environmental Impacts and Permitting • Securing Sites and Zoning • Environmental Constraints • Product Safety and Quality • Animal Health and Disease Control • Importation of Inputs • Transformation of the Aquaculture Sector
Status of legislation Status of legislation and policies • Applicable DEA (Oceans & Coasts) legislation: • Integrated Coastal Management Act & draft regulations • Sea Shore Act
Integrated Coastal Management Act Status of legislation and policies • In terms of Section 69, the discharge of effluent from a land-based source into coastal waters is subject to either: • A General Authorisation • A Coastal Waters Discharge Permit (CWDP) • All effluent generators invited to apply for a CWDP. • A National Guideline was published to promote a uniform approach to the assessment and management of impacts from effluent disposal (applicable to all sectors). • Marine aquaculture sector called for a less stringent approach with sector-specific issues taken into account.
Integrated Coastal Management Act Status of legislation and policies • DEA requested to consider authorising disposal via either: • A sector/sub-sector wide General Authorisation coupled with norms and standards; • Individual discharge permits obtainable within a reasonable timeframe, and with reasonable conditions. • Currently, draft norms and standards exist only for abalone and trout industries. • Applications for individual permits received from 21 operators. • Permits to be issued in the interim until norms and standards have been formally established for various species.
Sea Shore Act Status of legislation and policies • Currently sea-ranching activities which take place on the sea-shore are subject to leases in terms of the Sea Shore Act, which are ratified by Parliament