South Africas Policy on National Environmental Management of

South Africa’s Policy on National Environmental Management of the Oceans Green Paper Oceans Paper 19 slides (20 -25 minutes) 23/24 July 2013 Department of Environmental Affairs 1

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 & planning and managing across sectors for accumulated and aggregated impacts 2

Policy Development 2011 - 2013 • 2011 -12 Towards developing the policy Ocean Policies of 12 countries compared Review of sectoral stakeholders e. g. mining, fishing Review of international agreements that SA is party to. Review of National ocean sectoral policy e. g. shipping Policy Drafted & submitted to cluster & cabinet Published – 30 October 2012 Draft White Paper July 2013 Development of the Benguela Current Convention Text • Observations – Sectoral management of ocean users » Function to advance individual sectors e. g. shipping, mining, fishing » No sector manages accumulated & aggregated impacts across sector 3

Ocean Policy 4

SA Ocean Jurisdiction ch 2 5

SA Ocean’s –Global Perspective ch 2 X_SA base 6

DEA OCEAN MANDATE ch 3 CONSTITUTION SECTION 244 NEMA and SEMAS Conservation Protection Rehabilitation Sustainable Development International Agreements 7

EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL OCEAN GOVERNANCE CH 4 Stockholm Convention 1972 >>> UNCLOS 1982 >>> Rio (Ch. 17) / CBD 1992 >>> WSSD – Jo-burg 2002>>>Rio + 20 • Content / Agenda Evolution – intergenerational equity – sustainable use – equitable use – integration principle International Regulatory Mechanisms 70’s – 80’s e. g. Ship Dumping; CITES; Oil Spills 8

OCEAN ECOSYSTEM USES AND SUSTAINABLE USE CH 5 • Provision – sea trade; fish; oil; minerals; pharmaceuticals; sewage & waste disposal etc Ecosystem Approach Species • Regulation – environmental – climate – weather e. g. re-cycling of carbon & nitrogen; & heat distribution Biodiversity & Habitat • Supporting – creating niche habitat for biodiversity e. g. mangroves Ecosystem • Cultural Earth System 9

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF OCEAN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES CH 6 • Identifies that there is a need to build on general environmental governance to ocean governance • Description ocean sectoral environmental governance • Demonstrates that the sectoral governance does not seek to manage aggregated and accumulated impact or cross sectoral planning 10

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL OCEAN MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES CH 7 • Improve the competitiveness and effectiveness of existing activities taking place within their marine jurisdiction while at the same time researching and developing innovative and responsible future uses • Maintain and improve marine ecosystems resilience, conserve biodiversity and restore degraded habitat • Participate and strengthen their involvement in global and regional developments - support efforts to achieve environmental objectives • Spatial Planning is often seen as key to managing large 11 ocean spaces

Ocean Policy Objectives Ocean Environmental Information Ocean Environmental Integrity Indicator Ocean Environmental Knowledge Threshold Cooperation Ocean Environmental Management Intervention 12

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 13

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 14

An Example of the Policy in Action OBJECTIVE • Information • Indicator • Knowledge • Threshold • Management Intervention • Environmental Integrity OUTCOME STATEMENT/ACTION • Population numbers of ocean top predators e. g. seabirds – albatrosses • 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 • Cooperation • 15

CONCLUSION ch 9 s r a e y 0 1 - 5 rs a e -5 y Integrated Ocean Environmental Management 0 Sectoral Management Coordinated Sectoral Ocean Environmental Management 16

Additions & Considerations after Comments 17

Guiding Principles • • The sustainable use and management of ocean resources and ecosystem services in order to benefit present and future generations The protection of biodiversity in the ocean environment and the conservation of marine ecosystems The application of the precautionary approach to sustainable use and conservation The prevention, avoidance and mitigation of pollution and adherence to the polluter pays principle The strengthening of human capacity to deal with a changing environment, including the impacts of climate change such as increases in sea-surface temperature, sea-level rise and ocean acidification The identification of opportunities which contribute to the development needs of the poor and vulnerable within the population thus ensuring human dignity The promotion of collaboration and cooperative governance The promotion of an ecosystem and earth system approach to ocean management 18

Strategic Objectives • • • Coordinating and supporting the implementation of the relevant existing statutory and institutional frameworks Establishing mechanisms for intersectoral data collection and sharing Creating and maintaining a shared national knowledge base on the human activities, status and functioning of the ocean Establishing integrated ocean management plans by the undertaking of strategic environmental impact assessments and the use of spatial planning tools Enhancing national human and technical capacity to better understand utilise ocean resources and opportunities Pursuing regional and international cooperation and governance mechanisms 19