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

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

4 Ocean Policy

5 SA Ocean Jurisdiction ch2

SA Ocean’s –Global Perspective ch2 6 X_SA base

DEA OCEAN MANDATE ch3 7 Conservation Protection Rehabilitation Sustainable Development CONSTITUTION SECTION 244 NEMA and SEMAS International Agreements

EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL OCEAN GOVERNANCE CH4 Content / Agenda Evolution –intergenerational equity –sustainable use –equitable use –integration principle 8 Stockholm Convention 1972 >>> UNCLOS 1982 >>> Rio (Ch. 17) / CBD 1992 >>> WSSD – Jo-burg 2002>>>Rio + 20 International Regulatory Mechanisms 70’s – 80’s e.g. Ship Dumping; CITES; Oil Spills

OCEAN ECOSYSTEM USES AND SUSTAINABLE USE CH5 9 Ecosystem Approach Species Biodiversity & Habitat Ecosystem Earth System 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 MANAGEMENT OF OCEAN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES CH6 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 CH7 11 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 ocean spaces

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

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 13SECRET 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

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 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

An Example of the Policy in Action 15 Information Knowledge Management Environmental Integrity Indicator Threshold Management Intervention Cooperation 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 OBJECTIVE STATEMENT/ACTION OUTCOME

CONCLUSION ch9 16 Sectoral Management Coordinated Sectoral Ocean Environmental Management Integrated Ocean Environmental Management 0-5 years 5-10 years

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 and utilise ocean resources and opportunities Pursuing regional and international cooperation and governance mechanisms 19