South African Ministry of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism
For immediate release
STATEMENT BY MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, SOUTH
AFRICAN MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
AND TOURISM, SATURDAY 15 DECEMBER 2007
After a long period of despondency there is
a new spirit of optimism and cooperation in
climate negotiations. This bodes well for
the path from Bali to the conclusion of negotiations
on the future of the global climate pact by
2009.
After 13 days of intensive negotiations in
Bali, we have reached an agreement to launch
a new round of negotiations with a view to
strengthening the climate regime after 2012.
This pathway to 2009 is laid out in the Bali
Roadmap. A firm end date of 2009, by when
we should agree on the details of a more effective
and inclusive climate regime, has been set
for what can be expected to be two years of
intense negotiations. An ambitious work programme
with clear milestones forms part of the outcomes
in Bali.
The talks over the last two weeks were not
easy. Great statesmanship and flexibility
were required from all. Together, we lived
up to the challenge.
More than 180 countries came to the table
to urgently move us forward in response to
the unequivocal and overwhelming science in
the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report.
Besides launching negotiations and setting
a clear end date, the Bali Roadmap most importantly
also sets the agenda for negotiations for
the next two years. This agenda will evolve
around four building blocks, namely: mitigation
(reducing or avoiding emissions), adaptation
(to the unavoidable impacts of climate change),
financing and technology.
On mitigation, which was the most difficult
area of the negotiations, the Bali Roadmap
strikes a core balance between the respective
contributions by developed and developing
countries. As a developing country, South
Africa, joined by amongst others Brazil, China
and India, committed to doing more to combat
climate change and to taking measurable, reportable
and verifiable mitigation action.
Deeper emission cuts (more stringent targets)
for developed countries that have signed the
Kyoto Protocol are also on the cards, within
the emission reduction range of between 25%
and 40% of 11000 emission levels by 2020.
The USA (who is not currently engaged in
the full multilateral process) committed to
joining the next 2 years of negotiations with
a view to taking on measurable, reportable
and verifiable emission reduction commitments
and actions, including quantified emission
limitation and reduction objectives that are
comparable to the efforts of other developed
countries.
The United States' commitment to join negotiations
is an important step forward. But it remains
a first step. What we expect from them is
a quantum leap – to eventually accept internationally
agreed and binding targets. Developing countries
demonstrated real leadership in Bali. It is
now over to the US to demonstrate leadership
and take their fair share of responsibility.
Other significant achievements in Bali include:
o Launching of the Adaptation Fund, estimated
to be worth up to $500 million annually by
2012, to assist developing countries to adapt
to the impacts of climate change.
o An important shift of emphasis in the long
stalled debate on technology transfer, with
the launching of a programme that will eventually
lead to the transfer of affordable, climate-friendly
technologies such as energy-efficient equipment,
solar and modern desalination technologies
to developing countries.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp
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Minister van Schalkwyk announces amendments
to Threatened and Protected Species (TOPS)
Regulations
22 November 2007 - Media Statement - STATEMENT
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
AND TOURISM, 14 DECEMBER 2007
FRIDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2007: The Minister of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism has announced
amendments to the TOPS regulations, gazetted
in February 2007. These amended regulations
have been gazetted today in the Government
Gazette (Gazette number 30568). The implementation
of these regulations was delayed due to the
implementation concerns that were raised by
the provincial authorities.
“The amendments are therefore a product of
that wider consultation with the implementing
and issuing authorities, the Provincial Agencies."
“In a spirit of cooperative governance and
in ensuring that all views and opinions from
all affected parties are heard, we felt it
necessary to engage in this thorough consultative
process with these stakeholders before the
implementation phase of the regulations could
begin” he added.
We have now ensured that possible gaps and
loop holes are closed and agreed upon by all
to ensure that we present to the industry
water tight regulations”, said the Minister.
The definition for listed large predators
has however been changed to temporarily exclude
lion from the definition while the court case
of the South African Predator Breeders Association
against the Minister is pending.
The amendments will provide greater clarity
to the text and also to make provision for
the enforcement of the Norms and Standards
to be published in terms of section 9 of the
National Environmental: Biodiversity Act,
2007 (NEMBA).
These regulations will come into effect on
1 February 2008.
Mava Scott
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DEPARTMENT CONFISCATES HUGE CATCH OF THREATENED
AND COLLAPSED LINEFISH SPECIES FROM VESSEL
OF TUNA POLE FISHING RIGHT HOLDER AND CLAMPS
DOWN ON ABALONE WAREHOUSE ALONG WEST COAST
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM
MEDIA STATEMENT
19 December 2007 - For Immediate release
- The Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism confiscated almost one ton of
linefish, mostly red steenbras which is regarded
as the top linefish predator and generally
equated to the white rhino in terrestrial
terms.
The confiscation happened during the early
hours of the morning Wednesday 19 December
2007 in Gansbaai, Western Cape.
The fish was caught with the Atlantic Blessing,
a fishing vessel licensed to fish on behalf
of two fishing right holders. They are the
Overberg Commercial Abalone Divers LTD which
has a right in the demersal shark fishery
longline and the name of the other right holder
is SCENEMATIC 16 who has a right in the tuna
pole fishery. This means the entire catch
was illegal. SCENEMATIC 16 is also the registered
owner of the vessel.
The vessel is being in the process of being
seized.
Criminal charges in terms of the contravention
of the Marine Living Resources Act of 1998
are being investigated.
Red Steenbras is one of the linefish regarded
as 'collapsed' and very limited and restricted
fishing of the specie is allowed. Fishers,
which include line fish commercial right holders
and recreational fishers, are allowed to catch
only one red steenbras per person or crewmember
per day.
The total number of red Steenbras confiscated
is 70 with a total weight of 717kg. Conservatively
this illegal fishing catch has taken out more
than 700 years of accumulative growth of red
steenbras, which impact on the reproduction
of the collapsed status of the red steenbras
resource.
Other line fish species confiscated include
Geelbek, roman, red stumpnose, and yellowtail
most of which are threatened and/or collapsed
line fish species.
In a separate incident also during the early
hours of this morning (19 December 2007) the
department has busted an illegal abalone processing
warehouse near Hopefields, along the West
Coast. Two vehicles (Mercedes Benz Vito, Toyota
Hi-lux double cab), drying equipment and more
than 35 000 units of abalone were confiscated.
Five men were arrested, two whom are believed
to be Chinese nationals and the other three
are Mozambican nationals. They are being held
in Hopefield police station and are expected
to appear in court soon.
This comes at a time when the abalone resource
is severely threatened with extinction. The
closure of the commercial fishery is to be
implemented on 1 February 2008 in a bid to
prevent the resource from total collapse.
Over the past 10 years the total allowable
catch (TAC) has been reduced annually from
615 tons in 1995 to a record low of 125 tons
for the 2006/7 season and an all time emergency
low of 75 tons for the shortened 2007/8 season.
The decline of the abalone stocks is as a
result of poaching and ecological changes.
Carol Moses
