South
Africa Launches National Plan of Action
for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds
in Longline Fisheries at Official Opening
of International Meeting of the Agreement
on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
(ACAP)
22 August 2008 - Media
Statement - Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism - FRIDAY, 22 AUGUST
2008: South African waters are of global
importance for conserving seabirds. With
a total of over 28 albatross and petrel
species recorded caught by SA fisheries,
the South African seas are an important
feeding ground for many albatrosses and
petrels. Thirteen of these recorded species
are currently threatened with extinction,
resulting from several factors, such as
the deterioration of breeding habitats,
targeted hunting and fishing operations;
Head of Research, Antarctica&Islands
of the Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, Dr Johann Augustyn told international
delegates at the opening of the Agreement
on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
(ACAP)Advisory Meeting in Somerset West,
Western Cape today Friday 22 August 2008.
In addition, South Africa's
sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands hold
44% of the world population of Wandering
Albatross and 21% of the global population
of Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, Augustyn
continued.
Global trends of declining
seabird populations have been observed.
In South Africa, a recent eastward displacement
of fish stocks seems to have produced a
mismatch in the distributions of the breeding
localities and prey of several seabirds,
with damaging effects. Surveys show that
numbers of African Penguins breeding in
the Western Cape Province have decreased
by approximately 70% in the past four years,
and the overall population of the species
is presently at its lowest recorded level.
It is within this context
that South Africa launched its National
Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental
Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries
(NPOA-Seabirds) at the ACAP meeting. "Launching
the NPOA-Seabirds at the opening of the
ACAP meeting is particularly significant
as it demonstrates South Africa's continued
commitment to conservation and management
of seabirds in a sustainable and responsible
manner", said Augystyn.
Since the 11000s there
has been global concern about the by-catch
of seabirds in fishing operations, in particular
the long-line and trawl fisheries. The incidental
mortality of these species has been widely
held responsible for the declining populations
and threatened conservation status of several
species. Recent seabird by-catch evaluations
indicate that a total of 18 000 birds are
estimated to be killed per year. Although
there has been a significant reduction in
hake trawl mortalities since the introduction
of tori lines, as part of fishing permit
conditions, continued efforts are required
to ensure further reductions.
Seabirds have an economic
value in terms of non-consumptive eco-tourism
activities. Because they breed on land and
their populations can therefore be accurately
monitored, seabirds are also indicators
of the health of the ecosystem, Augustyn
explained the value of sea birds.
South Africa has instituted
a suite of measures to be used in combination
to mitigate seabird mortality. The Marine
Living Resources Act (Act No 18 of 1998)
guides the utilization of marine resources
which explicitly endorses the concept of
"ecological sustainable development"
and recognizes the need to "protect
the ecosystem as a whole, including species
which are not targeted for exploitation..."
South Africa is committed
to applying the Ecosystem Approach in management
of its fisheries and has taken concrete
steps towards implementing this approach
following the Johannesburg Summit of 2002.
Last year, In December 2007 a Policy on
the Management of Seals, Seabirds and Shorebirds
was gazetted aimed at supporting the conservation
of seabirds. Additionally, strict permit
conditions have been instituted to reduce
the catch of seabirds in fisheries, including
the take of albatrosses and petrels.
The Agreement on the
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
is of importance for the conservation of
albatrosses and petrels because many species
migrate extensively, placing them at risk
beyond national borders and making their
conservation essential. "..the seabirds
that are the focus of the Agreement fulfil
an important role in a balance ecosystems
and which we in our day are privileged to
enjoy", Augustyn concluded.
The ACAP meeting brings
together Parties to the Agreement from Argentina,
Australia, Chile, Ecuador, France, New Zealand,
Norway, Peru, South Africa, Spain and United
Kingdom. Brazil will attend as a signatory.
Observers include Canada, Namibia and USA,
as well as observers from several NGOs.
South Africa ratified the Agreement on the
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
(ACAP) in 2003. The Agreement entered into
force in 2004.
Carol Moses
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DEPUTY MINISTER REJOICE
MABUDAFHASI TO LAUNCH AIR QUALITY MONITORING
STATIONS IN THE HIGHVELD PRIORITY AREA
18 August 2008 - DEPUTY
MINISTER REJOICE MABUDAFHASI TO LAUNCH AIR
QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS IN THE HIGHVELD
PRIORITY AREA
The Deputy Minister
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms
Rejoice Mabudafhasi, will tomorrow launch
second ambient air quality monitoring stations
in the Highveld Priority Area at Middelburg
Christian School. The program starts at
09h30. The first initiative was at the Vaal
Triangle in April 2007.
In winter, major towns
such as Witbank, Middelburg, Secunda, Standerton,
Edenvale, Boksburg, Benoni and Balfour are
literally covered by a blanket of smoke
in the mornings and late afternoons. Although
much of this low-hanging smoke results from
residential coal burning and veld fires,
many heavy industries also operate in this
area. This blanket of air pollution results
in poor air quality which affects the health
and well-being of the residents living in
these areas.
As a result of this
situation and extensive analysis of air
pollution concentrations, on 23rd November
2007 the Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism formally declared the Highveld
Priority Area as a national air pollution
hot spot. The Highveld Priority Area extends
from the eastern parts of Gauteng, to Middelburg
in the north and the edge of the escarpment
in the south and east.
Major towns occurring
within this region include Witbank, Middelburg,
Secunda, Standerton, Edenvale, Boksburg,
Benoni and Balfour (Figure 1). The total
area comprises 31,106km2 and has a total
population of 3,6 million people.
Since the declaration
of the Priority Area a number of steps have
been taken to ensure that air quality management
in the Highveld is focused. The establishment
of the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality
Officer’s Forum (AQOF) has taken place –
in which each municipality included in the
Priority Area is represented – and nominations
for members on the Highveld Priority Area
Multi-Stakeholder Reference Group (MSRG)
have been called for by the department.
These two stakeholder groups will meet frequently
during the development stages of the Highveld
Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan,
and will each play critical roles throughout
the development and implementation of the
Plan.
In addition, the national
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism, and the Mpumalanga Department of
Agriculture and Land Affairs (DALA) have
procured ambient air quality monitoring
stations. DEAT’s stations, funded by the
Royal Danish Embassy, are operational in
Ermelo, Hendrina, Middelburg, Secunda and
Witbank; while DALA’s monitoring stations
will be installed in Balfour, Middelburg,
Standerton and Witbank.
Wherever possible, these
monitoring stations are placed on the premises
of schools, so as to facilitate education
and awareness for educators and learners.
Each monitoring station is equipped with
instruments to measure all the criteria
pollutants, namely sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide, particulate matter, ozone, benzene,
lead and carbon monoxide, as well as mercury.
The data collected by these stations will
be made available to the public on a continuous
basis through the internet and regular presentations
to the AQOF and MSRG meetings.
This network of monitoring
stations will provide crucial baseline data
and information, and will be operated continuously
into the future to provide a record of ambient
air quality before and after the implementation
of the Air Quality Management Plan. This
network will be able to indicate if the
interventions implemented by all stakeholders
are in fact being effective in improving
air quality in the area.
The media is invited
to attend the proceedings and is also welcome
to interview the Deputy Minister, MEC and
other VIPs.
Moses Rannditsheni
+ More
Keynote Address by Deputy
Environment Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi
at the Official Launch of the Highveld Priority
Area Monitoring Network, Middelburg Christian
School
19 August 2008 – Speech
- Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
Premier of Mpumalanga Hon. Mr. Thabang Makwetla
Mpumalanga MEC of Agriculture & Land
Admin Hon. D Mabuza
Executive Mayor of Nkangala District Municipality,
Cllr Mashilo
Executive Mayor of Steve Tshwete Local Municipality,
Cllr Mahlangu
Members of the Executive Councils of Mpumalanga
and Gauteng, Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen.
Today’s launch of the
Air Quality Monitoring Network reminds us
of the message that we were given by our
children at the Johannesburg World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002
when they said that we must remember that
we cannot buy another planet, their lives
and that of the generations to come depend
on our activities today.
Perhaps let me remind you that the theme
for the WSSD was about: People, Planet,
Prosperity and that we needed to balance
economic, social and environmental concerns
to ensure a sustainable future.
Today we mostly live
in cities, near smelly factories and dumps.
These causes health threats and have a negative
impact on our environment.
The Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism has a responsibility
of making policies and laws that protect
the environment from degradation and pollution.
It is thus important that everyone of us
must take a role in looking after the environment.
We must continue with public awareness and
education, including practicing indigenous
knowledge systems. One of the example of
our people who lived in the eastern Southern
Africa is that they built homesteads on
an east-facing slope as they considered
prevailing winds that blew from north-east
and south- east, cooling evening breezes.
Collective efforts by
all of us can make a difference, like disposing
rubbish wisely, avoiding burning it, protecting
trees in our areas and planting indigenous
trees. When there is a strange smell we
shouldn’t just accept it, but investigate
it, as it could be harmful to people and
the environment.
We recognized that the
Highveld Priority Area is one of the most
industrialized areas in South Africa and
perhaps home to some of the most important
industries both in economic and strategic
terms. In this context, this area of our
country is of vital importance, and by declaring
it a Priority Area we directly influence
the resuscitation of economic growth in
the area.
I am glad to observe
that much progress has been made. A process
has been set by all three spheres of government
to develop an Air Quality Management Plan,
which will come up with a systematic approach
addressing air pollution from all sources
in this area.
At all stages community will participate,
through the Public Participation process
- it will be a “people-driven” plan.
In 2007, I visited this
area shortly after our department announced
the intention to declare the Highveld a
Priority Area in terms of the Air Quality
Act. On that occasion I stated that the
reason this area was targeted was because
of health concerns of communities. This
area was identified through a study commissioned
by the department aimed at mapping out air
pollution hot spots through an aerial survey.
The study revealed that
the area stretching from the mining town
of Witbank to Secunda in Mpumalanga, including
the Ekurhuleni Metro in Gauteng needed a
focused air quality management, to ensure
that people living in these areas were not
exposed to an environment that is harmful
to their health and well-being.
The importance of placing
monitoring stations in schools is to say
to everyone that these are not only meant
to measure the amount of pollution in the
air that we breathe, but that they are also
a resource available to the community and
learners in particular. Through these stations
we hope educators and learners will gain
an understanding and appreciation of the
importance of science and mathematics as
a tool for promoting health and well-being
and protection of the environment.
I urge you to use this
equipment as a resource for education and
commit the officials to assist you in exploring
this educational opportunity.
In conclusion, let us
remember that sustainable development means
not living at the expense of future generations.
We need to take precautionary action now
for the future generations to survive. We
must invest in future oriented, sustainable
ways of living, including the use of safer
technologies.
As a country we appreciate
self responsible industries that can themselves
manage the environmental aspects of their
business.
Lastly, I would like
to take this opportunity to thank the mayor,
residents of Middelburg, and in particular
the Principal, staff and learners of Middelburg
Christian School for hosting us, and for
the generous hospitality for this occasion.
Thank you
Moses Rannditsheni (Media Liaison Officer
for the Deputy Minister)
