State of Management of South Africa’s ... - WWF South Africa

STATE OF MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREASPERMITS AND FEESLemm and Attwood (2003) identified the need to review the MLRA such that fees for allcommercial activities and some recreational activities in MPAs may be charged andcontributed to the management of the MPA. The lack of regulation of activities other thanfishing in MPAs, and the lack of a permit system for these activities were also identified asweaknesses in the MLRA (Lemm & Attwood 2003).All three of these issues have been dealt with to a limited extent through the introduction ofpermits for recreational SCUBA diving in MPAs in 2007 and the annual permits for boatbasedwhale watching and white shark cage diving in 2008. The application process andpenalties for contraventions are provided in the regulations drawn up for each activity, andthe fees payable in respect of permits are listed in Government Notice No. 397 of 2009. Thefees paid for these permits contribute to the MLRF from which funds for the management ofMPAs are allocated.MANAGEMENT PLANSThe following deficiencies were identified as weaknesses in the legislation in previousassessments (1997 and 2003): legislation did not include a requirement to develop statutory management plans, and legislation did not provide a standardised format for management plans.The regulations for MPAs declared from 2004 onwards require that management plans beimplemented within six months from the date of commencement of the regulations, however,no standardised format is provided. The requirement to develop management plans and thecontents of those plans should be specified in the Act and not just the regulations.DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AMONG INSTITUTIONSThe promulgation of the NEM:PAA has improved the co-ordination of MPA management byfacilitating the delegation of management responsibilities to conservation agencies managingterrestrial protected areas adjacent to MPAs. This legislation has led to the formalization ofMPA management within conservation agencies through the signing of managementagreements with MCM. Furthermore the NEM:PAA facilitates the integrated management ofthe coastal and marine environments and recognises that the systems are interlinked as isenvisaged by the NEM:ICMA.PUBLIC INVOLVEMENTThere is no requirement in the MLRA to ensure public involvement in decisions pertaining toMPAs; however administrative actions performed under the MLRA have to be in accordancewith the section 2 principles of NEMA which require that:‘(f) The participation of all interested and affected parties in environmental governancemust be promoted, and all people must have the opportunity to develop theunderstanding, skills and capacity necessary for achieving equitable and effectiveparticipation, and participation by vulnerable and disadvantaged persons must beensured’,Pg 142