Public Notice – Saldanha Bay Aquaculture Development Zone

The former Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) undertook a Basic Assessment in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, GNR 982 of 2014, to establish a sea-based Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ) in Saldanha Bay. The ADZ is established to create incentives for aquaculture industry growth, encourage investor and consumer confidence, create incentives for industry development, to provide marine aquaculture services, manage the risks associated with aquaculture, as well as to provide skills development and employment for coastal communities.

The Environmental Authorisation was granted by the former Department of Environmental Affairs on 8 January 2018, the appeals for the project were overturned by the Minister on 7 June 2018. The Department has established two management bodies, namely the Aquaculture Development Zone Management Committee (AMC) and a Consultative Forum (CF).

The AMC comprise of government departments responsible for overseeing the management of aquaculture in the bay they will fulfil coordination and supervising role and ensure compliance with the Environmental Management Program (EMPr) throughout all phases of the aquaculture farming in the ADZ.

The CF meets every three months and includes all other relevant government organisations, authorities and relevant local / public interest organizations and ADZ operators. The responsibility of the CF would be to review the
environmental monitoring data, advice on ADZ management and make recommendations to the AMC. The Consultative forum provides feedback to the AMC through the outputs (recommendations and advice) that it provides to the AMC for consideration.

Stakeholders are encouraged to contact the Environmental Control Officer (below) to report any observed incidents (loose of drifting equipment, collisions with other water users, entanglements of marine mammals, reporting of caught trout, etc.) related to the ADZ activities.

OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE:

Stakeholders are again invited to register as members of the CF by submitting their name, contact details and affiliations/representation to the contact persons below. Note that only registered members will be notified of the meeting reports related to the ADZ in going forward.