Draft Amendments to the National Estuarine Protocol

Please note that the Draft Amendments to the National Estuarine Management Protocol were published on the 26 June 2020, for a 30-day commenting period. Please see the published Gazette below.

Comments are to be sent as per the details in the gazette. Emailed to Ruwen Pillay –

Kind regards,
Caren George
Directorate: Biodiversity and Coastal Management
Chief Directorate: Environmental Sustainability
Department: Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Western Cape Government

Comments by SBWQFT

The SBWQFT has no further comments on the current draft document and would like to congratulate the authors of this document, it is a well thought through document.

It needs to be stated that, when approved, the proposed National Estuarine Management Protocol has a few clauses that would have reference to the operations of the SBWQFT in Saldanha Bay.

We understand that Langebaan Lagoon is classified as an estuary under the legislation and that the National Department of Environment Fisheries and Forestry (DEFF) would be the responsible authorities to implement this protocol.

Clause 5.7(f) makes provision for the SBWQFT to actively participate in the establishment of such an Estuarine Management Plan for Langebaan lagoon.

Clause 7.1.2 – The existing State of the Bay (SOB ) report will assist in understanding the structure, functioning and state of the estuary. Revision to the current SOB would be needed to address more site-specific issues in the estuary.

Clause 7.3 (iii) Project Plans – This section makes provision for a monitoring protocol, the current State of the Bay Monitoring (SOB) plan could assist in the monitoring of the Langebaan Estuary. The SOB currently addresses resource and compliance monitoring to a certain degree, some revision would be required

Groete / Regards

Christo van Wyk
The Saldanha Bay Water Quality Forum Trust

Comments by Charles J Malherbe – West Coast District Municipality

I agree with your statements and comments that SBWQT and the NEMP will support one another but would differ that Saldanha Bay Municipality would be the responsible management authority (RMA).

Langebaan Lagoon is of National Importance within a National Park/Protected Area and Harbour.

Furthermore, most of the Langebaan Lagoon and surrounding area are already managed by National Departments (SANParks, NPA, TRANSNET etc and or bordered by other National Organs of State.

The National Department “DEFF” (the old Nat DEA) should, therefore, be the Responsible Management Authority for Langebaan Lagoon/Estuary (RAMSAR site of International Importance) and Saldanha Bay Municipality should actively together with SBWQT and other role-players participate in the operations of such an Estuarine Management Forum/Plan with all the other Government Departments, but National should take the lead as the RMA.

The current State of the Bay Monitoring would also support and contribute to the EMF and EMP as a lot of monitoring is already happening and taking place through the SBWQT – so there is no need to reinvent the wheel or duplicate what is needed.

Everything should just be pulled together in one National Estuarine Management Plan/Forum by using an existing platform.

Kind regards

Charles J Malherbe
West Coast District Municipality