The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has given authorisation for a fish farm to be established in Algoa Bay.
According to a letter distributed to all relevant stakeholders last week (Monday, March 2), the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries: Aquaculture and Economic Development, received the go-ahead to develop the Sea-Based Development Zone (ADZ) on Wednesday, February 26.
The fish farm will consist of bivalve culture farming (mussels and oysters), which will be situated approximately 2km offshore from popular beaches such as King’s Beach, Hobie Beach and Pollock Beach. Approval has also been given for the farming of finfish culture, about 3km offshore from the Port of Ngqura and adjacent to the recently promulgated Addo Marine Protected Area (MPA).
The letter stated that any appeals may be lodged against the decision in terms of the National Environmental Management Act within 20 days.
“The authorised activity shall not commence until the period for the submission of appeals has lapsed as per the National Appeals Regulations. However, the activity has to commence within five years of receiving permission, otherwise the authorisation lapses and a new application has to be made,” it read.
According to the DEA, the proposed project could indirectly improve food security by providing job opportunities and contributing to the local and regional economy.
The letter further stated, “South Africa has shown that aquaculture (including marine finfish culture) could positively contribute to addressing the increasing demand for fish products in the coming decades as a result of continued growth in the world population. “The project forms part of a presidential initiative to unlock the potential of the oceans to create employment and income in coastal communities.”
Chairperson of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), Gary Koekemoer, said that they were opposed to the fish farming component of the project.
“We are willing to ‘live with’ the bivalve components as the management thereof is set under fairly stringent conditions by the environmental authorisation (EA). Also, Bivalve does not require feeding or antibiotics and no defouling of lines happens onshore. It thus has a far lesser impact on the ecosystem. Bivalve also doesn’t become a food source for other sea creatures,” he said.
According to Koekemoer, they will be submitting an appeal against the fish farm component on the following grounds, among others:
- It will be located on the boundary of the recently promulgated MPA and given that fish farms create literal dead zones for between 200m – 1km from their area and St Croix has sensitive reefs in its surrounds, it could have a negative impact on the declining African penguin population on St Croix and the dolphins that use that area as a mating and refuge area.
- The potential impact on the Swartkops estuary: as a natural nursery for indigenous fish and others, Swartkops is very close to the proposed fish farm. The caged fish will be of an indigenous species and there is high risk of disease among caged fish, which could transfer to wild stock and into Swartkops.
- There seems to be no evidence that consultations have been done with local shark experts regarding the risks of fatal shark encounters off the northern beaches.
“We are attempting to finalise technical details with the authorities with the intent to develop a technical guide for the general public to submit appeals and will communicate further when this is ready,” Koekemoer said.
“Essentially, we are opposed to our Bay being transformed from a biodiversity hotspot of global importance, to a sea-based industrial park.
How to appeal:
Appeal must be submitted in writing to:
The Director: Appeals and Legal Review Department of Environmental Affairs,
By email: Appeals@environment.gov.za.
By post: Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001.
By hand: Environment House 473 Steve Biko Arcadia Pretoria 0083.
