The government’s intentions to better manage our country’s marine resources is commendable, but history has proven time and again that the ANC government is incapable of carrying through its own plans.
The Marine Spatial Planning Bill certainly does have commendable objectives and is a holistic, system-based proposal that will rely heavily on technological aids to protect our country’s valuable marine resources while simultaneously stimulating economic activities.
It also provides for the various departments to liaise with one another, by way of the respective ministers, on technical, director-general and political levels so as to reach these objectives. It ensures that planning and problem solving will be done holistically and that is indeed a sensible approach.
The Bill proposes an approach that will be multidimensional and multi-departmental, but that could also be its Achille’s heel seen in the light of the government’s past record that raises serious concerns about the government’s ability to coordinate and execute something of this magnitude.
There is also the very real danger that the government could abuse the proposed Bill to over-regulate or exploit its regulations to further political agendas. We have already seen Sekanjalo Holdings obtaining a marine contract amid suspicious circumstances.
It opens the door for favouritism, which must not be tolerated. Regulation should be kept to a minimum and must be limited to cases there it is absolutely necessary.
Although geo-spatial data is usually obtained from outside satellite sources, it would be valuable to involve the Department of Trade and Industry to investigate private-public partnerships for the development of our country’s own satellite capacity. Modern, cost-effective technologies make the development of such satellite capacity feasible.
Given the extent of the pollution and exploitation of our marine environment, its protection must be our first priority. On the one hand, that will require better policing of our coastlines, as there are too many illegal fishing boasts in our waters.
On the other hand, we need to take drastic action inland to put a stop to the widespread marine pollution caused by plastic. Once again, this will require good coordination between the departments.
The rights of communities, like the coloured fisherman on the West coast in particular, are intrinsically intertwined with the marine environment. It may not be subjected to the greater industry or larger role players and should instead be promoted through cooperation with these role players.
If the government can offer balanced service delivery without excessive regulation, the proposed Bill has great potential to unlock economic benefits while protecting the marine environment at the same time.
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