Parliament, Friday, 04 August 2017 - The Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs today concluded week-long public hearings on the Marine Spatial Planning Bill. The hearings began in George in the Western Cape on Monday and proceeded to Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, East London on Wednesday, Idutywa on Thursday and concluded in Port St Johns today.
The Committee was satisfied with the oral submissions from those who were invited to attend the hearings, including academic institutions, environmental experts, non-governmental organisations and members of communities. These submissions will assist the Committee when it deliberates on the Bill and fulfils its mandate of making this law.
One of the submissions the Committee received from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) recommends that there is need to align research and the national Marine Spatial Planning Process. To achieve this, clarification is required from the Department of Environmental Affairs regarding the process that is followed in the development of regional and national marine spatial plans.
The Committee also noted that although people were satisfied with the Bill they reiterated the importance of inclusion and representation of the coastal communities that are relying on the ocean including fishermen and traditional leaders. Stakeholders emphasized that they would like to see the Bill benefiting communities living in the coastal areas instead of big businesses. The Committee also received oral submissions from fishermen in all the areas visited who raised concerns that the Marine Spatial Planning Bill might restrict them more, due to traffic controls at sea that might be introduced as a result of this Bill.
The Committee also received oral submissions from traditional leaders who are concerned about an organisation called Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, which restricts how communities living near the sea use its resources, particularly in Idutywa, Port St Johns and Lusikisiki.
The Committee noted, however, that many oral submissions on the Marine Spatial Planning Bill focused mainly on issues related to fisheries and fishing licences, which falls within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, not the Department of Environmental Affairs. The Committee has committed to ensure that oral submissions from members of the public that relate to other Portfolio Committees are referred to the correct Committee.
The Committee will continue with the public hearings on the Bill to Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces from 14 until 17 August 2017.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, MR PHILLY MAPULANE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Acting Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Ms Faith Kwaza
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8062
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fkwaza@parliament.gov.za
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