Marine Spatial Planning Bill Public Hearings
There are numerous concerns that we have risen regarding the Marine
spatial planning bill and many discrepancies glaring throughout the bill’s
processes. The Marine Spatial planning bill is a result of President Zuma’s
operation Phakisa which will use the ocean as a source of economy, destroying
the marine environment, marine life and the livelihoods of subsistence
fishermen in the process.
The implementation of this bill will allow government, through their
international treaties and trade agreements with different countries, to allow
for trawlers from different countries to fish our oceans, at the expense of the
local fishing population. These international trawlers are moving closer to the
South African coastline.
The bill
will allow for oil and gas exploration, sandwinning and other harmful
development to take place in our ocean’s, destroying it in the process.
The bill will undermine environmental issues and allow for more
dumping of chemicals in the ocean. Stronger measures must be put into place to
ensure anyone dumping in the ocean (companies and people alike) will be charged
accordingly.
Way Forward
Public hearings will be held in different municipalities at different
venues as the bill effects the entire coastline of South Africa. All opposing the
bill must ensure they are present to voice their objections at one of these
meetings. The SDCEA, Groundwork, KZNSFF and all relevant stakeholders will be
attending the public meeting on the 17th of August 2017.
·
16 August 2017 – Empangeni (Richards Bay),
Mfolozi Town Hall.
·
17 August 2017 – Chesterville, Chesterville
Town Hall.
·
Hearings are from 10:00 am to 15:00 pm
https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/arguments-heard-over-marine-bill-10846828
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