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Safeguard Our Seabed

Summary of concerns

Why marine phosphate mining is a bad idea

  1. Destructive technology

    The type of technology employed for bulk marine sediment mining, Trailing Suction Hopper-Dredge (TSHD) has not been tested anywhere else in the world. It is the equivalent of strip mining the ocean floor with an additional toxic plume.

  2. Limited knowledge

    There is relatively limited knowledge of the impacts of seabed mining alongside limited knowledge of the ecological importance of seabed ecosystems. Such gaps in knowledge require adherence to the precautionary principle

  3. Environmental impact

    Bulk marine sediment mining would have severe and irreversible impacts on marine ecosystems. There are no feasible ways to mitigate these impacts and no standards or protocols that can be put in place to reduce its destructive effect.

  4. International law and regional treaties

    South Africa is a signatory to Benguela Current Convention which requires us to work together in managing shared marine resources. It would be irrational for South Africa to allow the very mining activity on which Namibia has placed a moratorium when our activities will devastatingly impact shared fish stocks.

  5. Impacts on fishing and tourism

    The socio-economic impacts of seabed mining have not been assessed. Our fishing industry provides significant socio-economic benefits including jobs, livelihoods and food security benefits and small scale fishers and communities directly depend on healthy marine ecosystems for livelihood and survival.

  6. Scale and location

    The scale and location of the prospecting rights granted are irrational and inappropriate. The prospecting areas are vast, together totalling more than 150 000 km2. These areas coincide with several existing fishery footprints, critically endangered ecosystems and habitats earmarked for protection in offshore marine protected areas. Some of the benthic habitat types don’t exist anywhere else.

  7. Food security

    South Africa does not have a shortage of phosphates for agriculture. Excessive phosphate causes a multitude of negative environmental impacts when it leaches into streams and rivers. There are viable alternatives for ensuring continued phosphate supplies including recycling phosphates through composting and phosphate recovery from sewage treatment facilities.

    © Photo courtesy of WWF-SA

    © Photo courtesy of WWF-SA

  8. Legal and governance challenges

    South Africa does not have the legal and governance framework to appropriately and responsibly regulate and manage seabed mining.

  9. International caution

    Bulk marine sediment mining has commenced in no other country’s exclusive economic zone due to environmental and socio-economic risks. Countries that have received applications have refused consent, placed a moratorium on such operations or established a permanent ban. These include New Zealand, Mexico, Australia and our immediate neighbour, Namibia.

  10. Our natural heritage

    Our marine environment is remarkably beautiful, complex, rich and abundant. The health of our country – our people and our environment and therefore our economy – depends on the health of our ocean. We have a duty of care towards our ocean, both for its intrinsic value and for our own well-being.