Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

On 26 June 2020 the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries published Draft Amendments to the National Estuarine Management Protocoll. The public is requested to submit comments within 30 days (i.e before 25 July 2020).

In terms of section 33 of the Integrated Coastal Management Act, the purpose of the national estuarine management protocol is to:

(a) Determine a strategic vision and objectives for achieving effective integrated management of estuaries;

(b) Set standards for the management of estuaries;

(c) Establish procedures or provide guidance regarding how estuaries must be managed and how the management responsibilities are to be exercised by different organs of state and other parties;

(d) Establish minimum requirements for estuarine management plans;

(e) Identify who must prepare estuarine management plans and the process to be followed in doing so; and

(f) Specify the process for reviewing estuarine management plans to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Integrated Coastal Management Act.