convened
29 June 2007
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) will be hosting a
national stakeholder roundtable from 3 to 4 July 2007 in Port Alfred, Eastern
Cape to discuss a revised draft Marine Aquaculture Policy before gazetting it.
The roundtable follows the publishing of the second draft of a Marine
Aquaculture Policy for a further 30-day public comment period from today,
Friday 29 June 2007 to Tuesday 31 July 2007.
The purpose of the national roundtable is to provide an opportunity for
further engagement between the Department and stakeholders towards the
finalisation of the policy. Following the publishing of the first draft for
public comment in September 2006, stakeholder inputs led to the revision of the
policy. International experience and review of aquaculture policies of six
countries which are Australia, Chile, China, Ireland, Norway and Vietnam will
further the revised draft. A discussion paper based on the review and analysis
of these countries' policies will form the basis for deliberations at the
roundtable.
The roundtable will also provide an opportunity for the Department to
initiate discussions on strategies that will form the basis of the Marine
Aquaculture Policy Implementation Plan to be drafted and finalised once the
policy is approved and will further afford an opportunity for networking and
will help to improve the co-operative governance and relations between various
stakeholders in this sector.
The stakeholders participating at the roundtable will include legislators
(members of Parliament), government departments (all spheres), the aquaculture
and fishing industry, fishing communities, labour representatives,
non-government organisations (NGOs), research and academic institutions.
Topics to be covered include an aquaculture international case study of six
countries, community, industry, labour and economic perspectives, research and
technological needs, environmental protection, training and skills development,
funding for small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and fish health
issues.
Comments on the second draft policy must reach the Department on or before
31 July 2007 and can be sent to the following address:
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Attention: Marine Aquaculture Management, P/Bag X2, Roggebaai, 8012
Fax number: 021 402 3009
E-mail: aquaculture@deat.gov.za
Tel: 021 402 3911
The draft policy is available from our website http://www.deat.gov.za or http://www.mcm-deat.gov.za.
For further information contact:
Mava Scott
Cell: 082 411 9821
Carol Moses
Cell: 082 829 397
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
29 June 2007
