Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi to Embark On the Swartkops Estuary Clean-Up as Part of National Marine Week in Port Elizabeth

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) invites you to come join us in a clean-up of the Swartkops estuary as part of the National Marine Week awareness campaign on 11 October, Tiger Bay, Port Elizabeth.

The Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi will lead the clean-up and will also be delivering the key note address.

National Marine Week (NMW) is a week-long awareness campaign which kick-started on the 8 October 2012. NMW is dedicated annually to promote awareness for the important need to protect and conserve our marine environment for a healthy and well-functioning ocean and coastal environment.

The Swartkops estuary is one of the top ranked estuaries in terms of its importance and economic value. Tourism alone is estimated to generate R50 million per year, subsistence use accounts for R 808 953 and its value as a nursery area for fish and invertebrates is equivalent to R38.2 million.

It provides a suitable environment for many different plants species and animal species including about 4000 birds in summer. It is for this reason that the Swartkops estuary is ranked as the 11th most important estuary out of the 300 estuaries in South Africa in terms of its Bio-diversity.

Inevitably, the increase in densities and associated human activities in the vicinity of Swartkops estuary, poses a threat to the sustainable development and conservation of the area. The Swartkops estuary, like many of South Africa’s estuaries has its own challenges. Despite its importance and economic contribution to the communities, there are concerns that affect the integrity of the estuary.

The main issues that must be addressed to improve the current status of the estuary include the seriously deteriorating water quality and better management of the subsistence bait fishery and the associated impacts on the ecosystem as a whole.

Pollution in the form of sewerage, disposal of litter, and industrial effluent also threatens human health and has a detrimental effect on plants and animals which include the prawns, pencil bait and blood worms that are important for the livelihoods of the local people.

It is therefore, no coincidence that a clean-up campaign will be conducted in this particular estuary in celebration of NMW.

Time: 08h00- 14h00
Venue: Swartkops Estuary, Tiger Bay
Date: 11 October 2012

For RSVP and Media Enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: MbelengwaP@dwa.gov.za

Or
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 0828986483
E-mail: znqayi@environment.gov.za