Stakeholders are invited to ATTEND a PUBLIC OPEN DAY on 23 February 2017 at the Langebaan Auditorium at any time between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Saldanha Bay Aquaculture Development Zone
Hardcopies of the BA Report are available for public review at the Saldanha Public Library, Langebaan Public Library and SRK’s Cape Town office. The report can also be downloaded from SRK’s website: http://www.srk.co.za/…/za-saldanha-bay-aquaculture-developm…
But before people attend such a meeting, they should also know the pro’s and cons of such a relatively new industry in South Africa and its potential risks to the environment and the socio-economic impact to the region.
Akwakultuur, in besonder vis-boerdery, het begin om potensiaal te wys as ‘n volhoubare ….. Figure 2-4 South African Marine Catch versus Aquaculture Production . …… locations that protect cages from the high energy coastline with Saldanha …
“Although it is argued how aquaculture and fish-farming in particular can truly be sustainable, some researchers remain cautious of accepting fish-farming as a sustainable food source.
“These risks include; the escapement of farmed fish which may cause genetic alterations of wild stocks, the conversion of sensitive land, the effluent effects on water quality, inefficient use of resources when farming fish, and the transfer of diseases or parasites from captive to wild stocks (Diana 2009).
The Gansbaai salmon farms are a South African example of the risks and potential downfalls of fish-farming practices (Scholl & Pade 2005).
“It was learnt through the interview process that the farm ended up closing down largely due to poor management and usage of inappropriate equipment that led to unforeseen complications. In particular the poor quality nets that were used led to rapid mussel growth on them that inhibited a flow of water through the sea cages and led to deprived water conditions for the farmed salmon. Such examples help to understand that fish-farming can be a sustainable food source, but those who partake in it must tread carefully to avoid potential harmful outcomes. It must be noted that utilising fish-farming as a sustainable source of fish is a complex and challenging task and the potential impact needs to be analysed and extensive planning must be done.
8 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ( Saldanha Bay Basic Assessment Report)
The ADZ in Saldanha Bay aims to create incentives for the further development of aquaculture in Saldanha Bay, thereby creating jobs, providing skills development and contributing to the economy under the umbrella of the Operation Phakisa initiative. Aquaculture is wellestablished in Saldanha Bay, and the bay is one of very few sheltered water bodies off the South African coast deemed suitable for marine-based aquaculture.
The most significant potential negative impacts of the project (after mitigation) are related to marine ecology and visual aspects.
Most notably, expanding shellfish aquaculture in Saldanha Bay, and introducing finfish aquaculture, is likely to:
- Modify seabed characteristics by deposition of fish waste (faeces and excess feed);
- Increase the risk of introducing alien invasive species or spread of fouling pests through the importation of seed stock and deployment of aquaculture structures on which fouling organisms establish; and
- Alter the sense of place and present a visual intrusion as a result of the aquaculture structures that will be visible on the water surface.The above impacts are rated as having Medium (negative) residual significance.It is recommended that additional aquaculture production of shellfish and finfish in Saldanha Bay is gradually phased in, based on environmental monitoring, to avoid unacceptable impacts on the bay. While total shellfish and finfish production volumes have been stipulated for the ADZ, these may have to be revised if environmental (water and sediment quality) monitoring during early implementation phases indicates that impacts exceed acceptable thresholds with regards to marine ecology.
While other post-mitigation negative impacts related to marine ecology, socio-economic activities and the visual environment are rated as having Low or Very Low (negative) residual significance, implementation of mitigation measures critical to achieve these ratings, includes:
- Avoiding areas that are ecologically sensitive or significantly interfere with other uses in the bay (see Figure 4 and Table 4);
- Implementing good biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of alien invasive species and minimise the risk of diseases and genetic interaction with wild fish populations;
- Utilising aquaculture equipment and methods that are suitable for the conditions, notably maximum wave and swell heights, in the respective precincts; and Implementing good housekeeping at all times.
It is recommended that a phased approach to the expansion of aquaculture in the ADZ is implemented, notably:
- Limit annual ungraded shellfish production to 10 000 t for the first two years, increasing thereafter annually by 5 000 tpa only if monitoring results indicate that environment health has been maintained and impacts remain manageable, to a maximum of 27 600 tpa ungraded production; and
- Limit annual increases in finfish production to 1 000 t, and only if monitoring results indicate that environment health has been maintained and impacts remain manageable, up to 5 000 tpa. Split the allowable annual increase in production between Big Bay and Outer Bay. Finfish production beyond 5 000 tpa should only be pursued under specific conditions.
Implementation of mitigation measures and phasing in of aquaculture expansion is deemed to effectively mitigate negative impacts of the ADZ. It is recommended that an ADZ Management Committee (AMC), comprising DAFF, DEA, DEA&DP and TNPA representatives, is established to coordinate and supervise activities, environmental monitoring and environmental compliance of operators in the ADZ. Management measures will also apply to and improve management at existing aquaculture farms in Saldanha Bay.
It is further proposed that a Consultative Forum, constituted of other relevant government departments and local organisations, is established to review environmental monitoring data, advise on management and recommend measures. Benefits of the project relate to development of the aquaculture industry in Saldanha Bay and the resultant contribution to the economy, increased employment (particularly at a low-skill level), income generation and skills development.
SRK believes that sufficient information is available for DEA to take a decision regarding the authorisation of the development. The BA has identified essential mitigation measures that will mitigate the impacts associated with this project to within acceptable limits.
In conclusion SRK is of the opinion that on purely ‘environmental’ grounds (i.e. the project’s potential socioeconomic and biophysical implications) the application as it is currently articulated, with the recommendations stipulated above and below, should be approved.
http://www.srk.co.za/sites/default/files/File/South-Africa/publicDocuments/Saldanha_Bay/499020_Saldanha_ADZ_BAR_Executive_Summary.pdf
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http://www.iol.co.za/…/plans-for-pe-fish-farm-rejected…
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