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Date
: 29/08/2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Title: van Schalkwyk: Signing of Benguela Current Commission
Interim Agreement
Extract from speech delivered by the Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, at the signing of the
Benguela Current Commission Interim Agreement, Two Oceans
Aquarium
Honourable Minister from Namibia,
Honourable Deputy Minister from Angola,
Ms Barbut of the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
Mr Melkert of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
Distinguished delegates and guests,
Ladies and gentlemen:
It gives me great pleasure to attend this special event of the
third Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly to reconfirm South
Africa's commitment to the Benguela Current Commission Interim
Agreement.
This agreement is a manifestation of the intricate partnerships
that are essential to the effective management of sensitive
ecosystems. Working together with Angola and Namibia we have
demonstrated that where there is political will, ways can be found
to implement practical interventions that impact positively on the
livelihoods of our people.
In addition to our regional collaboration we must also acknowledge
the contribution of GEF, the Norwegian and German governments,
Birdlife South Africa and the World Wide Fund (WWF) in bringing
both the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) and
benefit programmes to life. One concrete example of this is the
progress we have made in implementing early warning systems to
monitor the effects of climate change on our ecosystem. This is not
simply an elaborate academic exercise, the human and economic
consequences of climate change are very serious indeed. The impact
on people of our coastal communities is testament to this as they
are worst affected by increased storm activity and the migration of
fragile fish stocks in Southern and Western Africa.
The BCLME programme is not only important for monitoring but also,
crucially, for hands-on collaboration and timely intervention. Good
management of hake stocks has resulted in the creation of thousands
of jobs and generated significant foreign exchange earnings for
South Africa and Namibia. Shared stocks between our two countries
means that co-operation is essential to ensuring that there are no
irresponsible fishing practices which could have disastrous
consequences for both economies. Hake fishery accounts for more
than 50 percent of the wealth derived from South Africa’s
living marine resources and sustain more than 9 000 jobs. These are
just two cases that illustrate the point that responsible
environmental management is a catalyst rather than an impediment to
people development and economic growth.
Technology transfer and capacity building have also been key
elements of the benefit programme, more than 100 young science
graduates from all three countries having received specialised
training in operational oceanography, modelling, fisheries stock
assessments and environmental management.
In the years ahead, the Benguela Current Commission will be seen as
a major milestone in regional cooperation and ocean governance
within a Pan-African network of Large Marine Ecosystems. It gives
me great pleasure to sign this agreement on behalf of the South
African government. We are confident that the establishment of this
institution will create new opportunities for growth, employment
and sustainable management of our living marine resources for the
benefit of present and future generations.
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
29 August 2006
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