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