Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
South Africa added its name to the long list of countries which have signed the Ocean Charter, a non-legally binding document formulating the principles of sustainable development for the ocean and for the protection of the marine environment.
Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Peter Mokaba, represented South Africa at the signing ceremony in Pretoria on 10 December 1998, which took place in the presence of the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Jim Bartleman. Canada was instrumental in creating this charter, which was endorsed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.
As the International Year of the Ocean draws to a close, countries signatory to the Charter recognize the need for mutual assistance and the will to work together to achieve common goals for the oceans and accept the Ocean Charter as a basis for their future action.
THE OCEAN CHARTER : (THE UNDERSIGNED AGREE)
The oceans and their resources are a necessary element of life on this planet.
The Health of the oceans, and the wise, safe and sustainable use of the ocean resources, should be an axiom for all governments to accept and honour for the long-term benefit and existence of their respective and collective peoples.
The acquisition of the knowledge necessary for the understanding and stewardship of the oceans and their adjacent seas for the adoption of policies, standards and regulations to protect the ocean environment and to husband their resources, are goals to be pursued both nationally and internationally.
There should be mutual assistance and the will to work together to achieve common goals for the oceans - adjacent and regional coastal states should cooperate in the adoption of local policies and actions - countries with knowledge and resources should assist less fortunate neighbours - data and information for global and regional problems should be readily available - States should make use of international and intergovernmental organizations to generate global programmes and agreements.
We recognize the wisdom of acting in unison to protect the oceans and to use their resources in a sustainable manner and accept this Ocean Charter as a basis for future action.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 10 DECEMBER 1998