Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
29 May 2001
'WE MUST ACT WHILE WE CAN!'
Madam Speaker and Honourable members, Mark Kurlansky in his book "A Biography of the fish that changed the world: Cod" (Kabeljou), says:
"...the tremendously influential British scientific philosopher Thomas Henry Huxley....was appointed to three British fishing commissions... ( Huxley's ) Commission established the tradition in government of ignoring the observations of fisherman. It reported "fishermen, as a class, are exceedingly unobservant of anything about fish which is not absolutely forced upon them by their daily avocations."...( in 1883 ) Huxley delivered an address explaining why overfishing was an unscientific and erroneous fear: " Any tendency to over-fishing will meet with its natural check in the diminution of the supply,...this check will always come into operation long before anything like permanent exhaustion has occurred."
For the next 100 years, Huxley's influence would be reflected in Canadian government policy. An 1885 report by L.Z. Joncas in the Canadian Ministry of Agriculture, stated:
"the question here arises: would not the Canadian fisheries soon be exhausted if they were worked on a much larger scale...?...I say it is impossible, not merely to exhaust them, but even noticeably to lessen their number by the means now used for their capture...For the last three hundred years fishing has gone on in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and although enormous quantities of fish have been caught, there are no indications of exhaustion."
Madam Speaker, in the nineteenth century, it was a fashionable European belief that nature was indestructible, that clean-air was limitless, that the planet's forests are almost infinite, that wildlife could be killed in large numbers without any danger of extinction, and, that it was impossible to over fish.
One hundred years later, in 1992, the Canadian Cod fisheries off Labrador and Newfoundland collapsed. The fish were no more. Canada was forced to impose a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of ZERO. A moratorium was imposed banning fishing. As I speak, almost ten years later, the Canadian stocks have not recovered.
The European Union learnt the lesson even later! As a result of generations of greed and neglect, this year, the EU was forced to reduce the TAC for Cod from 81 000t to 46 000t, a reduction of almost 50%. As I speak, the fishing fleets of Spain and other EU nations stand idle.
The lesson for us is glaring: "WE SOUTH AFRICANS MUST ACT WHILE WE CAN!" Destroy beloved and life-giving nature and its gone forever.
Our guiding principle must be sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources.
FISHING
The EU has now requested the right to fish in South African waters. Our short response is, NO.
As a result of careful management of our natural resources, South Africa's TAC for hake, our most valuable fishery, has increased. In the last decade the hake TAC has increased from 138 000t to 166 000t. It increased from 155 000 tons in 2000 to 166 000 tons in 2001. It is the considered view of experts that with continued responsible fishing this TAC could increase in the foreseeable future to as much as 185 000 tons. We can take pride in the knowledge that ours is about the best-managed fish stocks in the world.
The fishing industry provides jobs for a substantial number of our people and this makes it an important component of the South African economy. The insecurity, unpredictability and unfairness characterising this industry, will soon be a thing of the past as we intensify our efforts to bring about stability, fairness and growth in this sector. These include the following:
Already more than 50% of the pelagics sector is Black owned. This should serve as a guide for the entire fishing industry.
In the 2001 allocation of rights, 56% of all rights were granted to new entrants.
A portion of the TAC will be placed in an 'Equity Pool'. Only companies that have transformed will be eligible for an increase to their quota from this pool. In this way transformation will be rewarded.
The department predicts that this year the yield from abalone farms will exceed the yield from the harvesting of wild abalone. The increase in the production of cultured abalone will serve to dampen the market for illegal abalone.
Next month, I will be requesting parliament for authorisation to issue the first permit for the establishment of a Salmon farm. This sector has the potential of attracting foreign direct investment, valuable technology transfer and entry into a lucrative new market for South Africa.
Between August 2000 and April 2001 alone 900 persons were arrested, 68 701 abalone worth R8m confiscated, 13 030 rock lobster confiscated, R127 000 in spot fines issued and 39 vehicles confiscated.
I wish to congratulate officials of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism who on 12 April arrested the skipper of a foreigner-owned boat carrying poached Patagonian toothfish worth R6m off Cape Agulhas. The SA Navy gave crucial support in this operation. The request for assistance came from Australia from whose waters the poaching had taken place.
In order to effectively combat illegal fishing, especially by foreign boats, the department will be acquiring four purpose-built patrol boats.
The importance of protecting our fish stocks cannot be left to chance. We, South Africans must act while we can!
CONSERVATION
South Africa enjoys the third highest level of biodiversity in the world. Our parks, mountains, rivers, wetlands, the three thousand km coastline, our wild animals and flowers are our pride and the property of the generations yet to come. From an economic point of view its value is beyond calculation.
Our country's rich natural heritage is vast and staggering in its proportions. For example over 3 700 marine species occur in South Africa and nowhere else in the world. And, the Cape Floristic Region is so unique that it has been designated as one of the Earth's six plant kingdoms. No other country is host to an entire plant kingdom!
We South Africans must act while we can!
In order to do justice to this enormous heritage, we are unfolding a holistic bioregional approach to conservation. This strategic intervention in nature conservation is massive and unprecedented. It involves at least 22 major initiatives.
At the core of conservation are the protected areas, mainly in the form of parks.
Since 1994 parks under the South African National Parks have expanded by 227 307 hectares. There is no other comparable period in the history of national parks when expansion took place at this rate.
At present 6% of South Africa's surface area is under protection. We intend increasing this to 8% over the next ten years.
This year, for the first time the department's budget provides for funds for the purchase of land to be incorporated into the national parks. An amount of R8m has been earmarked for this purpose.
I take pride in announcing that in a special government gazette published today we effect 21 land transfers into the national parks. These include the incorporation of the Tokai and Cecilia forests into the Cape Peninsula National Park.
Plans are afoot for the incorporation of the Qwa-Qwa National Park into the Golden Gate National Park, the Manyeleti and Letaba nature reserves into the Kruger National Park, the Mkambati Nature Reserve in to the proposed Pondoland National Park.
We have proposed to the Northern Province that the Nylsvlei, a wetland of global significance, be declared a new National Park.
The consolidation of the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park with its 280km coastline and world heritage site status is progressing on schedule. As early as August this year we will be relocating elephants back into Lake St. Lucia.
Following on the success of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on 10 November 2000, the governments of SA, Mozambique and Zimbabwe signed an agreement to establish the Gaza/Kruger/Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park. This will be The World's Greatest Animal Kingdom encompassing an area of 40 000km2. This is now recognised as the world's biggest conservation and eco-tourism project. This year we will take the first steps in removing a 120km long stretch of fence that separates the Kruger from Mozambique. This year we also start translocating the first of 1 000 elephants from the Kruger to Mozambique - the biggest operation of its kind in the world.
An agreement is to be signed in the next few months between SA and Namibia to establish a transfrontier park which incorporates the Richtersveld and the Ais-Ais National Park. This includes the famous Fish River Canyon.
And, Madam Speaker, just 12 days from today I will be signing an agreement with Lesotho to establish the Drakensburg/Maluti Transfrontier Conservation Area. The integrity of a great African mountain, divided by colonialism, is to be restored. The Global Environmental Fund has allocated R120 million for this project.
The transfrontier initiatives are an important component of the African Renaissance. They will also be an integral part of the Millennium Africa Recovery Programme (MAP).
The rehabilitation of wetlands will gain momentum this year with an allocation of R30m. This will create 2 300 jobs.
South Africa's valuable 3000 km coastline must be guarded with jealousy.
Currently 1 350 people are employed in poverty relief projects aimed at the rehabilitation of the coast.
In today's special gazette we declare Walker Bay in Hermanus the country's first whale sanctuary providing a safe haven for the giants of the oceans during calfing season. This places a strict prohibition on use of private boats, jet-skis, in the bay.
And, in the government gazette today, we publish draft regulations aimed at prohibiting the driving of 4 by 4 and other private vehicles on beaches.
On the Wild Coast the state has proceeded to crackdown on persons who have erected illegal holiday homes. 46 summonses have been served on illegal cottage owners. 8 have been demolished. 27 arrests have been made.
We must act, while we can!
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The responsible disposal and recycling of the titanic volumes of waste we produce must remain a priority. Mountains of waste continue to mushroom everywhere. Litter and filth continues to plague us.
We must act, before it is too late!
This year, government will spend R31,5 million funding 20 poverty relief projects employing 1 892 people aimed at cleaning up our country.
I am pleased that our metropolitan governments and other local authorities are now giving serious attention to cleaning up our cities and towns. The bold beginnings made by the Johannesburg waste utility company PIKITUP with its 1 800 strong workforce and its a breath of fresh air. I am now hopeful that Johannesburg will be one of the cleanest cities in the world.
The regulations prohibiting the production and distribution of thin plastic carrier bags are being discussed by NEDLAC at the request of the plastic bag producers and organised labour. While we respect due process, government remains committed to ridding our environment of this terrible blight.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend 'Collect a Can' for recycling as much as 63% of the cans used in South Africa. This, honourable members, is a world record! In the process Collect a Can provides informal employment for an estimated 30 000 people. The sterling work being done is a source of pride to our country. The Collect a Can project obviates the need for government regulation of the use of cans. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many other products. This year we will pay more attention to products like tyres, glass bottles, PET containers, building rubble and medical waste.
A clean environment is a fundamental human right. Cabinet has therefore decided that a special National Waste Summit be held this year to intensify the war on waste. In today's gazette we are making a call for input from the public for the Summit.
AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution in some parts of our country has reached hazardous proportions. The people in the Durban South Industrial Basin, the Sasolburg-Vanderbijlpark complex and elsewhere are paying a high price for economic growth. Industrial development does not have to be accompanied by a denial of clean air for our citizens.
A start has been made in the Durban South Industrial Basin. Together with community organisations, trade unions and industry, government is implementing a package of measures to improve the air quality. It is our view that this should include the banning of dirty fuels and strict control over toxic emissions.
This week we publish new proposed standards. A drastic reduction in the emission of toxic gases is proposed. This is aimed at reducing the Sulphur Dioxide content of the atmosphere by 50%.
We must act before it is too late!
GLOBAL WARMING
Madam Speaker, the phenomenon of global warming caused by the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases must continue to receive our attention. It is now common cause that the 1990s was the warmest decade in recorded history. South Africa calls on the industrialised nations to end the delay on setting emission reduction targets. The USA has a special responsibility as it alone accounts for 25% of all greenhouse gas emissions. We will continue to play a part internationally in the search for a solution.
Last week cabinet held an in depth discussion on global warming. Government departments are currently working on a response strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change.
TOURISM
In his State of the Nation Address this year, the President identified, among others, tourism as a " sector[s] of our economy that require special attention because of [its] potential to contribute especially to the objectives of higher growth rates and job creation".
We will continue with the vigorous thrust of the past two years to boost tourism. The Celebrate SA Campaign in the UK under the leadership of High Commissioner Cheryl Carolus takes our international marketing campaign to new and globally competitive heights. This complements the establishment of the Circle of Sunshine in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands. These are composed largely of South Africans living abroad, but who wish to promote their motherland.
As a result of the 'Welcome Campaign' South Africans are fast making tourism everyone's business.
The economy's most ambitious Human Resource Development project is unfolding in the tourism sector. Thanks to the Business Trust and the Department of Labour, the Tourism and Hospitality Education and Training Authority (THETA) has made considerable progress: already 7831 unit standards have been achieved by learners; 5454 national qualifications have been achieved by learners; and, 68 training practitioners have been trained. In addition, a large number of learners are enrolled for tourism qualifications at high schools, technikons and universities.
Impressive as these achievements may be, industry needs to play a more active role in promoting learnerships.
INVESTMENTS
New investment in tourism continues to flow in.
In December last year 7 concessions were awarded for the building and operation of tourism facilities in the Kruger National Park.
In November last year investment opportunities potentially worth R1bn in the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park have been announced. These concessions will be awarded this year.
Similarly, the new alignment of the N2 along the Wild Coast and the establishment of the Pondoland National Park will open up investment opportunities.
The new Sandton convention centre opened its doors 6 months ago and construction of a new convention centre in Cape Town is underway.
On 6 June 2001 the soil turning ceremony for the new Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport will take place.
In his State of the Nation Address, the President said: "Steps will be taken to increase the number of flights to and from South Africa to assist with the promotion of tourism." The Minister of Transport and I are giving urgent attention to the implementation of this vision.
Our initiatives are beginning to pay off. More than 2,8m foreigners visited SA between January and June 2000. In this period overseas arrivals increased by 4,4% (up from 694 787 in 1999 to 726 698 in 2000).
South Africa is aggressively marketing itself as a world-class destination for meetings and conventions. This industry contributed R20bn to the GDP in 2000. We are now ranked 21st in the world in this lucrative global market. There is no reason why we should not move rapidly into the top 10.
In the past year township tours have been gaining popularity. I want to congratulate the portfolio committee for holding its annual meeting with the department at a marvellous Gugulethu venue. In addition, the department held its management training session at Moretele Park in Mamelodi.
As part of its Enterprise Development Program, the Business Trust has allocated R66m for the purposes of assisting SMMEs.
Excellent progress was made in making the 2001 Tourism Indaba, held last month, more representative. The number of Black owned enterprises represented increased from 34 in 2000 to 149 in 2001. This is a 400% increase.
The road to making the ownership patterns of the tourism industry representative is still long. But we are making progress everyday.
Government procurement must more and more be directed towards SMMEs and black owned enterprises so that we put our money where our mouth is.
WORLD SUMMIT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Madam Speaker, the United Nations General Assembly bestowed a great honour on South Africa by accepting our invitation to hold the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. As the Johannesburg World Summit will be the biggest global gathering of its kind it poses a challenge, but also a unique opportunity for us
South Africa's endorsement as host country for the historic World Summit on Sustainable Development is significant and an enormous opportunity to lead the global campaign to craft a sustainable blueprint for the future. Such a blueprint must put at the very centre the deliberate and relentless fight to eradicate poverty, ensure energy for development, adequate financing for development, adequate management of water resources, the mainstreaming of gender imperatives in overall development decision making amongst others. In other words the issues that are critical towards ensuring a better life for the developing nations of the world in general and the African continent in particular.
Due to the deep significance of the summit to the planet and its people, I do hope that this House will create an opportunity for a special debate on this matter. May I assure the house that no effort will be spared to do full justice to the enormous responsibility the world has placed on our shoulders.
Madam Speaker, the work I report on today was made possible by the assistance of Deputy Minister Mabudhafasi and the capable and dedicated team led by Director-General Chippy Olver. I thank the department for their support. As in previous years, members of the ministry have continued to provide an outstanding service.
It is important for me to report to the National Assembly that the portfolio committee for environment and tourism has been extremely active in supporting, encouraging and overseeing the work of the department. I have found members of the committee taking a keen interest in all aspects of the portfolio and often making valuable suggestions. For this I thank Chairperson Gwen Mahlangu and members of the committee.
For more Information contact J.J Tabane, (021) 465 7280/082 465 6166, tabane@iafrica.com