South Africa

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Country information

Basic facts on marine waters

Territorial sea (12 nm zone): 22 km2
Exclusive Economic Zone: 1.5 Million km2

Strategic documents related to MSP

Marine Spatial Planning Act, Act No. 16 of 2018
Marine Spatial Planning Framework
National Data and Information Report for Marine Spatial Planning
The Approach to a Spatial Management System for South Africa’s Marine Planning Areas

Technical resources related to MSP

Marine Spatial Planning Viewer
Marine Spatial Planning Decision Support tool (Currently limited to planning members)
WIO Symphony MSP tool (Currently being developed and will be limited to planning members)

Relevant MSP projects

The development of Marine Sector Plans 2022/23
The development of Four Marine Area Plans (To start in April 2023)
The Benguela Current Convention MSP Transboundary Project (Currently being undertaken until September 2022)

Overview of MSP related maritime uses

Current main uses:

Ammunition storage sites	Offshore renewable energy
Aquaculture	Oil and Gas
Cables and pipelines	Ports
Coastal protection	Scientific research
Fisheries	Shipping
Military	Tourism and Leisure
Mining	Underwater Cultural Heritage
Nature conservation

Which marine spatial plans exist?

Southern Marine Area Plan

Name of the plan (year)	Southern Marine Area Plan (The drafting of the plan will commence in April 2023)
Scale of the plan	National
Pre-planning	Status: Completed
Assessments for planning	Status: Underway
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

Western Marine Area Plan

Name of the plan (year)	Western Marine Area Plan (The drafting of the plan will commence in April 2024)
Scale of the plan	National
Pre-planning	Status: N/A
Assessments for planning	Status: N/A
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

Eastern Marine Area Plan

Name of the plan (year)	Eastern Marine Area Plan (The drafting of the plan will commence in April 2025)
Scale of the plan	National
Pre-planning	Status: N/A
Assessments for planning	Status: N/A
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

Prince Edwards Island Area Plan

Name of the plan (year)	Prince Edwards Island Area Plan (The drafting of the plan will commence in April 2026)
Scale of the plan	National
Pre-planning	Status: N/A
Assessments for planning	Status: N/A
Plan development	Status: N/A
Plan completion	Status: N/A
Plan approval	Status: N/A
Plan implementation	Status: N/A
Plan review	Status: N/A

National authority in charge of MSP	National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Governmental funding	Limited
External funding	None
Public-Private funding	None
Size of planning area	1.5 Million KM2
Time required to complete the planning document	6 Years
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers)	Blue Economy (Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy)
Stakeholder engagement activities	Stakeholders are engaged in the process
Sectors included in planning	Transport, Mining, Oil and Gas, Tourism, Heritage, Biodiversity, Defense, Research, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Telecommunications
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management	MSP and Coastal Zone Management overlaps
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas	Marine Protected Areas are included in MSP
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy	Blue economy is the driver for MSP in South Africa
Plan approval process	Ministerial Committee on MSP will approve Marine Area Plans
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding)	Marine Area Plans will be legally binding
Plan review process	Every 5 years or per need
Performance monitoring and evaluation	Every 5 years or per need

Legal framework

Marine Spatial Planning Act, 2018
Marine Spatial Planning Act, Act no 16 of 2018 is in force

Contact

National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Moses Ramakulukusha – Control Environmental Officer: Marine Spatial Planning

Last updated: June 2022

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