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Dr Dion George expands protection for marine life and penguins through bunkering regulations

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Dear Editor

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, Dr Dion George, has significantly increased the protection of marine life by publishing important regulations regarding bunkering (at-sea refuelling of ships). This activity poses serious risks to surrounding marine ecosystems, particularly through acoustic pollution and the propensity for spillage of oil and other chemical pollutants. Bunkering has been implicated as a major threat to the African Penguin in particular, which was recently declared to be Critically Endangered and is facing extinction within 10 years without urgent intervention.

The new regulations aim to prevent the threats posed by bunkering in environmentally sensitive areas, as well as limit and mitigate the threats where bunkering does already exist. Some of the proposed regulations include the prohibition of any bunkering within marine protected areas and critical biodiversity areas, the enforcement of international operational best practices, the limit of ship speeds, the monitoring of nearby wildlife, and the limiting of operations in certain weather conditions.

Operators will also be obliged to produce and abide by an Environmental Management Plan and will face stiff penalties if any offences occur.

Bunkering has previously operated in a regulatory vacuum which was extremely problematic. Bunkering operations in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape have been blamed for a collapse in the local penguin population on St Croix Island, previously a largely undisturbed sanctuary and stronghold for the threatened species. The colony began an encouraging recovery after bunkering operations were suspended, but the population is still well below pre-disturbance levels. This new proposed regulatory framework will ensure that bunkering is suitably managed in future and such tragedies never occur again.

A recent spill on the west coast and the resultant oiling of several species of marine birds, including penguins, is another sobering reminder of the kind of threat that activities like bunkering can pose.

These new regulations in conjunction with the proposed Marine Pollution Bill will help to ameliorate some of the threats facing the imperilled African Penguin.

These actions show Minister George’s commitment to the conservation of the African Penguin and our sensitive marine ecosystems. The DA applauds this pro-environment approach and encourages the Minister to continue with the strengthening of environmental protections in South Africa.

The public are invited to submit comments on the proposed regulations before the consultation window closes on 23 March 2025.

Regards

Andrew de Blocq MP
DA Spokesperson on Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment

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