Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 9 September 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, says South Africa’s fishing industry has secured access to export fish and fish products from listed fisheries to the US beyond January. NOAA Fisheries’ determination recognises that South Africa’s regulatory programme for the protection of marine mammals is comparable in effectiveness to that of America. Minister George says ensuring this critical flow of business is in line with the government’s mandate of building an ethical and capable state, as well as driving inclusive economic growth.

# The Green Connection and Natural Justice have expressed concern at TotalEnergies’ proposal to drill seven new exploratory oil wells in the Deep Water Orange Basin-South. This is approximately 211 kilometres off the coast of Saldanha Bay on the West Coast. Green Connection’s Shahil Singh says if approved, the project would involve drilling at depths of up to three-thousand-900 meters, the deepest offshore wells ever attempted worldwide. He says this will pose unprecedented risks to marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities:

# And finally: Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says historic progress has been made in the environmental protection of the metro’s recreational vleis. The dredging at Zeekoevlei is well underway, as well as the delivery of a second weed harvester for Zandvlei, the third specialised vehicle of its kind delivered this term. Hill-Lewis says these vessels will not only improve the environmental health of these wetlands, but also clear waterways to make the vleis more navigable and safer for communities:

Stay tuned for more news………….