Have your say on the Oil and Gas Sector Plan

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Barbara Creecy, has released the draft Marine offshore Oil and Gas Sector Plan.

It has enormous ramifications, since it takes offshore oil and gas Operation Phakisa, which is just a government program and intends turning it into law, through the finalisation of the Marine Spatial Planning Act (MSPA).

Creecy’s Marine Oil and Gas Sector plan gives ‘primary use’ in South African seas to oil and gas seismic surveys, exploration and development.

The public are invited to comment on the following Marine Sector Plans:

• Marine Biodiversity Sector Plan
• Coastal and Marine Tourism Sector Plan
• Marine Transport and Ports Sector Plan
• Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Sector Plan
• Marine Defence (Navy) Sector Plan
• Marine Science and Innovation Sector Plan
• Marine Aquaculture Sector Plan
• Marine offshore Oil and Gas Sector Plan
• Marine Underwater Infrastructure Sector Plan
• Wild Fisheries Sector Plan

Marine Sector Plans specify the overall developmental objectives and priorities of each sector from a national point of view and the extent of its spatial presence and interests. They specify and outline the spatial claims and interests of each sector in the South African marine environment.

The public have until 22 May to comment on the above plans.

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