The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) intends to lease more water areas for aquaculture projects.
TNPA recently invited public comment on their plan to lease 85 ha water areas for this purpose in Big Bay and North Bay in the Port of Saldanha.
In response to Weslander’s queries TNPA said the lease agreements will be concluded with “approved aquaculture operators who will invest in and manage their pilot projects, as sanctioned through the Operation Phakisa aquaculture ocean lab initiatives”.
Operation Phakisa is a government initiative aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) and aquaculture was identified as a sector that presents a good opportunity to diversify fish production.
According to TNPA the Port of Saldanha currently accommodates 13 aquaculture users and this initiative is an expansion of this offering in the port.
In response to Weslander’s queries TNPA stated that the pilot projects in question are situated well outside the shipping traffic channels and can therefore accommodate a number of additional users, especially with-in the earmarked zones of Big Bay and North Bay.
TNPA gave the assurance that all the projects are required to secure the necessary environmental authorisations prior to being issued a permit from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to commence operations. However, if the farming output is below a certain threshold the project would be exempt from obtaining an environmental authorisation.
The period for public comment ended on 27 May.
Sources: www.durban.gov.za; www.operationphakisa.gov.za
