State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province

State of Environment Outlook Report

for the Western Cape Province

Oceans and Coasts

November 2017

i State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province

DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION

Document Title and Version: Draft Oceans and Coasts Chapter

Client: Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning

Project Name: State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 2014 - 2017

SRK Reference Number: 507350

Authors: Sharon Jones

Review: Christopher Dalgliesh

DEA&DP Project Team: Karen Shippey, Ronald Mukanya and Francini van Staden

Acknowledgements: Western Cape Government Environmental Affairs & Development Planning: Marlene Laros, Caren George, Andre van der Merwe

EoH Coastal and Environmental Services: Thomas King, Greer Hawley, Amy Hunter

Other: Pierre de Villiers (CapeNature)

Photo Credits: Page 2 – Pinterest Page 4 – Kitesports.co.za Page 7 – Sharon Jones Page 15 – C.S. Photographics Page 20 – Cape Town Etc. Page 24 – Piet Janse van Rensburg

Date: November 2017

iii State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province i i TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1

2 DRIVERS AND PRESSURES ...... 1

3 STATE ...... 3 3.1 Coastal water quality ...... 3 3.2 Estuary health ...... 6 City of Cape Town ...... 8 West Coast ...... 9 Overberg ...... 10 Eden ...... 11 3.3 Conservation and protected areas ...... 12 3.4 Marine ecosystem threat status ...... 17 3.5 Transformation of threatened ecosystems in the coastal belt ...... 18 3.6 Number of buildings in high risk coastal areas ...... 20 3.7 Exploitation of fish species ...... 24 Commercial ...... 24 Recreational ...... 25

4 IMPACTS ...... 26

5 RESPONSES ...... 27 5.1 Coastal management (setback) lines ...... 28 5.2 Estuary management plans ...... 29 5.3 Focus areas for future protection ...... 32 5.4 Climate change response ...... 32 5.5 Coastal Access Strips ...... 32 5.6 Policy, tools and legislation...... 33

6 CONCLUSION ...... 33

7 REFERENCES ...... 36

ii State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 3-1: Estuary Health in the Western Cape ...... 7 Figure 3-2: Relative condition of 56 estuaries in the Western Cape ...... 8 Figure 3-3: Marine bioregions and marine protected areas of the Western Cape ...... 15 Figure 3-4: Comparison Methodology used to determine marine ecosystem threat status ...... 17 Figure 3-5: Marine Ecosystem Threat Status ...... 19 Figure 3-6: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in the City of Cape Town ...... 22 Figure 3-7: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in the West Coast District ...... 22 Figure 3-8: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in the Overberg District ...... 23 Figure 3-9: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in Eden District ...... 23 Figure 3-10: The status of key resource species that are commercially exploited in the Western Cape ...... 24 Figure 3-11: The status of important linefish species within the Western Cape ...... 26

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3-1: Blue Flag beaches in the Western Cape ...... 5 Table 3-2: Schematic illustration of the relationship between loss of ecosystem condition functionality ...... 6 Table 3-3: Overview of estuaries in City of Cape Town ...... 9 Table 3-4: Overview of estuaries in West Coast District...... 10 Table 3-5: Overview of estuaries in Overberg District ...... 10 Table 3-6: Overview of estuaries in Eden District ...... 11 Table 3-7: Description of Western Cape Marine Protected Areas ...... 12 Table 3-8: Summary of Western Cape Marine Protected Area features and METT scores ...... 16 Table 3-9: Condition thresholds and descriptions of marine ecosystem threat status categories .. 17 Table 3-10: Extent of threatened ecosystems in various land use categories ...... 20 Table 3-11: Number of buildings in high risk coastal areas ...... 21 Table 3-12: Key linefish species that require updated stock assessments ...... 26 Table 6-1: Overview of key oceans and coasts aspects ...... 34 Table 6-2: Summary of the outlook for oceans and coasts in the Western Cape ...... 35 ANNEXURES

Annexure A Summary of policy, tools and legislation

iii State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province i iii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

CCT City of Cape Town DAFF Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries DEA Department of Environmental Affairs Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development DEA&DP Planning DEAT Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (now DEA) EMP Estuary Management Plan GDP Gross Domestic Product HWM High Water Mark ICMA Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008 IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature MAR Mean Annual Rainfall METT Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool MPA Marine Protected Area NBA National Biodiversity Assessment NNR No Natural Remaining NPAES National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute SAPAD South African Protected Areas Database SoC State of the Coast SoEOR State of the Environment Outlook Report WCG Western Cape Government WCCCRS Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa WWF World Wide Fund for Nature

iv State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province GLOSSARY

Artificial breaching The digging of a trench/ movement of sediment in order to allow the estuarine water to flow out into marine water. Reasons for artificial breaching include prevention of extensive flooding, facilitation of fish recruitment, etc. Blue Economy Marine-based economic development that leads to improved human well- being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. Coastal A line which demarcates an area in which development will be prohibited Management Line or controlled in order to achieve coastal management objectives (previously referred to as a coastal setback line). Coastal Zone The area of land and sea along a coast. It includes estuaries, onshore areas, and offshore areas, wherever they form an integral part of the coastal system. Coastal Public Coastal waters, land submerged by coastal waters, any natural island Property within coastal waters, seashore, any land owned or controlled by the State. The purpose of the coastal public property is to improve access to the seashore, protect sensitive coastal ecosystems, to secure the natural functioning of dynamic coastal processes and to protect people, property and economic activities from risks arising from dynamic coastal processes. Coastal Protection The continuous strip of coastal land, starting from the HWM and extending Zone 100m inland in developed urban areas zoned as residential, commercial, or public open space, or 1 000m inland in areas that remain undeveloped or that are commonly referred to as rural areas. It also includes certain sensitive or at-risk land such as estuaries, littoral active zones and protected areas. Desalination The process of removing dissolved salts from salt- or brackish (slightly salt) water, through the use of a wide spectrum of water treatment technologies, making it fit for consumption by humans or for use for agricultural and other purposes. Estuary The coastal body of water that has a free connection with the open sea and where fresh water, derived from land drainage, is mixed with sea water. Estuary Functional The zone identified as encapsulating all estuarine processes and biotic Zone responses, including maximum extent of open water areas that are subjected to tidal effect and or back flooding under closed mouth conditions, all estuarine associated habitats, floodplain areas, islands, geomorphic active zones, marinas, harbours and similar artificial habitats in or adjacent to estuaries. High Risk Coastal Area at risk of erosion in a 20-year time horizon. Zone High Water Mark The highest line reached by coastal water, excluding any line reached as a result of exceptional or abnormal weather or sea conditions, or an estuary being closed to the sea. Mariculture The rearing of fish, shell-fish, and certain aquatic plants under controlled and managed conditions either in their natural environment in the sea or on land-based sea farms. Also called aquaculture or fish farming. Marine protected An area of marine or estuarine habitat where certain fish or plants are Area protected or where an entire ecosystem is set aside as a park or reserve.

v State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province v

1 INTRODUCTION The Western Cape has a coastline in excess of 1000 km, and consequently possesses both the longest coastline of South Africa’s four coastal provinces and the largest percentage of coastline relative to total provincial jurisdiction, with roughly one third of the boundary of the Western Cape bordered by the sea (Celliers et al, 2010). The province is home to some 6.51 million people, accounting for approximately 11% of South Africa’s total population (StatsSA, 2017), a significant figure considering that the majority of people in the province lives within 25 km of the coast (DEA&DP, 2005). Biophysically, the coastline of the Western Cape consists of sandy beaches interspersed with occasional rocky outcrops, headlands and wave-cut platforms, and it has a number of important estuaries and coastal lakes, particularly in the Wilderness area (Celliers et al, 2010). Primary development nodes along the Western Cape coast include Cape Town, Saldanha Bay, George, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay, while important ports are located at Cape Town, Saldanha Bay (one of only two deepwater ports in South Africa) and to a lesser extent, Mossel Bay.

The Western Cape coast is rich in biodiversity, due in no small part to the conjunction of the warm Agulhas and cold Benguela ocean currents which occur in the region and which causes upwelling of nutrients (DEAT, 1998). Notable natural coastal assets include extensive fisheries resources which form the core of South Africa’s commercial fishing industry; kelp, penguin and seal colonies; fynbos; and indigenous coastal forests at various points along the coastline (Celliers et al, 2010).

This chapter on Oceans and Coasts attempts to describe the current state of the coastal zone in the Western Cape and interpret the environmental changes that are evident along the coastline. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP) have commissions a much more detailed “State of the Coast” (SoC) study which is due to be completed early in 2018 and will inform future iterations of the Oceans and Coasts Chapter of the State of Environment Outlook Report (SoEOR – this chapter)

Indicators which report on the state of the Western Cape ocean and coastal environment have been selected based on the indicators reported on in the 2013 SoEOR along with a few key additional indicators identified through the SoC study (ongoing) which will inform future iterations of the SoEOR. The indicators discussed in this chapter include coastal water quality, estuary health, conservation areas, marine health, transformation of threatened ecosystems along the coastline, buildings located in high risk coastal zones and exploitation of fish species, however the SoC Report will include a much for extensive and comprehensive list of indicators. The information presented in this chapter has also largely been informed by information gathered to inform the SoC, although in some cases limited updated information is available post 2013.

2 DRIVERS AND PRESSURES Ecosystems are naturally dynamic but are stressed and pressured by human activity through the disturbance of natural processes such as energy flows and nutrient cycles (Mateus & Campuzano, 2008). Nowhere are these pressures more acutely felt than in the ocean and coastal areas which are the ultimate recipients of the effects of local as well as distant human activities. Given that coastal areas are particularly desirable locations for settlement, industry, harvesting of natural resources as well as human recreation, pressure on these unique environments is greatly increased. These pressures range in scale and magnitude and include issues such as global climate change, interruption of dynamic coastal processes, the introduction of alien invasive species and the effects of multiple anthropogenic discharges of waste and toxins into rivers and the ocean (Mateus & Campuzano, 2008; Pauw, 2010).

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 1 Major coastal economic activities include shipping, nature and heritage In addition to the key drivers and pressures affecting based tourism (particularly the City of the ocean and coastal areas, the following emerging issues are affecting these environments: Cape Town, Hermanus for whale  Operation Phakisa initiatives which could lead watching, and Knysna for scenery), to a significant increase in development in the commercial fishing, commerce, coastal and marine environment manufacturing, and agriculture. Such activities imply a diverse range of  Effects of droughts on water resources, for which pressures specific to the ocean and desalination of sea water is considered one of coastal environment of the Western the primary solutions – leading to increased Cape that include, but are not limited infrastructure development and discharge of to: water into the coastal and marine environment

 Global climate change;  Habitat modification through coastal development, extractive industries and destructive fishing practices;  Beach erosion and interruption of sediment transport to and along the coast;  Development in adjacent areas leading to increased activity levels and disturbance of dune dynamics;  Reduced freshwater inflow into coastal areas;  Inadequate resource and catchment management;  Coastal mining;  Desalination of seawater;  Introduction of invasive alien species;  Effluent discharges and stormwater runoff;  Poor agricultural and farming practices;  Pollution from both land-based and marine sources;  Illegal harvesting/poaching;  Overexploitation by shore anglers;  Overexploitation of intertidal organisms;  Increasing pressure by tourists and recreational users; and  Aquaculture industry.

Climate variability and change is one of the biggest threats to South Africa’s coastal regions. Sea level rise and its interaction with increasing storm frequencies, intensities, wind velocities and local conditions presents a significant threat to the coastline. Over 80% of South Africa’s coast consists of sandy shores and is therefore highly susceptible to erosion (Pauw, 2010).

2 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Operation Phakisa

Operation Phakisa is an initiative of the South African government designed to fast track the implementation of solutions on critical development issues identified in the National Development Plan 2030 such as poverty, unemployment and inequality.

“Phakisa” means “hurry up” in Sesotho and highlights government’s commitment to implement priority programmes better, faster and more effectively.

Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy aims to unlock the economic potential of South Africa's oceans, which could contribute up to R177 billion to the GDP by 2033 and between 800 000 and 1 million direct jobs. Over forty detailed initiatives have been identified, which will increase the oceans economy's GDP contribution by R20 million and lead to the creation of 22 000 direct new jobs by 2019 (DEA, 2017a).

Operation Phakisa, considered a key driver of change in the marine and coastal environment, is focused on unlocking the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans. Six priority growth areas (work streams) identified are (DEA, 2017a):

 Marine transport and manufacturing: aimed at expanding South African port capacity for repairs to oil ships and rigs;  Offshore oil and gas exploration: aimed at creating an enabling environment to give industry the comfort to invest in this capital investment sector;  Aquaculture work stream: acknowledging the high growth potential of the aquaculture sector due to increasing demand for fish and the potential for rural development, especially for marginalize coastal communities;  Marine protection services and oceans governance: aimed at developing an overarching integrated ocean governance framework for sustainable growth of the ocean economy;  Small harbours: to develop un-proclaimed small harbours; and  Coastal and marine tourism: to identify the high impact coastal tourism initiatives, interventions and projects.

3 STATE A detailed State of the Coast study is currently The state of the ocean and coastal areas is underway for the Province including the tracked using the following key indicators: identification of a substantial number of indicators  Coastal water quality (Blue Flag against which the state of the oceans and coastal status) environmental will be tracked in future. A selected  Estuary Health number of key indicators have been included in  Quantity and extent of conservation the document, based on the indicators used in the and protected areas 2013 SoEOR and additional key indicators identified  Marine ecosystem health status through the (ongoing) SoC study which will inform  Extent of transformation of future iterations of the SoEOR. threatened ecosystems  Number of buildings in high risk 3.1 Coastal water quality coastal areas  Exploitation of fish species The Blue Flag programme, implemented in South Africa by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) is a voluntary international initiative aimed at standardizing and promoting world-class clean, safe and attractive beach environments. Blue Flag is categorized as an “eco- label”, and strict monitoring requirements are needed to both attain and retain Blue Flag status where beaches are assessed according to 25 criteria in four specific categories namely: water State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 3 quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety (Foundation for Environmental Education, 2017). Water quality measured at Blue Flag beaches, one of the assessment criteria, provides a useful indicator of the quality of marine and coastal waters based on the monitoring undertaken at selected swimming beaches.

To achieve Blue Flag status, a beach must:

 fully comply with the water quality sampling Blue Flag is an international annual award an frequency requirements; which focuses on the environmental  fully comply with standards and management of the South African coastline and coastal waters to help requirements for water quality analysis; tourism growth and development.  have no industrial, waste-water or Although it’s a voluntary eco-label, it’s become an international symbol of quality sewerage related dischargers affecting the for beaches, boats and marinas that meet beach area; a standard of excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness,  comply with Blue Flag requirements for environmental information and faecal coli bacteria (E.coli) and intestinal environmental management. Currently 29 enterococci (streptococci); beaches along the Western Cape coast have been awarded Blue Flag status for  have no visible oil film or odour; and the 2016/2017 year.

 have no floatable debris such as wood, plastic, glass etc. (Blue Flag, 2017)

The Western Cape, while slow to join the Blue Flag programme and initially having mixed results, showed a dramatic improvement in water quality in 2010 (WESSA, 2010). Although more recent detailed water quality data was not available at the time of publication, a substantial increase in the number of Blue Flag beaches in the Western Cape (Table 3-1) indicates both an increased interest in monitoring coastal water quality as well as in increase in the number of beaches achieving the required water quality standards – which would be indicative on improved water quality in these areas. Additional information regarding coastal water quality will be provided in the State of the Coast report due to be published in 2018.

It is thought that poor quality water entering estuaries (and the coastal zone) from poor practices along rivers and in catchments, contamination from sewer blockages / overflows and runoff from informal settlements are the main contributing factors to poor water quality at certain bathing beaches. It should also be noted that water quality deteriorates during winter periods when pollutants that have accumulated during the preceding dry season are mobilized and washed from the catchments to the sea with the winter rains. It is important to note that kelp wrack (the common name for several species of seaweed that have washed ashore after becoming detached from the kelp forest) on beaches is known as a breeding ground for bacteria and may therefore contribute to misleading water quality results. Despite this being a natural process, it must be taken into account with the monitoring of beaches which commonly experience kelp wrack.

4 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Table 3-1: Blue Flag beaches in the Western Cape

District Beach/Marina Municipality 2001/2000 2002/2001 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 Bikini X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Camps Bay X X X X X X X X X X Clifton 4th X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Fish Hoek X X Llundudno X X X X X X X City of Melkbosstrand X X Cape Town Mnandi X X X X X X X Muizenberg X X Seaforth Silwerstroomstrand X X X X X X Strandfontein X X X X X X X X X X (Cape Flats) Strandfontein X X X West Coast Yzerfontein X X Cape Infanta P Grotto X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Hawston X X X X X X X X X X X X Kassiesbaai P Overberg Kleinmond X X X X X X X X X X X X Pearly Beach P Romans P Struisbaai X Ballots Bay P Brenton-on-Sea P X X Buffalo Bay P X X De Bakke X X X X X Gouritz mond X X X X Hartenbos X X X X X X X X X Herolds Bay P Jongensfontein P P P Keurbooomstrand X X X X X X X Klein Brak X X X X Lappiesbaai X X X X X X X X X X X X X Eden Leentjiesklip P Lookout X X X X Natures Valley X X X X X X Preekstoel X X X X X Robberg 5 X X X X X X X X X Santos X X X X X X X X Singing Kettle X Stillbaai Wes P P P The Dunes P X X Victoria Bay P Wilderness P Witsand X X X X X X X X Total number of beaches (including pilot beaches – “P”) 1 1 2 3 4 6 6 8 11 13 17 18 21 23 39 30 31

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 5 3.2 Estuary health Estuaries are unique environments where fresh water from rivers meets saline seawater. These dynamic ecosystems perform numerous essential ecological functions and support important subsistence, commercial and recreational activities. They also form a crucial link between terrestrial systems and processes, catchments and the ocean (Pauw, 2010; Van Niekerk et al. 2012). Estuaries are amongst the most threatened habitats in South Africa, which is a result of a combination of factors including reduced freshwater inflow, coastal development and overexploitation of living resources (Pauw, 2010). South Africa’s estuaries are defined by the “estuarine functional zone” which encompasses all estuarine processes and biotic responses (Van Niekerk et al. 2017). The Western Cape has 56 estuaries1 within its jurisdictional boundary stretching from the Olifants Estuary on the West Coast to the Bloukrans Estuary on the South East Coast. Thirteen of these (23%) are rated as “highly important” and 11 (20%) as “important” for estuarine biodiversity (Turpie et al. 2002; Turpie & Clark 2007). In estuaries, unlike the terrestrial environment, degradation or loss of habitat seldom means complete loss of an estuary. In most cases, degradation means loss of processes or loss of biological functionality. This loss of functionality happens on a continuum (Table 3-2), with estuaries which retain >90% of their natural processes and patterns being rated as Excellent and estuaries degraded to less than 40% of natural functionality rates as Poor (Van Niekerk et al.Condition 2017). & Functionality Table 3-2: Schematic illustration of the relationship between loss of ecosystem condition functionality

Condition ≥91% 90-75 75 - 61 60 - 41 40-21 ≤20

A B C D E F Category Natural Largely Moderately Largely Highly Extremely natural with modified modified degraded degraded few changes

State Excellent Good Fair Poor

Retain Loss of No Functionality Process & Pattern Process or Pattern Process & Pattern (representation)

Source: van Niekerk et.al., 2017 Estuary health2 (expressed as Present Ecological State on a scale from A-F in Table 3-2) is illustrated on Figure 3-1. Along the West Coast, the predominantly closed estuaries tend to be in a good state while the large permanently open estuaries on average are in a fair state. The estuaries along the West Coast were generally in a fair to poor state due to significant flow reduction, pollution and in the case of the large systems, fishing pressure. On the other hand, the numerous small temporarily open/closed estuaries around Cape Town were generally in a poor condition. Estuaries along the south and south-east coast tend to be healthier than those in the rest of

1 This includes the estuaries currently identified by Van Niekerk et al. (2017) as priority wetlands although there are a number of smaller estuaries and systems that require further investigation. 2 Note that some of these estuary health scores may be revised during the ongoing final round of classification.

6 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province the country, with the estuaries around Mossel Bay proving to be the exception. (Van Niekerk et al. 2017). Additional details of estuaries in each district are provided below.

Figure 3-1: Estuary Health in the Western Cape Source: Van Niekerk et al. 2017 According to Van Niekerk et al. (2017), only 5% of estuaries in the Western Cape are in excellent condition, with a further 26% in good condition. Most of these are relatively small systems enclosed in formal protected areas, and collectively only comprise 4% of the estuarine area in the province. Approximately 48% of all estuaries in the Western Cape, representing more than 95% of the estuarine area in the province, are in a fair condition. The remaining 21% of estuaries are in a non-functional, poor conditions, however the majority of these are very small systems, representing a relatively small portion of the total estuarine area (see Figure 3-2). Estuaries in a poor conditions include Diep/Rietvlei, Elsies, Onrus and Buffels (Wes).

Onrus River Estuary

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 7 Recent restoration of some estuaries to improve estuary functionality has contributed to the improvement of systems conditions that they are no longer considered non- functional, for example improved water quality and estuary mouth management practices implemented by the City of Cape Town (CCT) have substantially improved the nursery function of the Zandvlei Estuary and enables salt marsh rehabilitation in the Gouritz Estuary (Van Niekerk et al. 2017).

100% F D E C/D 80% D/E D 60% C/D C C 40% B/C B 20% B/C A/B B 0% A A/B % ESTUARINE % ESTUARIES (n=56) HABITAT (20 500 ha) F 1.8 0.0 E 14.3 0.4 D/E 5.4 0.0 D 16.1 3.6 C/D 5.4 6.1 C 17.9 61.3 B/C 8.9 24.5 B 14.3 0.5 A/B 10.7 3.5 A 5.4 0.0

Figure 3-2: Relative condition of 56 estuaries in the Western Cape Source: Van Niekerk et al. 2017

City of Cape Town The key features and conditions of the 16 estuaries within the CCT is described in Table 3-3. The majority of the estuaries under the jurisdiction of CCT are characterised by very high to high levels of change in flow, high levels of pollution and habitat loss. The numerous small and temporarily closed estuaries around Cape Town are generally in a poor condition. There are a number of estuaries considered to be of high biodiversity priority, including the Rietvlei/Diep and Sand estuaries (Van Niekerk et al. 2017).

8 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Table 3-3: Overview of estuaries in City of Cape Town

Estuary key features Estuary Condition & Importance Pressures

)

x10

3 x10 2016)

NAME CAPE) CAPE) Pollution Habitat loss Habitat Importance R Importance Whitfield Type Whitfield Bait collection Bait Change flow in Change Fish kills linked to to linked Fish kills Artificial Breaching Artificial set (national and/or and/or set (national and/or set (national National Biodiversity Biodiversity National Present MAR (m MAR Present pollution (2000 (2000 pollution Biodiversity priority core core priority Biodiversity core priority Biodiversity Reference MAR (m MAR Reference Rietvlei/Diep 63.287 51.147 Temp closed Important Priority High VH H VH Y Yes F Temp closed Low - Sout (Wes) 31.108 27.521 Low VH VH VH 0 Average Temp closed Low - Houtbaai 15.184 14.607 Low VH VH VH Yes 0 Average Wildevoël - Temp closed 2.135 1.813 High Low VH H H Yes F vlei Temp closed Low - Bokramspruit 2.012 1.774 Low VH M L 0 Average Temp closed Low - Schuster 2.574 2.485 Low M L L 0 Average Temp closed Low - Krom 6.993 6.81 Priority Low L L L 0 Average Temp closed Low - Buffels Wes 0.45 0.364 Low L L L 0 Average Temp closed Low - Elsies 0.594 0.534 Low L M VH 0 Average Temp closed Low - Silvermine 3.754 3.56 Low H H VH Y Yes 0 Average Sand 21.731 19.836 Temp closed Important Priority High M VH H Y Yes F Temp closed Low - Zeekoei 22.329 20.437 Low VH VH VH Yes 0 Average Temp closed Low - Medium Eerste 104.595 87.087 Priority VH VH VH Yes 0 Average -Low Temp closed Low - Lourens 66.266 59.156 Priority Low H VH H Yes F Average Sir Lowry's Temp closed Low - 0.14 0.145 Low M VH VH Yes F Pass Average Low - Steenbras 33.696 26.348 Perm. open Low VH L L Yes 0 Average Source: Van Niekerk et al. 2017

West Coast The key features and conditions of the six estuaries occurring within the West Coast District is described in Table 3-4. West Coast estuaries are generally in a fair to poor state due to significant flow reduction, pollution and in the case of large systems, fishing pressures. The estuaries which are predominantly closed tend to be in a good state, while the large estuaries which are predominantly open are on average in a fair state. The Olifants estuary is identified as being of high biodiversity priority (Van Niekerk et al. 2017).

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 9 Table 3-4: Overview of estuaries in West Coast District

Estuary key features Estuary Condition & Importance Pressures

)

x10

3 x10 2016)

Type 000 000 NAME CAPE) CAPE) Pollution Habitat loss Habitat Importance R Importance Whitfield Whitfield Bait collection Bait Change flow in Change Fish kills linked to to linked Fish kills Artificial Breaching Artificial set (national and/or and/or set (national and/or set (national National Biodiversity Biodiversity National Present MAR (m MAR Present pollution (2 pollution Biodiversity priority core core priority Biodiversity core priority Biodiversity Reference MAR (m MAR Reference Low - Sout 1.5 1.5 Temp closed Low M L H 0 Average Olifants 1070.1 715 Perm. open High Priority High M H H Yes F Temp closed Low - Jakkalsvlei 3.508 2.502 Low VH H H Yes 0 Average Temp closed Low - Wadrift 13.256 9.774 Low VH H VH Yes 0 Average Verlorenvlei 52.205 40.247 Estuarine Lake Important Priority Medium VH VH H Y F Groot Berg 916 520.38 Temp closed High Priority High M M H Yes F

Source: Van Niekerk et al. 2017

Overberg The key features and conditions of the 11 estuaries occurring within the Overberg is described in Table 3-5. Pollution levels for these systems are moderate to low, with exception for the Onrus and Uilkraals estuaries which have high levels of pollution. These two estuaries are also characterised by very high levels of change in flow. The Onrus estuary was also reported to contain very high pollution levels in 2011. A number of estuaries in the region including Bot/Kleinmond, Klein, Heuningnes and Breë estuaries are considered to be of high biodiversity priority (Van Niekerk et al. 2017).

Table 3-5: Overview of estuaries in Overberg District

Estuary key features Estuary Condition & Importance Pressures

)

6 )

x10

3 x10 2016)

NAME CAPE) CAPE) Pollution

Habitat loss Habitat Importance Importance Whitfield Type Whitfield Bait collection Bait Change flow in Change Fish kills linked to to linked Fish kills Artificial Breaching Artificial set (national and/or and/or set (national and/or set (national National Biodiversity Biodiversity National pollution (2000 (2000 pollution Present MAR (m MAR Present Biodiversity priority core core priority Biodiversity core priority Biodiversity Reference MAR (m MAR Reference Temp closed Low - Rooiels Medium 8.643 8.645 Average L L L Yes 0 Temp closed Low - Buffels (Oos) Low 9.7 9.392 Average M L L Yes 0 Temp closed Palmiet 256.3 163.7 Important Priority Low M M H Yes F Estuarine Bot/Kleinmond High High 47 87.368 lake Priority M H L Y Yes 0 Temp closed Low - Onrus Low 9.558 7.335 Average VH VH VH Yes 0 Estuarine Klein High High 53.41 40.88 lake Priority L H M Y Yes F Temp closed Uilkraals 39.3 29.4 Important Priority Medium VH VH H Yes 0 Temp closed Low - Ratel Low 4.684 4.679 Average Priority L L L Yes 0

10 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Perm. open Heuningnes 41.637 36.893 High Priority High M M H Y Yes 0 Temp closed Low - Klipdrifsfontein Low 0.24 0.233 Average Priority L L L 0 Perm. open Breë 1785 1034 High Priority High M H L Yes 0

Source: Van Niekerk et al. 2017

Eden Most of the 23 estuaries within Eden District are characterised by low levels of modification and pollution. Estuaries along the south and south-east coast tend to be healthier, with estuaries around Mossel bay proving to be the exception. The Gourits, Gericke, Tweekuilen and Kleinbrak estuaries are characterized by high levels of pollution and change of flow. The Duiwenhoks, Goukou, Wilderness, Swartvlei, Knysna and Keurbooms estuaries are identified as estuaries of high biodiversity priority (Table 3-6) (Van Niekerk et al. 2017).

Table 3-6: Overview of estuaries in Eden District

Estuary key features Estuary Condition & Importance Pressures

)

6 )

x10

016) 3

x10 2

NAME CAPE) CAPE) Pollution Habitat loss Habitat Importance Whitfield Type Whitfield Bait collection Bait Change flow in Change Fish kills linked to to linked Fish kills Artificial Breaching Artificial set (national and/or and/or set (national and/or set (national National Biodiversity Biodiversity National pollution (2000 (2000 pollution Present MAR (m MAR Present Biodiversity priority core core priority Biodiversity core priority Biodiversity Reference MAR (m MAR Reference High High- 94.19 72.344 Perm. open Duiwenhoks Medium H M H Yes 0 High High- 102.78 77.03 Perm. open Goukou Priority Medium H M M Yes I Gourits 628.775 445.976 Perm. open Important Priority High VH L VH Yes 0 Low - 1.249 0.876 Temp closed Low Blinde Average H VH L Yes 0 Low - 35.6 34.4 Temp closed Low Gericke Average H VH VH 0 Low - 0.3 0.2 Temp closed Low Tweekuilen Average H VH H 0 Hartenbos 4.632 2.824 Temp closed Important Medium M VH H Y Yes F Low - High- 53.366 40.358 Temp closed Klein Brak Average Medium H L H Yes 0 Groot Brak 36.79 16.25 Temp closed Important Medium M H VH Y Yes 0 Low - 26.64 15.984 Temp closed Low Maalgate Average H L L Yes 0 Low - 43.53 32.6475 Temp closed Low Gwaing Average L H L Yes 0 Low - 35.73 28.783 Perm. open Low Kaaimans Average Priority H L L Yes 0 Estuarine 29.66 25.151 High High Wilderness lake Priority L L L Y Yes B Estuarine 83.15 56.6 High High Swartvlei lake Priority L M M Y Yes 0 Goukamma 57.5 48.8 Temp closed Important Priority Medium L L L Y Yes 0 Knysna 83.2 68 Estuarine bay High Priority High L L L Yes F Low - 4.363 4.362 Temp closed Low Noetsie Average Priority L L L Yes 0 Piesang 5.201 3.422 Temp closed Important Priority Medium H M H Yes F Keurbooms 232 215 Perm. open High Priority High L L M Yes 0 Low - 5.1 4.27 Temp closed Low Matjies Average L L L Yes 0

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 11 Estuary key features Estuary Condition & Importance Pressures

) 6

) 6 x10

3 x10 2016)

3 -

Type Whitfield Pollution NAME (m MAR Reference (m MAR Present Biodiversity National Importance core priority Biodiversity and/or set (national CAPE) core priority Biodiversity and/or set (national CAPE) flow in Change loss Habitat Breaching Artificial collection Bait to linked Fish kills (2000 pollution Low - 11.22 10.1 Perm. open Low Sout (Oos) Average Priority L L L Yes 0 Groot (Wes) 12.752 11.121 Temp closed Important Priority Low L L L Yes 0 Low - 40.05 39.289 Perm. open Low Bloukrans Average Priority L L L Yes

Source: Van Niekerk et al. 2017

3.3 Conservation and protected areas Marine protected areas (MPAs) are the foundation of marine conservation in South Africa and are essential for fisheries management WWF, 2014). MPAs in South Africa are categorised as either Controlled Zones (previously partial take zones) where certain types of extractive resource use are permitted or Restricted Zones (previously no-take zones) where no extractive resource use is allowed. MPAs are often the only areas in which viable numbers of reproductive fish are found, and restricted zone MPAs or restricted zones within MPAs function most effectively in this conservation role (SANBI, 2009). Paradoxically, MPAs that are not declared restricted zones can sometimes become nodes for increased exploitation of fisheries by recreational, subsistence and/or commercial fishers and thus contribute to overexploitation (Tunley, 2009).

According to the South African Protected Areas Database (SAPAD) Q1: 2017, South Africa has 25 designated MPAs, of which nine occur in within the Western Cape Province (Figure 3-3) SANBI, 2011; DEA, 2017b) in three different inshore bioregions. A brief description of each of the MPAs is provided in Table 3-7 (adapted from WWF, 2014).

According to the National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy (NPAES) of 2008 (SANBI, 2009), at a national level the focus for the expansion of offshore MPAs has been largely supported by Operation Phakisa. Research and planning continues and the expansion of the South African MPA network is imminent. In July 2017 the Minister of Environmental Affairs published for public comment draft Notices and regulations for the expansion and resonation of three MPAs in the Western Cape: Betty’s Bay, Robberg and Goukamma MPAs.

Table 3-7: Description of Western Cape Marine Protected Areas Marine Description Protected Area3 West Coast The five MPAs that together form the West Coast National Park MPA: Malgas, Jutten and National Park Marcus islands, Sixteen Mile beach and Langebaan Lagoon are considered to be of both national and global significance. Langebaan Lagoon, the only true lagoon system in South Africa, supports a rich bird life and is a declared RAMSAR Site (WWF, 2014). Table Mountain The Table Mountain National Park MPA, which is located at the transitional zone National Park between the South-western Cape and Agulhas bioregions and incorporates a high diversity of marine species, is important for commercial and recreational fisheries as well as research and education. It is also a culturally significant area containing fish traps, numerous wrecks and traditional fishing communities (WWF, 2014).

3 The City of Cape Town manages the Helderberg MPA on behalf of DEA however this is not reflected in WWF, 2014.

12 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Tsitsikamma The Tsitsikamma National Park MPA was declared in 1964 and is the oldest MPA in Africa National Park and forms part of the garden Route National Park. The MPA is significant for fish conservation in South Africa, providing an important refuge for many reef fish species, protects large populations of commercially exploited species and support a rich diversity of fish species, some of which are IUCN red Data List species. This MPA protects approximately 11% of the Warm Temperate South Coast rocky shoreline (WWF, 2014). Betty’s Bay The Betty’s Bay MPA is situated at the western end of the Agulhas Bioregion and forms part of the core zone of the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) designated Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Diverse habitats are present within the MPA and include rocky shores, exposed sandy beaches, estuaries, subtidal reefs and kelp forests. The area is productive and supports a rich diversity of fish, invertebrate and algal species as well as populations of two Red Data species, namely the African penguin and bank cormorant. The MPA is important for the protection of abalone, West Coast rock lobster, linefish species and the Africa penguin (WWF, 2014) De Hoop The De Hoop MPA includes rocky platforms, boulder bays, sandy beaches,sub tidal rocky reefs and sandy benthos and supports a rich diversity of intertidal biota, protects reef fish, provides a refuge for several over-exploited fish species and is a critically important nursery area for the Southern Right whale. Importantly, the MPA is also a key breeding area for African Black oystercatchers (WWF, 2014). This MPA is one of only two entirely Restricted Zone protected areas in the Western Cape. Stilbaai The Stilbaai MPA includes the Goukou estuary, sandy beaches, a shallow sandstone shelf and rocky shores. The Goukou estuary is permanently open and highly productive forming an important nursery area for coastal fish. This is the first estuary to be included in an MPA in the Western Cape. The ecology and habitats represented in the MPA are not unique and instead consist of features that are typical to the warm-temporate south coast (WWF, 2014) Goukamma The Goukamma MPA has a shoreline of 14km and consists of rocky and sandy shores and a semi-closed estuary. There are offshore reefs and soft sediment within the MPA, and no offshore angling is allowed while shore angling is permitted for the entire length of the MPA. The MPA includes oystercatcher breeding areas and offshore reefs which are important habitat for commercially exploited fish species (WWF, 2014) Robberg The Robberg MPA consists mainly of rocky shores with two sandy beaches comprising approximately 1km of the MPA’s 9.5km shoreline. Offshore, the MPA includes subtidal reefs and sandy benthos. The area supports exploited reef fish species, a Cape Fur seal colony and oystercatchers. Plans are underway to rezone the southern margin of the MPA into a no-take area where no fishing will be allowed (WWF, 2014) Walker Bay The Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary MPA stretching from Hermanus to Gansbaai was Whale declared in 2001 to offer protection to predominantly the Southern Right Whales that Sanctuary congregate in the sheltered shallow waters of walker Bay annually to mate and calve. No unauthorized boats are allowed within the boundaries of the MPA during peak whale season stretching from July to November. Brydes Whales and Humpback Whales are also observed in the MPA. WWF South Africa undertook an assessment of the country’s MPAs in 2003, 2009 and again in 2013 to report on and acknowledge the progress made through the actions of national and provincial agencies involved in MPA management to identify areas for improvement going forward (WWF, 2014).

An updated and more detailed management The METT system assessed six core effectiveness tracking tool (METT) scoring system was components: used to assess and summarise information in the most 1. Context: Where are we now? recent assessment, which does not allow for direct 2. Planning: Where do we want to comparison of scores between 2009 and 2013 (WWF, be?; 2014). The key features and METT scores for each of the 3. Inputs: What do we need?; 4. Processes: How do we go about it? MPAs is presented in Table 3-8. 5. Outputs: What were the results? Overall the study found that many of the challenges 6. Outcomes: What did we achieve? identified in 2009 persisted; however, progress has been made in some areas. Since 2009 there has been increased recognition by management authorities of the wide range of management functions that are critical to the successful management of an MPA (WWF, 2014). State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 13 Figure 3-3: Marine bioregions and marine protected areas of the Western Cape

Figure 3-3: Marine bioregions and marine protected areas of the Western Cape

Figure 3-3: Marine bioregions and marine protected areas 14 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 14 of the Western Cape

Table 3-8: Summary of Western Cape Marine Protected Area features and METT scores Marine Management Status Size (ha) Context Planning Inputs Process Outputs Total 2013 Protected Area Agent West Coast SANParks Controlled Zone with National Park Sanctuary and Restricted 2097.2 63% 32% 56% 70% 66.5% 60% Zones in Langebaan Lagoon Table Mountain SANParks 6 Restricted Zones within 99849.5 67% 29% 61% 48% 41% 48% National Park Controlled Zone Tsitsikamma SANParks Restricted Zone 1488.4 77% 82% 72% 77% 94% 79% National Park Betty’s Bay CapeNature Controlled Zone 2097.2 * 53% 71% 60% 67% 63% 63% De Hoop CapeNature Restricted Zone 29780.6 73% 65% 44% 49% 75% 58% Stilbaai CapeNature Controlled Zone and three 3103 87% 71% 63% 71% 88% 75% Restricted Zones Goukamma CapeNature Controlled Zone 3466.9 * 73% 85% 64% 63% 64% 69% Robberg CapeNature Controlled Zone 2659.5 * 73% 59% 61% 74% 81% 70% Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary Area and Whale 1124.9 ------Restricted Area Sanctuary

Source: WWF, 2014

Notes:

- those marked with ‘*’ are proposed for expansion.

- Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary was excluded form WWF (2014) and all information in thus not available.

Tsitsikamma National Park

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 15 3.4 Marine ecosystem threat status State of the Environment documents traditionally report on the state of fish stocks as an indicator of pressures on marine ecosystems. The Marine and Coastal Component of the National Biodiversity Assessment 2011 (currently under review), presented ground-breaking research which included the first national marine and coastal habitat classification and national habitat maps for the coast, ocean floor and the open ocean; a comprehensive review of pressures on marine and coastal biodiversity; and the first data driven assessment of ecosystem threat status and protection levels for 136 habitat types (Sink et al. 2012). This assessment was therefore prioritised over an indicator related exclusively to fisheries stocks4, as it provides a more holistic overview of the state of the marine environment whilst still taking the exploitation of resources into account as a pressure on marine ecosystems (Figure 3-4). The methodology used to assign marine ecosystem threat status is shown by the figure below.

Figure 3-4: Comparison Methodology used to determine marine ecosystem threat status Source: Sink et al. 2012

The threat status of an ecosystem was determined by evaluating the area of each habitat in a specific condition against a series of thresholds. Four ecosystem threat categories were defined, and are described in Table 3-9 (adapted from Sink et al., 2012).

Table 3-9: Condition thresholds and descriptions of marine ecosystem threat status categories Ecosystem Condition thresholds Description threat status Critically Less than 20% Good Habitat types where the area in good condition is less than the endangered identified biodiversity target (20%). Conceptually, these are habitat types where there are very few remaining areas of pristine or natural habitat, and it is expected that important components of biodiversity pattern have been lost and that processes have been heavily modified.

Endangered Less than 35% Good Habitat types where the area in good condition is less than the identified biodiversity target plus 15% (i.e. 35%). Conceptually, this is a "red flag" category for habitat types that are approaching the point where it is expected that important components of biodiversity pattern and process will be lost.

Vulnerable Less than 80% Good Habitat types where the remaining area in good condition is greater and Fair than the identified biodiversity threshold plus 15% (i.e. are not Critically Endangered or Endangered), but where the remaining area of habitat

4 Note that an indicator with respect to the exploitation of fish stocks has been included below.

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 16 Ecosystem Condition thresholds Description threat status type in good or fair condition is less than 80%. Conceptually, these are habitat types where there are sufficient areas of intact biodiversity of this type to meet the biodiversity target, but outside of these areas there has been habitat degradation and some loss of ecosystem processes.

Least More than 80% Good Habitat types where the area that is estimated to be in good condition is threatened and Fair greater than the identified biodiversity target plus 15% (i.e. they are not Critically Endangered or Endangered), and where the area of habitat type in good or fair condition is greater than 80%. Conceptually, there are sufficient areas of intact biodiversity of this habitat type to meet the biodiversity target, and it is anticipated that there has been little broad modification of ecosystem processes. Relatively large portions of the habitat type are perceived to be in a relatively pristine or natural state based on the available pressure data.

These threat categories assume that the condition of ecosystems and habitats is directly related to pressures and anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem change, of which extractive resource use, such as fishing, forms part (Sink et al. 2012). The results of this assessment are depicted spatially for the offshore and coastal benthic habitat of the Western Cape by Figure 3-5 (based on Sink et al., 2012).

Critically endangered habitats are distributed predominantly along the West Coast nearshore, Eden and Overberg offshore areas, as well as the continental shelf edge, due to high levels of multiple pressures in these areas (Sink et al., 2012). Endangered areas are concentrated between Langebaan in the northwest and Cape Agulhas in the southeast, while vulnerable coastal and benthic habitats stretch from Cape Town to the Knysna area, often for vast distances offshore. The continental shelf is characterised mostly by vulnerable benthic habitats, interspersed with pockets of critically endangered habitats (Figure 3-5).

3.5 Transformation of threatened ecosystems in the coastal belt The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No. 10 of 2004) provides for the listing of threatened or protected terrestrial ecosystems in one of four categories: critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or protected. The purpose of listing threatened ecosystems is primarily to reduce the rate of ecosystem and species extinction, including sites of exceptionally high conservation value by preventing further degradation and loss of structure, function and composition of these threatened ecosystems (SANBI, 2011). Within the Western Cape, approximately 12.5 % of the province consisted of threatened terrestrial ecosystems as of 2009, of which 23.2 % were categorised as critically endangered, 9.5 % as endangered, and 67.2 % as vulnerable (SANBI, 2011).

To assess transformation of threatened ecosystems for the coastal environment of the Western Cape for the purposes of the 2013 SoEOR a coastal belt of approximately one kilometre from the shoreline was delineated, and spatial data for this area was extracted from the national biodiversity datasets developed by SANBI.

17 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 17 Figure 3-5: Marine Ecosystem Threat Status

Figure 3-5: Marine Ecosystem Threat Status State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 18 For the purposes of the 2018 SoEOR, the delineation of the coastal belt was aligned with the definition of the coastal belt in the Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008 (ICMA), which includes a stretch of land 100 m from the high water mark in developed/settlement areas and 1 km from the high water mark in undeveloped areas5. As such, the information presented below is not comparable to that presented in 2013, however and attempt has been made to report on historical data to allow for some tends to be determined.

Within the coastal belt, land cover categories from the 1990 and 2013/2014 land cover maps were aggregated into the following broad categories:

 Natural - including Natural, Natural-degraded and Water features (from land cover)

 No Natural Remaining (NNR): Settlement – including all areas that have been permanently transformed; and

 NNR: Cultivation – including those areas transformed by agriculture through vegetation clearing, excluding hardened surfaces.

The extent (in terms of area and overall percent) of each of these categories falling within a Threatened Ecosystem within the Coastal Belt was calculated for 1990 and 2013/14 and is presented in Table 3-10. While the comparative values are affected by a number of factors including inconsistent land cover categories and slight differences in mapping extent in 1990 and 2014, the most notable trend is the loss of over 2 000 ha of threatened ecosystem in the coast belt to settlement between 1990 and 2014. Additional information in this regard will be provided in the State of the Coast Report due to be published in 2018.

Table 3-10: Extent of threatened ecosystems in various land use categories Year Natural NNR: Settlement NNR: Cultivation Total area of threatened ecosystems 1990 207 059 5 064 24 932 237 055 Area (ha) 2014 210 794 7 355 19 196 237 346 1990 87% 2% 11% 100% Percentage 2014 89% 3% 8% 100%

Source: EoH, 2017

3.6 Number of buildings in high risk coastal areas The number of buildings located in high risk coastal areas is a new indicator identified by the DEA&DP against which trends in the state of environment in the coastal zone can be measured. Although this indicator was not reported in the 2013 SoEOR, data presented in this section dates back to 2006, allowing for trends from 2006 onward to be determined.

The high risk coastal zone was delineated based on the West Coast and Overberg coastal management lines, the Eden (draft) coastal management line and the CCT Coastal Inundation Risk line (2m). The number of buildings located in this zone was determined based on Eskom’s building count dataset (2006 – 2013). Note that 2006 was considered the base year and data presented for 2006 thus includes all buildings in the high risk zone prior to and including 2006, with the cumulative number of buildings in the high risk zone presented for subsequent years (Table 3-11). Data beyond 2013 was not available at the time of publication, but will be presented in the State of the Coast Report due for publication in 2018.

5 Where an estuary, protected area or wetland intercepted the coastal belt, the full extent of these features was included.

19 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Table 3-11: Number of buildings in high risk coastal areas

District Local Municipality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 City of Cape Town 456 474 475 504 510 514 596 597 West Bergrivier 54 66 79 88 110 114 125 132 Coast Cederberg 21 21 21 22 24 24 25 25 Matzikama 39 45 46 46 46 49 51 52 Saldanha Bay 526 528 570 613 650 653 687 704 Swartland 35 41 44 46 63 69 70 70 Total 675 701 760 815 893 909 958 983 Overberg Cape Agulhas 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Overstrand 33 36 44 45 47 50 50 50 Swellendam 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 Total 36 40 49 50 53 53 57 57 Eden Bitou 30 30 34 40 40 40 44 47 George 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 38 Hessequa 130 137 146 146 155 180 182 185 Knysna 2 2 4 4 4 7 8 8 Mossel Bay 104 104 109 110 114 117 124 128 Total 298 305 325 332 345 376 390 406 Grand Total 1465 1520 1609 1701 1801 1855 2001 2043

Source: EoH, 2017 Between 2006 and 2013, there has been approximately a 40% increase in the total number of buildings in high risk coastal areas in the province, with the greatest increases observed in the West Coast (46%) and Overberg (58%) districts. It should however be noted that the Overberg District has by far the fewest buildings in the high risk coastal zone (under 3%), with by far the most buildings in the high risk zone being in the West Coast District (48%). CCT and Eden District have 29% and 20% of the buildings in the high risk coastal zone respectively.

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 20 Figure 3-6: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in the City of Cape Town Source: EoH, 2017 Within the West Coast District, the majority of the buildings in high risk coastal areas are within the Saldanha Bay Municipality (over 70%) largely explained by presence of the Port of Saldanha and associated facilities positioned within the coastal zone and the fact that Saldanha Bay is one of the major towns in the province, with the region being a popular tourist and holiday destination. The Berg River Municipality has just over 13% and the remaining municipalities in the district all have below 8% of the buildings in the high risk zone (Figure 3-7).

Figure 3-7: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in the West Coast District Source: EoH, 2017

21 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Within the Overberg District, the majority of the buildings in high risk coastal areas are within the Overstrand Municipality (almost 90%) with under 4% of the buildings in the high risk zone situated in the Cape Agulhas local municipality, which has a similar length of coastline, but substantially lower populations density along the coast than Overstrand. Swellendam local municipality has very little coastal property and comparatively few structures in the high risk zone (Figure 3-8).

Figure 3-8: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in the Overberg District Source: EoH, 2017 In the Eden District, Hessequa and Mossel Bay local municipalities have the highest number of structures in the high risk coastal zone, approximately 45% and 30% respectively Figure 3-9.

Figure 3-9: Buildings in high risk coastal areas in Eden District Source: EoH, 2017

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 22 3.7 Exploitation of fish species Exploitation of fish species is considered an important indicator of the health of marine and coastal ecosystems. In addition, it provides insight into the potential impacts/pressures on the coastal economy and coastal communities relying on these resources for subsistence.

Commercial South Africa has 22 commercial fishery sectors with a number of key resource species being exploited (WWF, 2016). The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) recognises that there are 46 key resource species that are commercially exploited in both offshore and inshore fisheries in South Africa. Of the 46 key resource species, 40 are relevant to the Western Cape inshore and offshore fisheries. This was determined by establishing the distribution of each of the 46 key resource species and identifying those whose distribution fell within the waters off the Western Cape coast.

The status of these key resource species is reported as being either collapsed, overexploited, optimum exploitation, under exploited or unknown. In order to determine the status of these key resource species, the following aspects are assessed either on their own or as a combined assessment:

 Catch per Unit Effort;  Spawning Biomass per Recruitment;  Abundance; and  Tonnes per tail mass per year (in the case of south coast and west coast rock lobster.

Figure 3-10 below indicates the status of the key resources species that are commercially exploited in the Western Cape for the 2012 and 2014 period.

Figure 3-10: The status of key resource species that are commercially exploited in the Western Cape

23 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Source: DAFF, 2012 & 2014 Figure 3-3 suggests that the percentage of key resource species that have collapsed has increased since 2012. However, this data is misleading as the 2014 assessment included four additional resource species that were shown to have collapsed. The additional species that were included include Sphyrna mokarran (great hammerhead shark), Carcharhinus longimanus (oceanic white tip shark), Petrus rupestrus (red steenbras) and Polysteganus undulosus (sevety- four).

The percentage of overexploited resource species has decreased, which indicates that there has been some recovery of selected key resource species stocks. The species that show some recovery include Thunnus albacareas (albacore tuna – Atlantic Ocean stock), Argyrozona argyrozona (carpenter), Merluccius paradoxus (deep water hake), Thunnus maccoyii (Southern Bluefin tuna) and Xiphias gladius (swordfish – Indian Ocean stock).

While the overall state of selected resources species that are commercially exploited is showing positive trends, it is still important that ongoing monitoring is implemented and Total Allowable Catches are adjusted each year to ensure that resource species stocks are being appropriately managed.

Recreational South Africa has in excess of 200 “linefish” species that are targeted by recreational anglers. These species are diverse and their vulnerability to fishing pressure varies from highly resilient to highly vulnerable (WWF, 2016). Twenty one linefish species were identified by the WWF (2016) as being key species targeted by anglers in South Africa. Of these 21 species, 14 are relevant to the Western Cape. This was also determined by establishing the distribution of each of the key species and reporting on the species that were found within waters around the Western Cape coast.

Figure 3-11 provides an indication of the status of each of these important linefish species reported in 2013 (Mann, 2013) and 2016 (WWF, 2016).

Figure 3-11 indicates that the percentage of species that have collapsed has increased. This is due to Chrysoblephus gibbiceps (red stumpnose) not being assessed in 2013. Many of the linefish species have not undergone recent stock assessments. Therefore the reporting of the status of many linefish species is not up-to-date. With regards to key linefish species that are relevant to the Western Cape, Table 3-12 lists the species that require updated stock assessments.

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 24 Figure 3-11: The status of important linefish species within the Western Cape Source: Mann (2013) and WWF (2016) Table 3-12: Key linefish species that require updated stock assessments Species Common name Date of last stock assessment Pomatomus saltatrix Elf/shad 2006 Epinephelus marginatus Yellowbelly rockcod 1998 Chrysoblephus cristiceps Dageraad 1980-1986 Argyrosomus japonicas Dusky kob 1997 Chrysoblephus gibbiceps Red stumpnose No stock assessment done Lithognathus lithognathus White steenbras 1993 Mustelus mustelus Smoothhound shark 2007

4 IMPACTS Impacts on receiving environments and ecosystems may be thought of as the results of pressures on these environments. In the case of the oceans and coasts of the Western Cape, impacts which have been identified, include:

 Pollutants from marine and land based sources which results in fluctuations in coastal water quality will lead to a reduction in the ability of coastal and marine environments to provide “free” ecosystem goods and services such as waste processing and dilution of pollutants;  Alteration of estuarine environments due to the artificial breaching of estuaries which are seasonally closed;  Estuarine environments characterised by poor health and low levels of protection are indicative of the reduced ecological integrity and functioning of these ecosystems;

25 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province  The presence of critically endangered and endangered marine ecosystems indicates an overall reduction in marine and coastal ecosystem integrity, not least of which as a result of over-exploitation of resources and permanent compromise through transformation (Sink et al. 2012);  Dynamic coastal processes interact with land transformation and other pressures on the coastline to increase coastal environmental risks which manifest in impacts such as mobile sand dunes, increased intensity, frequency and duration of extreme events as well as decreased ecosystem resilience; and  Transformation of threatened ecosystems in the coastal belt leads to alteration of natural coastal dynamics, the introduction of alien invasive species and decreased resilience to the impacts of climate change.

5 RESPONSES Managing human activities in the coastal zone is necessary to lessen anthropogenic impacts, protect people from the risks and hazards that arise from changes in climatic conditions, as well as to prevent current poor coastal development practices from recurring and increasing. This is especially critical in the face of increasing environmental change related to climatic shifts and increased levels of human activities along the coastline.

The Western Cape Coastal Management Programme 2016 (WCG, 2016), in addition to guiding coastal management in the Western Cape, also focuses on growing the green economy through unlocking the economic potential of coastal assets. It will contribute directly to enabling a resilient, sustainable, quality and inclusive living environment through improved coastal spatial and development planning, access, protection and Local Government support (DEA&DP, 2016). The nine Priority Areas for Coastal Management identified in the Western Cape Coastal Management Programme include:

1. Social and economic development and planning;

2. Cooperative governance and local government support;

3. Facilitation of coastal access;

4. Climate change, dynamic coastal processes and building resilient communities;

5. Land- and marine-based sources of pollution and waste;

6. Natural- and cultural resource management;

7. Estuary management;

8. Capacity building, advocacy and education; and

9. Monitoring, compliance and enforcement.

Responses to the impacts described in Section 4 are categorised into responses which are aimed at addressing specific indicators highlighted in this report. A summary of more general policy, tools and legislative responses which occur at national, provincial and local levels is presented in Annexure A. Responses to address pressures in the coastal zone may also include coastal by-laws; coastal overlay zones and various other coastal management specific policies. Coastal management lines and estuary management plans are two responses described in more detail below.

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 26 5.1 Coastal management (setback) lines The prediction of climatic changes and calculation of the related risk along the coastline has become a A coastal management line is a line necessity and is acknowledged in terms of the which demarcates an area in which Integrated Coastal Management Act’s requirement development will be prohibited or for the designation of coastal management lines6. controlled in order to achieve coastal Coastal management lines propose to define an management objectives (previously amount of space that should be left between referred to as a coastal setback line) buildings and infrastructure and the shoreline, as a means to mitigate the impacts related to development and reduce the risk to infrastructure (DEA&DP, 2012a). Risk modelling is undertaken in response to coastal risk projections including coastal erosion, storm surges, sea level rise, storm wave run-up and dynamic ecological processes. Risk modelling work within the DEA&DP is on-going and includes the delineation of risk zones, coastal management lines, development setback lines (DEA&DP, 2017b).

The intended outcome is to use coastal management lines to protect or preserve coastal public property; coastal private property; public safety; the coastal protection zone; and the aesthetics of the coastal zone (Celliers et al. 2010).

The Western Cape Province has taken the national lead with the delineation of coastal management lines. This process commenced with a study conducted during 2010 to determine a standardised methodology for the delineation of coastal set- backs (as they were called at the time) in the province. This study aimed to ensure consistency in the application of the coastal management lines for the Western Cape, and was based on two small study sites in Milnerton and Langebaan (DEA&DP, 2012a).

The process of delineating coastal management lines consists of two main components – modelling of coastal processes and determination of management guidelines. The technical modelling includes the determination of a refined high water mark (HWM), and various lines describing natural coastal processes in respect to short, medium and long term risks. Management guidelines are then derived by means of a stakeholder engagement process which is informed by the technical coastal processes modelling (DEA&DP, 2017b).

The delineation of coastal management lines thus includes:

 an accurate delineation of the high water mark as per the ICMA definition;

 risk projections demarcating physical processes or hazards for the short, medium and long terms (1:20, 1:50 and 1;100 years);

 a coastal management/setback line;

 various coastal management overlay zones and accompanying controls that can be used to manage development along the coast; and

 a boundary line demarcating the Coastal Protection Zone (DEA&DP, 2014b).

To date coastal management lines for the Overberg and West Coast Districts have been determined, with the process of determining coastal management lines for the Eden District nearing completion. The City of Cape Town has proceeded with the determination of coastal management lines for its municipal area in parallel to the Provincial programme. These management lines have however not yet been formally gazette or delineated on maps in the zoning schemes for any of the districts in the province.

6 These were previously referred to as coastal setback lines, however in 2014 the ICMA was amended and references to coastal setback lines were replaced with references to coastal management lines.

27 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Findings of studies conducted to determine the risk associated with potential sea level rise, which has informed the delineation of coastal management lines for the CCT, Eden, Overberg and West Coast District Municipalities were as follows:

 City of Cape Town: Melkbosstrand; Blouberg; Table View beachfront; Milnerton; Green Point and Sea Point; Glen Beach and Camps Bay; Bakoven Cottages; Kommetjie; Witsands; Glencairn; Fish Hoek; Kalk Bay; Muizenberg corner; Strandfontein/Bayden Powell Drive; Monwabisi; Strand; and Bikini Beach are all vulnerable locations (CCT, 2012);

 West Coast District Municipality: most of the West Coast’s coastline is at low to moderate risk to erosion and inundation, extreme events and groundwater contamination (DEA&DP, 2011);

 Overberg District Municipality: Areas at greatest risk of impact from coastal dynamics in the Overberg include Rooi Els; Pringle Bay; Betty’s Bay; Hawston; Pearly Beach; Quoin Point; Agulhas; Struisbaai; Arniston; Skihaven; Infanta and the extensive undeveloped mobile dune fields on the eastern side of the district (DEA&DP, 2012)

 Eden District Municipality: most of the Eden coastline is at medium to high risk of erosion and inundation, groundwater contamination and extreme events. Areas identified to be at greatest overall risk include: Sedgefield-Swartvlei; Wilderness East; Wilderness West; Knysna; Plettenberg Bay; Hartenbos; Keurbooms-Bitou; Nature's Valley; Klein-Brakrivier; Groot-Brakrivier; Walker's Bay and Mossel Bay (DEA&DP, 2010).

5.2 Estuary management plans The health and condition of the 56 priority estuaries in the Western Cape as presented in section 3.2 indicated that approximately 95% of estuarine area is classifieds as being in a fair condition. Despite this, the overall data highlights the need to intensify biodiversity conservation and management efforts. As a response to this, the development of estuary management plans (EMP) is underway for the majority of the estuaries in the province, with:

 24% of estuaries have comleted/updated EMPs to align with the National Estuarine Management Protocol but the EMPs have not yet been adopted or gazetted;  11% of estuaries have existing EMPs that are in the process of being updated to align with the NEMP but have not been finalised;  31% of estuaries are in the process of having new EMPs developed;  18% of estuaries do not yet have EMPs in progess but have been ear marked for the development of an EMP; and  16% of estuaries do not have EMPs and have not been prioritised for the development of an EMP.

The status of EMPs for estuaries in each of the coastal districts in 2017 is illustrated on Figure 5-1 to Figure 5-4.

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 28

Figure 5-1: Status of EMPs for estuaries in CCT

Figure 5-2: Status of EMPs for estuaries in West Coast district

35 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province

Figure 5-3: Status of EMPs for estuaries in Overberg district

Figure 5-4: Status of EMPs for estuaries in Eden district

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 30

5.3 Focus areas for future protection Many of South Africa’s most productive offshore habitats that support marine biodiversity are not included in the current MPA network (Sink et al. 2012). To address this, the National Biodiversity Assessment 2011 identified several strategic geographic priority areas for the establishment of new MPAs and other types of spatial management measures.

The importance of correctly managing our coastal areas, as well as the economic opportunities that the coast offers, is enjoying increasing attention, as evidenced by the recent focus by national government on the coastal economy in the form of Phase 1 of Operation Phakisa, undertaken by the Presidency and DEA in 2014. Both the Western Cape Protected Area Expansion Strategy as well as the Western Cape Coastal Management Programme supports the expansion of MPAs in the Western Cape as part of Operation Phakisa (DEA&DP, 2016).

On 21 July 2017, in Government Gazette 40996, the Minister of Environmental Affairs published for public comment draft Notices and Regulations for the expansion and rezonation of three MPAs in the Western Cape Province. These are the Betty’s Bay MPA, the Robberg MPA and Goukamma MPA. Marine Protected Areas are areas within the ocean where certain activities such as fishing and boating are restricted or prohibited. The proposed regulations also aim to improve the protection of marine biodiversity in these areas and contribute to national targets recommended by the National Protected Area Expansion Strategy.

5.4 Climate change response Ecosystem-based adaptation is key to protecting the coastal zone from storm surges (expected to increase due to climate change), with dune fields providing the most effective barriers to coastal inundation. The maintenance of this valuable ecological infrastructure will be prioritised, however in some cases these natural buffers are no longer in place, and alternative management strategies will need to be explored (DEA&DP, 2014a)

The current Western Cape Climate Change Response Strategy (WCCCRS) priority areas for responding coastal and estuary management in the Western Cape in a changing climate include (DEA&DP, 2016):

 Establishment of coastal risk overlays and coastal management lines;  Research best practice regarding responding to repeated coastal inundation in high risk areas;  Protecting and rehabilitating existing dune fields as coastal buffers / ecological infrastructure;  Monitor possible linkages between climate change and fisheries industry; and  Ensure Estuary Management Plans take cognisance of climate change.

5.5 Coastal Access Strips Access to the coastal zone and its assets has historically been inequitable. There are currently large tracts of private land through which the public may not traverse, resulting in restrictions of access to the coasts and its resources. To rectify this, the ICMA requires each District and Metropolitan Municipality whose areas includes coastal public property to promulgate a by-law designating coastal access land to secure public access to coastal public property (DEA&DP, 2017a).

The Western Cape has developed the Provincial Coastal Access Strategy and Plan 2017, in line with the national Strategy for the facilitation of Coastal Access (2014). To date no District Municipalities in the province have promulgated by-laws regarding or designated Coastal

35 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province

Access Strips (Thomas King, pers comm. October 2017). In addition to the Coastal Access Strategy, a draft Model Coastal Access By-law is being developed by the Department in order to assist Municipalities with the designation of coastal access strips/land.

A Coastal Access Audit for the Eden District has been completed and the Overberg District Audit will be commencing this financial year.

5.6 Policy, tools and legislation There are various responses in the form of policies, tools and legislation across all spheres applicable to the marine and coastal environment. These responses are listed in Annexure A.

6 CONCLUSION OUTLOOK: DECLINING The trends described for the oceans and coasts of the Western Cape Province highlight many areas of concern with regards to the impact human populations are having on the dynamic and often sensitive coastal and marine environments. Of particular concern is the threat status of large areas of marine ecosystems and the high levels of transformation of terrestrial threatened ecosystems in the coastal belt, mostly due to human activity. These impacts are exacerbated by global environmental problems such as climate change, together resulting in a deteriorating state of the marine and coastal environment.

The importance of understanding and tracking risks and changes in the marine and coastal environment has been recognised by the DEA&DP, who have commissioned the first State of the Coast study which is due to be published in 2018. Effective responses to the impacts and pressures on the receiving environment are heavily dependent on the best available data and information. The State of the Coast study will investigate a comprehensive set of indicators of change in the marine and coastal environment to identify key concerns, trends, responses and data requirements. This chapter of the SoEOR provides insight into trends with respect to a few key indicators, in the absence of the more detailed State of the Coast report.

The 2005 State of Environment Report for the Western Cape (DEA&DP, 2005) expressed concern that the health of the coastal zone was deteriorating, citing increasing pressure from tourism, economic growth and over exploitation of fish stocks as the primary drivers of this situation. The indicators presented for the 2013 report pointed towards a similar conclusion, in that the health of the oceans and coasts of the Western Cape remained a concern, perhaps more so in light of new data available at the time. Increased responses to issues such as coastal erosion pointed towards an increase in the impacts of this nature (DEA&DP, 2013) with the delineation of Coastal Management Lines to manage development in high risk coastal zones ongoing. An increased awareness of and improvement in coastal water quality, is evidenced by a substantial increase in the number of beaches obtaining blue flag status.

Estuary health and transformation of threatened ecosystems in the coastal belt are ongoing concerns which have further deteriorated since 2013, and require urgent and ongoing management.

However, significant progress has been made in terms of conservation and protected areas, monitoring and reporting, as well as legal and institutional responses to environmental issues in the Western Cape. The development of estuary management plans, coastal management lines, new monitoring programmes and the continued expansion of marine protected areas are just a few examples of the ways in which government and the private sector are responding to some of the aforementioned areas of concern.

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 32 Oceans and coasts in the Western Cape has an overall declining outlook for the future. Table 6-1 contains an overview of the key pressures, impacts, challenges, progress and recommended critical areas for action. Table 6-2 contains the anticipated changes or outlook for the future of Oceans and coasts in the province.

Table 6-1: Overview of key oceans and coasts aspects

Aspect Summary of key points  Human settlements  Tourism Pressures  Resource extraction (legal and illegal) and use (living resources; off road driving; mining etc.)  Climate change

 Compromised marine and estuarine water quality affecting ecosystem health  Risks to infrastructure in the coastal zone  Disrupted coastal dynamics and estuarine systems Impacts  Transformation of threatened ecosystems in the coastal zone  Economic value compromised  pressure of coastal livelihoods and subsistence communities

 Development in areas subject to coastal risk  Understanding sustainable resource extraction levels  Climate change impacts on resource distribution and increased intensity and Challenges occurrence of severe weather events affecting high risk coastal zones  Redressing privatization of the coastline  Compliance and enforcement constraints

 Operation Phakisa initiatives intend to stimulate the Blue Economy and provide sustainable jobs  Small Scale fishing policy is being implemented.  Coastal vulnerability assessments  Development of Coastal Management Lines  Coastal access strategy  Roll out of Western Cape Coastal Management Programme Progress  Development of Estuary Management Plans  Coastal Management Plans have been adopted by National, Provincial and District Municipalities in the Province  Western Cape Coastal Access Strategy completed  Provincial Coastal Committee and Municipal Coastal Committees established and operational  State of the Coast report currently underway  Public launch site official list has been gazette for the Province

 Implement key coastal management plans and estuary management plans  Protect sensitive marine and estuarine ecosystems  Develop of Sustainable coastal livelihoods programme Critical areas  Extend Blue Flag beach programme for action  Designate coastal access land/strips where equitable and sustainable access is required  Institutional strengthening across all spheres of government to enable effective

33 State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province Aspect Summary of key points coastal and estuary management including compliance and enforcement  Co-ordinated monitoring of estuarine and coastal environment

Table 6-2: Summary of the outlook for oceans and coasts in the Western Cape

Indicator Quantification Target/Desired Trend State  Substantial increase in number of Blue Flag Coastal water Improving Beaches from 18 in 2013 to 31 in 2017 indicative quality meeting Coastal water of good water quality. relevant quality standards

 4% of estuarine area (31% of estuaries) in good or No non- High excellent condition functional Concern  95% of estuarine area (48% of estuaries) in fair estuaries Estuary health condition No decline in  1% of estuarine area (21% of estuaries) in poor or estuary health non-functional condition.

 9 MPAs Increase in extent Data not  Persistent challenges and adequate comparable management of  Increased recognition of management functions Conservation MPAs areas

 Critically endangered marine habitats: No increase in High o West Coast nearshore threat status Concern but no change o Eden and Overberg offshore areas Marine area o Continental shelf edge threats  Endangered habitats: o Langebaan o Cape Agulhas  Loss of 2000 ha of threatened ecosystem in the No loss of Declining Transformation coast belt to settlement between 1990 and 2014 threatened of threatened ecosystems in the ecosystems in coastal belt coastal belt

 40% increase in the total number of buildings in No increase in Declining Number of high risk coastal areas in the province between number of buildings in 2006 and 2013 buildings in high high risk risk coastal zones coastal areas

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 34 7 REFERENCES Blue Flag (2017) Blue Flag Beach criteria and Explanatory Notes 2017. http://www.blueflag.global/criteria/ accessed 19 October 2017

Celliers L, Breetzke T & Moore LR (2010). A Toolkit for implementing the Integrated Coastal Management Act. Guideline Document. SSI Engineers and Environmental Consultants. Durban.

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DEA (2017a). Operation Phakisa – Oceans Economy. Available Online: https://www.environment.gov.za/projectsprogrammes/operationphakisa/oceanseconomy [24 October 2017].

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DEA&DP (2005). Western Cape State of the Environment Report 2005 (Year One). Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Western Cape Government.

DEA&DP (2010). Phase 3 Report: Eden District Municipality Sea Level Rise and Flood Hazard Risk Assessment. Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Western Cape Government.

DEA&DP (2011). Phase 3 Report: West Coast District Municipality Sea Level Rise and Flood Hazard Risk Assessment. Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Western Cape Government.

DEA&DP (2012a). Coastal Set-Back Lines for the Overberg District. Cape Town: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Western Cape Government.

DEA&DP (2012b). Phase 3 Report: Overberg District Municipality Sea Level Rise and Flood Hazard Risk Assessment. Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Western Cape Government.

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DEA&DP (2014b) Coastal Management/Set-back Lines for the West Coast District: Final Project Report Western Cape Government.

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DEA&DP (2017a). Provincial Coastal Access Strategy and Plan. July 2017

DEA&DP (2017b). Coastal Management Lines for Eden District. Coastal Processes and Risk Modelling. Draft (unpublished). October 2017

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Mann, B. Q. (2013). Southern African Marine linefish species profiles. Oceanographic Research Institute. Special Publication No. 9. 343pp.

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Sink K, Holness S, Harris L, Majiedt P, Atkinson L, Robinson T, Kirkman S, Hutchings L, Leslie R, Lamberth S, Kerwath S, Von der Heyden S, Lombard A, Attwood C, Branch G, Fairweather T, Taljaard S, Weerts S, Cowley P, Awad A, Halpern B, Grantham H & Wolf T (2012). National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: Technical Report Volume 4: Marine and Coastal Component. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute.

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Turpie, J.K., Adams, J.B., Joubert, A., Harrison, T.D., Colloty, B.M., Maree, R.C., Whitfield, A.K., Wooldridge, T.H., Lamberth, S.J., Taljaard, S. & Van Niekerk, L. (2002). Assessment of the conservation priority status of South African estuaries for use in management and water allocation. Water SA 28: 191-206.

Turpie, J.K. & Clark, B.M. (2007). Development of a Conservation Plan for temperate South African estuaries on the basis of biodiversity importance, ecosystem health and economic costs and benefits. Report for the C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme.

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Annexure A

Table 1: List of policy responses relevant to Oceans and Coasts

Responses Year Name 2009 Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): South Africa International Country Report: Sea-level rise: trends, impacts and mitigation for South Africa Responses Phase I: Qualitative overview and analysis 1998 Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 2000 White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development (2000) 2003 National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 2004 Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative 2005 & Western Cape State of the Environment reporting (including State of the 2013 Oceans) 2005 National Ports Act 12 of 2005 2008 National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008 (amended in 2014) 2010 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations - coastal specific listed activities 2011 National Biodiversity Assessment 2011 National Climate Change Response White Paper National 2012 Recreational Coastal Marine Waters Quality Guideline Responses 2012 Draft National Environmental Management of the Oceans (NEMO) 2012 National Estuarine Management Protocol 2012 Policy for the Small Scale Fisheries Sector in South Africa 2012 South African Water Quality Guidelines For Coastal Marine Waters 2014 National Guideline for the Discharge of Effluent from Land-based Sources into the Marine Environment 2014 National Strategy for the Facilitation of Coastal Access 2014 NEM: Control of Use of Vehicles in Coastal Areas Regulations (2014) 2014 NEM: Management of Public Launch Sites in the Coastal Zone Regulations 2016 NEM:ICMA Dumping at Sea Regulations 2017 NEM:ICMA Draft Coastal Waters Discharge Permit Regulations (2017) 2017 NEMA Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) Regulations (as amended) National Coastal Management Programme 1996 Outeniqua Sensitive Coastal Areas 2003 Bioregional planning manual 2005 Provincial urban edge guidelines 2005 Guidelines for Environmental Management Plans 2007 Aquaculture Guidelines in the Western Cape 2007 Guidelines on biodiversity offsets 2010 Western Cape Provincial Plan of Action for Reducing Land- based Pollution to the Marine Environment

Provincial 2010 Eden District Municipality Sea Level Rise and Flood Hazard Risk Responses Assessment 2011 West Coast District Municipality Sea Level Rise and Flood Hazard Risk Assessment 2011 Checklist for the determination of the applicability of the NEMA EIA regulations 2010-2012 2012 Overberg District Municipality Sea Level Rise and Flood Hazard Risk Assessment 2013 Development parameters guidelines CAPE Estuaries Program – several estuary management plans 2016 Western Cape Coastal Management Programme

2017 Provincial Coastal Access Strategy and Plan 2003 City of Cape Town Coastal Zone Management Strategy 2005 City of Cape Town By-law Relating to Stormwater Management 2009 City of Cape Town Floodplain and River Corridor Management Policy 2009 City of Cape Town Management of Urban Stormwater Impacts Policy 2010 City of Cape Town Coastal Protection Zone draft by-laws 2010 City of Cape Town Sustainable Coastal Management Plans 2010 Eden District Coastal Management Programme (in preparation) 2010 West Coast District Coastal Management Programme (in preparation) 2010 City of Cape Town Set-back – method and process report Local 2010 City of Cape Town draft Integrated Protection Policy Authority Responses 2010 City of Cape Town draft General Coastal Over-lay zones 2010 City of Cape Town draft Large Marine Animal Stranding Policy 2010 City of Cape Town Coastal Events and Filming Policy 2012 Eden District Coastal Management programme 2012 City of Cape Town Inland and Coastal Water Quality Improvement Strategy and Implementation Plan 2013 Draft Integrated Coastal Management Strategy 2014 City of cape Town Integrated Coastal Management Policy 2016 Overberg Coastal Management Programme 2016 West Coast District Coastal Management Programme

Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Leeusig Building, 3rd Floor, 1 Dorp Street, Cape Town, 8001 Private Bag X9086, Cape Town, 8000 Telephone: +27 (0)21 483 4091 / Facsimile: +27 (0)21 483 3016

Email: [email protected]

State of Environment Outlook Report for the Western Cape Province 2