Fish processing discharge permits under review
Public comments invited
SOUTH AFRICA: The Coastal Waters Discharge Permits issued to fish processing facilities operating within St Helena Bay in the Western Cape are under review and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has extended the deadline for public comment to the end of February.
The four processing facilities included in the process are:
- Lucky Star
- West Point Processor
- Pioneer Fishing
- Amawandle
The notice calling for public participation was published in various newspapers on 23 November 2023, as well as on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s website. The date for submissions has been extended to 29 February 2024.
The review process of the Coastal Waters Discharge Permits (CWDPs) aims to amend inconsistencies in the conditions of the CWDPs to establish uniformity and ensure gradual and consistent improvement of water quality in St. Helena Bay over a five-year period.
Persons or entities who discharge, or intend to discharge, effluent from land-based sources are required to obtain a CWDP or a General Discharge Authorisation from DFFE. This is according to Section 69 of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2009 (ICM Act) which regulates pollution that originates from land-based sources.
The four fish processing establishments (FPEs) in St Helena Bay, have historically been discharging effluent into coastal waters using CWDPs obtained prior to the enforcement of the ICM Act.
The review process intends to set effluent discharge limits based on the 90th percentile of the FPEs' effluent monitoring results from January 2022 to December 2022. Subsequently, the effluent improvement limits will mandate a 20% annual enhancement of interim limits for all FPEs. To achieve these improvements and meet the stricter limits, the FPEs will be required to upgrade their infrastructure.
Interested and affected stakeholders, are encouraged to take advantage of this extension to make valuable contributions and submissions.
By Hand:
The Director: Coastal Pollution Management Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
1 East Pier Building, East Pier Road
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Attention: Dr Yazeed Peterson
By E-mail: fpp@dffe.gov.za
Copies of the current CWDPs together with proposed amendments can be downloaded from the Department’s website:https://www.dffe.gov.za/permits/coastalwatersdischarge or obtained via email from rmolale@dffe.gov.za. Hard copies of these documents can be obtained from any of the four FPF companies mentioned above. Any enquires may be directed to Rueben Molale on 021 819 2493.
PHOTO: Adobe Photostock
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