About MCM

Marine and Coastal Management is one of seven branches of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. It is headed up by Deputy Director-General, Dr Monde Mayekiso. The other six and their respective DDG's are:

Tourism Deputy Director-General: Sindiswa Hlumayo Telephone Number: 012 310 3611
Biodiversity and Conservation Deputy Director-General: Fundisile Mketeni Telephone Number: 012 310 3911
Environmental Quality and Pollution Deputy Director-General: Jo-Anne Yawitch Telephone Number: 012 310 3911
Marine and Coastal Management Switchboard Telephone Number: 021 402 3911
International Cooperation and Resources Deputy Director-General: Alf Wills Telephone Number: 012 310 3351
Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officerl: Nosipho Jezile Telephone Number: 012 310 3911
Corporate Affairs Deputy Director-General: Ishaam Abader Telephone Number: 012 310 3391

 

 

 

Marine and Coastal Management is the regulatory authority responsible for managing all marine and coastal activities. Marine and Coastal Management –

• Allocates and manages fishing rights (commercial and subsistence). Over 5500 commercial and subsistence fishing rights are allocated to fishers. Between 2001 and 2005, Marine and Coastal Management allocated four year long commercial fishing rights. These rights revert to the state during the last quarter of 2005. In 2005, Marine and Coastal Management will allocate commercial fishing rights in 18 commercial fisheries for periods of between eight and fifteen years.

• Regulates recreational fishing. There are approximately 1 million recreational fishers in South Africa. Recreational fishers fish for a variety of fish, including tunas, marlins, traditional linefish stocks, west coast rock lobster and oysters. Recreational fishing may only take place under the authority of a permit. 

• Manages our many marine protected areas. South Africa has protected some 18% of its coastline from fishing and unregulated activity such as diving. The World Parks Congress of 2004 held in Durban demanded that by 2015, countries must protect 20% of their marine area from fishing. Marine and Coastal Management shares the management of its 19 marine protected areas with the South African National Parks and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife. 

• Protects and monitors our coastal and estuarine resources. In addition to fishing, Marine and Coastal Management manages, protects and monitors our vast coastal resources. While fishing contributes some 1% to South Africa’s gross domestic product, coastal resources contributes some 30% to our GDP. Our coastal resources include our sensitive estuaries, diverse sea birds such as the African Black Oystercatcher, Damara Tern and Gannets, dune systems and fishing harbours. Marine and Coastal Management is also responsible for monitoring and preventing marine pollution, including oil pollution. South Africa manages its coast and marine zones in an integrated way. Marine and Coastal Management is currently drafting legislation to manage our coastal zone in an integrated way.

• Conducts research into fish stocks and advises on the status of fish stocks. Marine and Coastal Management employs more than 150 fisheries scientists and technicians. These scientists and technicians carry out research on more than 200 species of fish each year so that they may advise Marine and Coastal Management and the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on how much fish may harvested by each of the 21 commercial fisheries. In addition, our scientists advise on the management of the fisheries taking into account the ecosystem in which fish live (the ecosystem approach to fisheries).  

• Controls vehicle use on beaches . Marine and Coastal Management regulates the use of vehicles in the coastal zone. Vehicles may not be used on any beach without the written authorisation of the Deputy Director-General of Marine and Coastal Management. In addition, all boat launching sites must be licenced in terms of the Regulations. 

• promotes fish farming or mariculture. Capture fisheries are relied upon by South African fishers for 99% of all fish consumed from our seas. Only 1% of fish is farmed. Marine and Coastal Management supports and encourages the increase in mariculture.