Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Question by:
Hon Dave Bryant
Answered by:
Hon Anton Bredell
Question Number:
20
Question Body:
- (a) How many aquaculture projects are currently operating in the province, (b) how many are (i) land-based and (ii) sea-based, (c) in which municipalities or coastal regions are these projects concentrated, (d) what is the total number of people employed through aquaculture operations in the province, (e) what is the role of his Department in the environmental approval process for aquaculture projects, (f) what are the key environmental compliance requirements that projects must meet, (g)(i) how long, on average, does it take for an aquaculture project to receive environmental approval and (ii) what are the most common delays or bottlenecks encountered during this process and (h) to what extent has the growth of legal abalone aquaculture contributed to reducing pressure on wild stocks;
- whether his Department has observed any correlation between farmed abalone growth and reductions in poaching activity in high-risk coastal areas; if so, what are the relevant details?
Answer Body:
The DEA&DP does not process aquaculture applications. This is dealt with by the DFFE. The DEA&DP does not curate this information.
With regard to compliance, the Directorate Environmental Law Enforcement also do not do compliance on this activity and the question on poaching is within CapeNature’s ambit in terms of previous replies.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture however has a dedicated Specialist Extension Officer: Aquaculture and the request for information should therefore be directed to said Department.
Date:
Friday, May 30, 2025
