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The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohammed Valli Moosa, will be hosting a media briefing at Johannesburg International Airport (ACSA Business Centre, Terminal 1 International Arrivals) on Monday, 16 February 2004, at 12:30 to make an announcement on new marine protected areas for South Africa.

A parallel media briefing will be hosted at the same time in Cape Town by the Department's head of Marine and Coastal management, Horst Kleinschmidt. The Cape Town briefing will be held in the Ngwenyama Room, 120 Plein Street, Parliament at 12:30.

The announcement follows the commitment made by South Africa at the World Parks Congress held in September last year to expand the country's marine protected areas. The congress recommended that by 2012 a global system of effectively managed marine protected areas (MPAs) be implemented. The accepted target is to protect 20% of each habitat.

South Africa currently has 19 MPAs, covering 11% of the coastline. The proposed additional MPAs will bring South Africa considerably closer to meeting the World Parks Congress recommendation.

MPAs are important as they fulfil our commitment to conserve natural environments, but equally importantly, they assist in management of fisheries by protecting and rebuilding economically important stocks. In addition, many of the new MPAs will be used to further develop and regulate coastal eco-tourism opportunities.

All members of the media are invited to attend both press briefings.

To confirm your attendance, please RSVP with Phindile Makwakwa at 082 850 9559 for the Johannesburg media briefing and Carol Moses at 082 829 3917 for the Cape Town media briefing.

Enquiries: Phindile Makwakwa
Spokesperson: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Cell: 082 850 9559
Tel: (012) 310-3401
Tel: (021) 465-7240

Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
12 February 2004