Spatial management options for marine fisheries in South Africa: a review of legal instruments

The spatial nature of ecosystems, natural resources and human activities requires that their management should incorporate spatial strategies. This includes fisheries management and, as such, ecosystem-based fisheries... [ view full abstract ]

The spatial nature of ecosystems, natural resources and human activities requires that their management should incorporate spatial strategies. This includes fisheries management and, as such, ecosystem-based fisheries management is fundamentally a spatially explicit approach. Numerous benefits of spatial fisheries management have been demonstrated, including conservation benefits as well as increases to fishery yields and profits. In order for South African fisheries management to fully adopt an ecosystem-based approach, the full range of spatial management tools needs to be identified and considered for implementation. We investigated spatial management options by reviewing current legislative tools for spatial management in the ocean. Seven Acts and Bills were reviewed, including the Marine Living Resources Act, the National Environmental Management Act (including Integrated Coastal Management and Marine Protected Areas components), the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, the Draft Aquaculture Bill and the Marine Spatial Planning Bill. We identified ten spatial legislative tools that may be used to improve place-based management in the ocean, including measures that could be used to implement marine spatial planning. Results showed eight of the legislative tools identified have relevance to fisheries management. Key opportunities to support improved spatial fisheries management were identified by assessing the potential to meet multiple objectives in management of ocean space through implementation of these existing legal instruments in South Africa. The potential to contribute to stock and bycatch management, conflict management and ecosystem interactions were identified for four fisheries as case studies and future research needs and management actions are advanced in this regard.