Welcome to the United Nations
UN DESA
United Nations

June 2022 - You are accessing an old version of our website. The Ocean Voluntary Commitments have been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/action-networks/ocean-commitments

You will be redirected to the new Voluntary Commitments register in 10 seconds.

#OceanAction20452
Marine Spatial Planning
by South Africa - Department of Environmental Affairs - Ocean and Coasts Branch (Government)
Establishment of an ocean governance framework that seeks to promote coexistence of all industries that are dependent in the marine environment. Furthermore, to promote a proactive and sustainable ability to measure and monitor the aggregated impacts of those industries to the environment so that they can be kept within the set limit whilst creating a conducive environment for all sustainable development activities.
Progress reports
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
NUTRIENTS
  • Wastewater treatment
PLASTICS
  • Coastal clean-ups
SHIPPING
  • Reduce invasive aquatic species introduction
  • Management of ship-based pollution and/or port waste management
OTHER POLLUTANTS (please specify)
  • Industrial effluent pre-treatment
  • Integrated pest management
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
  • Community or Locally Managed Marine Areas
  • Integrated Coastal Management
  • Marine Spatial Planning
  • Ecosystem-based Adaptation
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
Type of commitment
  • Scientific, socioeconomic and interdisciplinary research
  • Research capacity development
  • Training and professional development
  • Scientific cooperation
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Type of commitment
  • Activities to raise awareness of the comprehensive legal and policy framework for the sustainable development of oceans and seas, in particular UNCLOS, its Implementing Agreements and other relevant ocean-related instruments and promote their effective im
  • Strengthening ocean governance, for example through the development of a national ocean policy or regional ocean policy
  • Development of necessary infrastructure and/or enforcement capabilities to comply with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS and as complemented by other ocean-related instruments
March 2017
National Marine Spatial Planning Framework and the National Marine Spatial Planning Bill
March 2018
1 Marine Area Plan
March 2019
1 Marine Area Plan
March 2020
2 Marine Area Plans
Financing (in USD)
50,000 USD
Staff / Technical expertise
Various global experts on Marine Spatial Planning, conduction of workshops and training of officials that are part of the South African National MSP Working Group and the Regional MSP Working Group
Basic information
Time-frame: 2016 March - 2019 March
Partners
National Government Departments which are as follows:- Department of Defence (DoD); Department of Mineral Resources (DMR); Department of Transport (DoT); Department of Trade and Industry (Dti); Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET); Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). Other partners are both the Government of Norway, and the German Ministry of Environment through GIZ which is its agency.
Ocean Basins
  • Indian Ocean
  • South Atlantic
  • Southern Ocean
Beneficiary countries
South Africa
Other beneficaries
Regional partners which are the Republic of Namibia and the Republic of Angola as parties to the Benguela Current Convention (BCC)
Contact information
Lisolomzi Fikizolo, Mr, Lfikizolo@environment.gov.za, +27 21 819 2608
Cape Town, South Africa
Other SDGs
United Nations