lundi 14 mars 2016

Addo Marine Protected area support letter

Dear all,

As you may be aware, the new Addo Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been proposed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs on the 3rd of February of this year, together with another 21 MPAs in South Africa.

Marine Protected Areas are crucial for healthy marine ecosystems. They are beneficial for the recovery of exploited fish stocks, ensuring the sustainable exploitation of our marine resources, hence jobs and food security. They also offer safe havens for many species and top predators' populations.

Algoa Bay is home to more than half of the world African penguin population. Their population crashed by 70% in the last 10 years, and they need this MPA. Algoa Bay also hosts beautiful reefs, the largest pods of bottlenose dolphins in the world and hundreds of whales coming to give birth here every year.

You can show your support for this MPA by completing the template letter below (for a word version, please email to isabelle.defert@efdc.co.za)  and sending it toMPARegs@environment.gov.za before the end of April.

A public participation meeting, open to all, is planned on the 17th of March at 10 am in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Reception Room at the City Hall (Port Elizabeth) to discuss the draft regulations for the MPA.

Please feel free to ask any questions and please circulate this letter widely.

Regards,
Lorien


Dr Lorien Pichegru
Coastal and Marine Research Institute, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth.

(Name and address of                                                                                                              commenter)
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The Deputy Director-General
Environmental Affairs
Oceans and Coasts
Attention: Xola Mekefe
PO Box 52126
V and A Waterfront, Cape Town
8002

Please Email to: MPARegs@environment.gov.za or
Post to above address.


Dear Deputy Director-General

Comment on: National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act no 57 of 2003): Draft Regulations for the Management of the Addo Elephant Marine Protected Area.

I would like to indicate my support for this MPA because (delete those you do not agree with or add in more)

·         The African Penguin is endangered and the Addo MPA will help protect the feeding and breeding grounds of the largest of their populations.
·         Ensuring the health and protection of Algoa Bay is important for sustaining our fisheries and biodiversity
·         A protected Algoa Bay will increase its standing and tourism opportunities
·         I want my children to be able to enjoy a healthy Bay and associated biodiversity
·         Algoa Bay belongs to everyone in Port Elizabeth and we want to look after it.



Yours sincerely

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Signature of commenter
 

PLASTIC VAGABOND

Notre Film "Le Plastique Vagabond / Plastic Vagabond" sur la pollution micro-plastique (réalisation Noe Sardet et Sharif Mishak, narration Jacques Gamblin) inspiré par l'Expédition Tara Méditerranée  dirigée par l'Observatoire de Villefranche ( G Gorsky) est en ligne sur la nouvelle version du site "Chroniques du plancton/ Plankton Chronicles"
La sortie du film est couplée avec un Appel à l'action pour collecter le plastic sur les plages et un concours ART PLASTIQUE (prix 500 $) https://www.facebook.com/plasticvagabond

Merci de faire connaitre"Le Plastique Vagabond / Plastic Vagabond"  et l'action qui ont pour but de sensibiliser un large public à la pollution plastique
Cordialement
-- 
Christian Sardet