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Coastal Management of the Western Cape
ABOUT US:
The coastline of the Western Cape is arguably the most diverse of South Africa’s four coastal provinces, which is unsurprising given its length (over 1 500km, nearly half of South Africa’s total coastline) and the fact that it lies between the Atlantic and Indian oceans. The coastal zone is acknowledged as the fulcrum around which a vast proportion of South Africa’s economic and development activity centers. The goods and services provided by South Africa’s coast are best conceived of as a limited resource in terms of the needs of its people.
The Department as the lead agency for coastal management in the Province promotes integrated and sustainable coastal and estuarine management, to ensure a balance between socio-economic development and the coastal and marine ecology. As well as ensuring an effective coastal zone management system through the compliance monitoring and enforcement of all coastal zone permits and regulations. Additionally, there is a responsibility to ensure effective management of pollution and the impact on the marine, coastal and estuarine environments. The alignment of our efforts and the garnering of our collective resources mean that we can be better together!
Vision
Our celebrated Western Cape Coast for life, for all, forever!
Mission
The health, productivity and diversity of natural systems and unique sense-of-place and diverse cultural heritage are protected and promoted in a spirit of stewardship, caring and shared responsibility.
The Western Cape coast is diverse, rich, unique and resilient and is respected and celebrated.
The inherent value of the coast is equitably and sustainably unlocked by optimising access, livelihoods and economic and social benefits.
The coast and its inhabitants are recognised as valuable assets and nurtured through enabling, innovative, integrated cooperative and adaptive management interventions.
SERVICES
- Social and economic development and planning;
- Cooperative governance and local government support;
- Facilitation of coastal access;
- Climate change, dynamic coastal processes and building resilient communities;
- Minimise Land- and marine-based sources of pollution and waste;
- Natural and cultural resource management;
- Estuarine management;
- Capacity building, advocacy and education;
- Monitoring, compliance and enforcement.