Pretoria:The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, has unveiled South Africa’s Draft Second Biennial Transparency Report (BTR2) under the Paris Agreement, inviting the public to provide feedback on the document.
According to South African Government News Agency, the draft policy offers a framework aimed at developing new wild marine fisheries and expanding existing regulated fisheries in a manner that is both scientifically informed and ecologically sustainable, adhering to the objectives of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998.
The draft outlines the procedures for exploratory fishing, geographical expansion of existing fisheries, exploration of fishing methods, and sample collection. It seeks to balance sustainable economic development, job creation, and food security with the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystem health. Additionally, it promotes equitable access to marine resources and aims to strengthen evidence-based decision-making within the fisheries sector.
The report, published under Government Notice No. 8084 in Government Gazette No. 55620 on 23 October 2026, has commenced a public consultation process set to occur from 9 to 20 November 2026. The draft policy has been made available in regional newspapers, and interested parties are encouraged to submit their written comments by midnight on 27 November 2026. Comments can be sent via email to [email protected].