The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs published, in terms of section 33 of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008, the National Estuarine Management Protocol. The purpose of the National Estuarine Management Protocol is to inter alia:
- Determine a strategic vision and objectives for achieving effective integrated management of estuaries;
- Set standards for the management of estuaries;
- Establish procedures or provide guidance regarding how estuaries must be managed and how the management responsibilities are to be exercised by different organs of state and other parties;
- Establish minimum requirements for estuarine management plans;
- Identify who must prepare estuarine management plans and the process to be followed in doing so; and
- Specify the process for reviewing estuarine management plans to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Act.
