Reg. No. 2008/004627/07 VAT No Facsimile: (044) Progress Street, George Web:

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1 C ape E nvironmental A ssessment P ractitioners (Pty) Ltd Reg. No. 2008/004627/07 VAT No Telephone: (044) 4) Floor Eagles View Building Facsimile: (044) Progress Street, George Web: eaprac.co.za PO Box 2070, George December 2011 Ref: NMM101/04 Attention: To Whom it May Concern VIA FAX, OR POST RE: AVAILABILITY OF STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA) AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION DOCUMENT (BID) FOR PUBLIC REVIEW FOR THE PROPOSED SEA-BASED AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT ZONES INVESTIGATION, EASTERN CAPE (Calling for Registration of Interested & Affected Parties) The Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (DAFF): Aquaculture Division (Applicant) appointed Cape Environmental Assessment Practitioners (Cape EAPrac) as independent environmental assessment practitioners to undertake an investigation into the possibility of establishing sea-based Aquaculture Development Zones (ADZs) along the Eastern Cape coastline, particularly in the Algoa Bay vicinity. Anchor Environmental Consultants compiled a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Dated November 2011, through which they investigated the South African coastline as a whole, with the intent of identifying possible ADZ areas for future development. The Eastern Cape coastline has been identified as one such an area where ADZs could potentially be considered. Three (3) sites within Algoa Bay, and a fourth site closer to Cape St Francis Bay / Jefferey s Bay have been identified as possible ADZs based on a number of selection criteria. In order to further investigate these identifies sites and look at their potential impact in more detail, it is mandatory to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, to help determine whether or not these sites could be implemented or not. The National Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEA&T) will be the decisionmaking authority for this EIA application. This notices serves to inform you that such an EIA process has commenced, and this being the first notice to request Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) to formally register with Cape EAPrac in order to get onto the process Stakeholder Register. In order to register, I&APs must submit their complete contact details, in writing, to Cape EAPrac at the address provided below. Only I&APs who formally register, will be kept informed throughout the remainder of the EIA process that will continue early in D.J. Jeffery Directors L. van Zyl

2 Information about the proposed ADZ site selection and EIA process that is currently available, include the SEA as well as a Background Information Document (BID). I&APs are requested to please review these document in the event they are interested in the proposed project or process. Any comments in response to these document must be submitted to Cape EAPrac, in writting (to the address below), to reach us by no later than 28 January Further public consulation and information sharing will take place with more detailed information and specialist reports as part of the scoping and impact assessment phases of the EIA. Copies of the SEA and BID are available from the following websites, and specified venues: Humansdorp Public Library, Jeffrey s Bay Library, Kouga Municipal Office and Port Elizabeth City Public Library The above reports may be downloaded from the specified website and distributed to people whom you think may be interested or possibly affected by such projects. Registration Notices and/or preliminary comments must be addressed to: Louise-Mari van Zyl / Melissa Mackay PO Box 2070, George, 6530 Fax: louise@cape-eaprac.co.za or mel@cape-eaprac.co.za A full Scoping & Impact Assessment process will be followed for this particular application. The relevant scoping and impact assessment reports that must be compiled as part of the EIA process, will serve to identify potential issues and concerns associated with the proposed project, as well as to investigate and assess those particular issues/concerns/impacts that may affect the receiving environment. The necessary marine biology, socio-economic and visual assessments and investigations have commenced, and the results thereof will be made available to registered I&APs as part of the ongoing EIA process. Seasons Greetings, Louise-Mari van Zyl Director: Cape EAPrac

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