Title: National Environmental Management Act: Integrated Coastal management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008): Draft South African Water Quality Guidelines for Coastal Marine Waters – Volume 1: Natural Environment and Mariculture Use  

Gazette reference: GN 4527 in GG 50311 of 22 March 2024 

Deadline for public comments: 29 April 2024 

On 22 March 2024, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published for public comment, the South African Water Quality Guidelines for Coastal Marine Waters – Volume 1: Natural Environment and Mariculture Use.  

The primary purpose of the draft guidelines is to set the baseline standards of quality for different marine environments. The draft guidelines will replace the standards set in the older guidelines previously developed by the then national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry where a set of four Water Quality Guidelines were developed in 1992, and updated in 1995, which were aimed at managing coastal and marine water quality for designated uses. 

The draft guidelines can be obtained at the Department’s website at www.dffe.gov.za