At the forefront of Africa’s Ocean advocacy, South Africa’s Mbalenhle Golding, Acting CEO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), delivered a compelling call to action at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) high-level event, “Sustainable Shipping: Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity”, held during the United Nations Oceans Conference.
Ms Golding highlighted the most pressing and often overlooked threats to marine ecosystems: Underwater Radiated Noise (URN). Her message was clear, safeguarding our oceans is not merely an environmental concern, but a socio-economic imperative for the continent and the world.
“URN is not just an environmental issue – it’s a socio-economic one, impacting marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities.” – Mbalenhle Golding
ACEO of SAMSA, Ms Mbalehle Golding at the IMO high-level event, “Sustainable Shipping: Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity”
Key Announcements from SAMSA:
– Draft URN Regulations Published: The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has released draft regulations for public comments, addressing URN under the environmental management of offshore bunkering, pursuant to the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008).
– Comprehensive National EIA on URN: A National Environmental Impact Assessment will be commissioned to fully assess URN’s impact on South Africa’s marine ecosystems.
– National Task Force on URN Established: South Africa has formally set up a dedicated task force to coordinate national responses and research efforts on URN.
– Call for Global Investment in GloNoise Partnership: SAMSA urges international stakeholders to invest in the IMO-led GloNoise Partnership to support innovative solutions to underwater noise pollution.