What is the estuarine monitoring programme ?
The Department of Water and Sanitation established the National Estuarine Monitoring Programme, NEsMP, in 2008.
The purpose of NEsMP is the monitoring of water quality, physico-chemical and biological aspects for determining long-term
trends and changes in the condition of South African estuaries.
The NEsMP coordinates national monitoring efforts and provides support in the form of sampling equipment, training,
data management and information dissemination, while collaborating institutions collect physico-chemical data
and water samples.
Legal framework :
NEsMP tiers of monitoring activity :
The NEsMP assesses South African estuaries at three levels of intensity:
- Tier 1 – collection of basic abiotic data
- Tier 2 - collection of more detailed abiotic data in line with reserve determination
- Tier 3 - event-driven monitoring to support management intervention in response to factors such as fish kills, pollution incidents and development pressure
NEsMP works with :
SAEON
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Ezemvelo / KZN Wildlife
Lower Tugela Biodiversity
Eden District Municipality
SANParks
Lower Breede River Conservancy Trust
Cape Nature
West Coast District Municipality
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
List of reports, posters, references and data
Contacts
Programme Manager : Dr Harold van Niekerk
NEsMP Orange to Kosi Bay Estuaries : Mr Sibusiso Majola
NEsMP Kosi to Matjies Estuaries : Ms Nolu Jafta
Acknowledgements
The success of the NEsMP is dependent on the efforts of many local stakeholders.
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