The State of St Helena Bay Report 2018

Barry Clark and Megan Laird

Outline

1. Importance of St Helena Bay 2. Activities and discharges that affect the

health of the Bay 3. Health of the Bay Water quality Sediment Quality Macrofauna

4. Management recommendations

Importance of St Helena Bay and the Berg River Estuary

• One of very few large sheltered bays in South Africa. • Sheltered, nutrient rich waters of the bay constitute an important

nursery area for juvenile fish. • Rock lobster reserve declared in terms of the Marine Living Resources

Act. • Berg Estuary constitutes one of only four large estuaries on the West

Coast. • Rated among the top three estuaries in SA in terms of conservation

importance (rarity, large size, high diversity). • Estuary supports a high diversity of waterbirds and is visited by

thousands of migratory waders in summer. • Estuary crucially important as a nursery area for wide range of fish and

invertebrate species. • Highly important for recreation and eco-tourism.

Activities and discharges • Wastewater discharges - fish processing plants (FPP),

municipal effluent, aquaculture, desalination, storm water • Fisheries

o Small pelagic purse seine - St Helena Bay annual landed catch value of R 840 million (anchovies, sardines, round herring)

o Commercial & recreational line-fisheries (snoek, yellowtail, hottentot, white stumpnose)

o Gill net fishing (harders, St Joseph sharks) o Recreational shore angling (galjoen, white stumpnose, white

steenbras, kob, elf, steentjie, sharks)

• Dredging – maintenance dredging at Port Owen Marina ± 10 000 m3/yr

• Vessel traffic - noise & potential for oil spills

Wastewater discharged to St Helena Bay • Historically manged through the National Water Act now (2009) through Integrated

Coastal Management Act (ICMA). • A Coastal Waters Discharge Permit (CWDP) is required for any marine outfall • CWDP includes “Effluent Quality Limits” (EQL). • EQL designed to ensure compliance with “South African Water Quality Guidelines

(WQGs)” at the edge of a “defined mixing zone”. • The Recommended Mixing Zone (RMZ) is a limited area or volume of the receiving

water where the initial dilution of a discharge is permissible (sacrificial zone). • Outside of the mixing zone water quality should not be measurably different from

natural: Temperature ±1°C of ambient Salinity 33-36 PSU Total Suspended Solids (TSS) within 80th percentile of receiving waters

• How big should the radius of the mixing zone be? 300 m in an offshore environment 100 m in a nearshore open coast environment 30 m in sheltered coastal environments 0 m for MPAs, surf zone and estuaries

Marine outfalls in St Helena Bay

Marine discharges Permit holder Date issued Type of discharge

Annual discharge volume (m3)

Compliance Report

Lucky Star Ltd 30 April 2018

• Fish processing

• Cannery

• Desalination (brine)

• Cooling (seawater)

122 794 760 Not yet submitted

Oceana Lobster (Pty) Ltd

17 October 2016 • Aquaculture 8 516 545 Not yet

submitted

Oranjevis Joint Venture

Submitted application for CWDP

• Fish processing ? CWDP not yet issued

Amawandle Pelagic (Pty) Ltd 1 May 2018

• Fish processing

• Desalination (brine)

• Cooling (seawater)

522 680 Not yet submitted

West Point Processors (Pty) Ltd 26 June 2017 • Fish processing 9 490 000 Not yet

submitted

Lucky Star • Fishmeal plant & cannery effluent was discharged directly onto the rocks at

a number of locations in front of the factory • CWDP issued in April 2018 after upgrading of processing facilities and

relocation of discharge to the jetty • Discharge seawater used in scrubbers and for cooling in the evaporation

plant, backwash seawater pumps and fishmeal plant, screened blood water, overflow of seawater from vessel offloading, canned fish drainer liquid, cannery cooling water and cannery thawing water

• Wash water from the fishmeal plant, the fish weighing warehouse, the overflow from ice water and seawater holding tanks as well as storm water from the roof and warehouse enters the sump

• Dispersion modelling studies predicted that a pipeline extending 1.3 km off the end of the jetty would be sufficient to meet WQGs.

• In early 2018 the company started construction of the new discharge pipeline and installed a RO plant to supply fresh processing water to the plant.

• The CWDP calls for a decrease in bacterial (E. coli) concentrations (e.g. heat treatment, ultraviolet light, biological treatment).

• The CWDP also includes specifications for effluent and water quality monitoring, and benthic macrofauna analysis.

Lucky Star outfalls

Lucky Star

Outfalls from the Lucky Star Processing Plant before upgrade.

Oceana Lobster (Pty)Ltd • Oceana Lobster (Pty) Ltd was issued with a CWDP in

October 2016 for the discharge of seawater into the surf zone off the Jetty in Stompneus Bay.

• The facility abstracts and pumps 23 333 m3 of seawater/day into lobster tanks using a continuous water circulation system.

• Seawater circulates through the tanks and is discharged onto the rocky shore.

• Effluent is essentially seawater with no added pollutants (low risk).

• The permit holder is required to submit an annual compliance report.

West Point Processors • Issued with a CWDP in June 2017. • Cooling water and fish processing effluent discharged via two

coastal outfalls. • Pipeline A discharges 18 000 m3 effluent per day.

• Discharge consists of seawater to spray down the fish meal processing equipment and fresh water used to oxidise non-condensable components in the chemical scrubber.

• Pipeline B discharges a maximum volume of 8 000 m3/day. • Discharge consists of seawater and freshwater to transport fish & for

cleaning of equipment after production, contains suspended solids, fat, oil and grease, ammonia nitrogen, protein, and phosphate.

• Solids are removed to a fishmeal processing plant on site. • The CWDP includes specifications for effluent and water quality

monitoring, benthic macrofauna & dispersion modelling study within 12 months of the date of issue.

West Point Processors

Amawandle Pelagic • Two discharges into the Berg Estuary. • Processing effluent released at depth of 1.2 m below HWM. • Cooling seawater and brine effluent from the RO plant

released at depth of 3 m below HWM. • CWDP includes specifications for ongoing monitoring of

WQ at the seawater holding sump and the strong effluent tank prior to discharge.

• CWDP calls for sampling at nine sites in the receiving environment (point of discharge, 50 m, 75 m and 100 m away from the outfall).

• Permit holder must commit to an effluent improvement plan to reduce high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), TSS and turbidity.

Amawandle Pelagic

Municipal wastewater • Saldanha Bay municipal area is serviced by seven wastewater

treatment plants; Saldanha, Vredenburg, Hopefield, St Helena, Paternoster, Langebaan and Shelly Point.

• Shelley Point and St Helena WWTW service the St Helena area by treating wastewater to a secondary level before distributing it for irrigation.

• Preliminary designs have been completed for a new WWTW in Brittania Bay, although funds are not currently available.

• Conservancy tanks are in use but overflow from these tanks is considered an unlikely event, as the municipality empties them on a regular basis.

• Since the implementation of water restrictions, wastewater produced has been decreasing considerably, and all water is reused.

Storm water • Storm water runoff, which occurs when rain flows over

impervious surfaces into waterways, is a major non-point sources of pollution

• Storm water accumulates debris & chemical contaminants, which enter water bodies untreated and may eventually lead to environmental degradation.

• Contaminants include metals (lead and zinc), fertilizers, hydrocarbons (oil & petrol from motor vehicles), debris (especially plastics), bacteria and pathogens, and hazardous household wastes such as insecticides, pesticides and solvents.

Water Quality Sampling

In 2008 HBWQT initiated fortnightly sampling of microbiological indicators at 17 stations within St Helena Bay

and 6 stations in the Berg River Estuary.

Microbial Indicators • Untreated sewage or storm water runoff may introduce disease-causing

micro-organisms into coastal waters through faecal pollution. • Data on microbial indicators have been collected from St Helena Bay since

2008. • These data were evaluated in terms of Recreational WQ Guidelines (DEA

2018). • E. coli data collected in 2018 show that:

1 of the 23 stations sampled were categorized as having “excellent” WQ; 2 as having “Good” water quality; 2 sites fell into the category of “Fair”, which is the minimum requirement for sufficient

water quality in terms of full contact recreation (i.e. swimming); the remainder of the sites (14) were classified as being “Poor” (i.e. unacceptable).

Table 1. Target limits for E. coli based on the revised guidelines for recreational waters of South Africa’s coastal marine environment (DEA 2012).

Category Estimated risk per exposure

E. coli. (count/100ml)

Excellent 2.9% GI risk ≤ 250 (95th percentile)

Good 5% GI risk ≤ 500 (95th percentile)

Sufficient/Fair (min. requirement) 8.5% GI risk ≤ 500 (90th percentile)

Poor (unacceptable) >8.5 % GI risk >500 (90th percentile)

Site Location 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

4 Berg River Fishing Quay Poor Poor Fair Poor Poor Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

26 Amawandle Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

18 Berg River Fishing Quay Fair Fair Poor Poor Poor Fair Poor Poor Fair Poor Poor

5B/D Port Owen Slipway/Yacht Club Fair Poor Good Good Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Good

6 Main Road (R27 Bridge) Fair Fair Good Poor Poor Fair Good Fair Excellent Good Fair

19 Laingville Beach Good Good Excellent Fair Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Fair Good Good

8 West Point Processors Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

20 Hannasbaai Beach Poor Fair Good Fair Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Fair Excellent Fair

9 Jaloersbaai Fisheries Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair

21 West side of Jaloersbaai Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair

22 Beach between Jaloersbaai & Oranjevis Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

16 Oranjevis Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

23 Oranjevis SE of outlet Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

24 Oranjevis End of pier Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

10 Sandy Point Harbour Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

11 Sandy Point Breakwater Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Fair Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor

29 Opposite Skipper's Choice Fair Poor Fair Good Fair Excellent Fair Fair Fair Fair Poor

30 West of Snoek Slipway Fair Poor Fair Good Poor Fair Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

12 Drommedaris Fisheries Excellent

27 Da Gama Monument Beach Good Fair Fair Fair Excellent Poor Fair Excellent Fair Poor Excellent

13 Lucky Star Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

17 Sunfish Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor

Microbial Indicators

Microbial Indicators • Poor water quality was consistently found at Amawandle, Jaloersbaai,

Oranjevis, Lucky Star, Sunfish, West Point Processors and Sandy Point Harbour, while water quality fluctuated between “Poor” and “Excellent” at the other sites.

• There is clearly a health risk associated with industrial outfalls, specifically fish processing effluent.

• In 2018, water quality improved at Da Gama Monument Beach, which is located between Lucky Star and Oceana Lobster. This may be a result of 1) upgrades made to effluent treatment and discharge at Lucky Star or 2) a decrease in the volume of fish being processed, but this can only be confirmed with ongoing monitoring.

• Sites that experienced acceptable water quality for the majority of the sampling period included the Port Owen Slipway/Yacht Club, the recreational fishing site below the R27 bridge, Da Gama Monument Beach, Laingville Beach, Hannasbaai Beach, and two sites at Sandy Point Harbour.

• Most of the popular recreational sites (beaches, popular fishing areas and the marina) generally offer safe swimming conditions.

• Considering that the majority of treated waste water from the local WWTW is currently being diverted to other uses (mainly irrigation), suggests that the contamination may be from other sources (e.g. fish processing effluent and storm water).

Sediment Quality

2018 Sampling sites

2018 Sampling sites

Sediment and Organics • Sediment and benthic macrofauna samples were collected from

25 sites in St Helena Bay during April 2018. • Throughout all areas, sand accounted for the largest proportion of

sediment sizes in all four survey years. • A much higher level of TOC and TON was found closest to FPPs. • TOC in 2012 was consistently higher than in 2007; with the

exception of the estuary sites that have shown a steady decline in carbon enrichment from 2007 through to 2018.

• In 2018, TOC dropped dramatically across all sites. • The outer bay and shore sites showed similar levels of carbon

enrichment within each of the survey years, whilst the estuary sites consistently had the lowest TOC.

• TOC from FPPs within the estuary in 2018 had twice the concentration than recorded at control sites.

Particle Size Distribution

0102030405060708090

100

2001 2007 2012 2018

A

0102030405060708090

100

2001 2007 2012 2018

B Mud

Sand

Gravel

0102030405060708090

100

2007 2012 2018

C

0102030405060708090

100

2001 2007 2012 2018 ESTUARYFISH

FACTORY

D

Outer Bay Inshore

Fish Factory Berg Estuary

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

OUTER BAY SHORE FISH FACTORY ESTUARY ESTUARY FISHFACTORY

Aver

age T

OC (p

pm)

A 2007

2012

2018

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

OUTER BAY SHORE FISH FACTORY ESTUARY ESTUARY FISHFACTORY

Aver

age T

ON (p

pm)

B

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

OUTER BAY SHORE FISH FACTORY ESTUARY ESTUARY FISHFACTORY

Aver

age C

:N ra

tio

C

Total Organic Nitrogen (TON)

Total Organic Carbon (TOC)

Carbon : Nitrogen Ratio

Benthic macrofauna

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

OUTER BAY SHORE FISH FACT. ESTUARY ESTUARY FISHFACT.

Abu

ndan

ce p

er m

2

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

OUTER BAY SHORE FISH FACT. ESTUARY ESTUARY FISHFACT.

Biom

ass

(g/m

2)

OTHER

POLYCHAETA

OCTOCORALLIA

MALACOSTRACA

GASTROPODA

ECHINODERMATA

CRUSTACEA

CEPHALOPODA

BRACHIOPODA

BIVALVIA

ACTINARIA

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

OUTER BAY SHORE FISH FACT. ESTUARY ESTUARY FISHFACT.

Abu

ndan

ce p

er m

2

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

OUTER BAY SHORE FISH FACT. ESTUARY ESTUARY FISHFACT.

Biom

ass

(g/m

2)

SCAVENGER

PREDATOR

GRAZER

FILTER FEEDER

DETRITIVORE/PREDATOR

DETRITIVORE

UNKNOWN

Abundance Biomass

Benthic Macrofauna • The benthic macrofauna community in St Helena

Bay is mostly dominated by amphipods and polychaetes, and particularly filter feeders.

• The dominance of amphipods, suggests that the Bay has a fairly low level of contamination as this group does not tolerate pollutants.

• Amphipods contribute almost negligibly to abundance and biomass at the FPP sites within the bay and estuary where localised impacts are clearly experienced.

• The consistent presence of filter feeders suggests that water quality has remained fairly stable except for the FPP sites which showed a decline in abundance and diversity of filter feeders in 2018.

Trends over time

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

2001

2007

2012

2018

2001

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

ESTU

ARY

FISH

…

OUTER BAY BAY FISH FACTORIES ESTUARY

Abun

danc

e pe

r m2

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

2001

2007

2012

2018

2001

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

ESTU

ARY

FISH

…

OUTER BAY BAY FISH FACTORIES ESTUARY

Biom

ass (

g/m

2)

UROCHORDATA

SIPUNCULIDEA

PYCNOGONIDA

POLYCHAETA

NEMERTEA

NEMATODA

MALACOSTRACA

GASTROPODA

ECHINODERMATA

CRUSTACEA

CEPHALOPODA

CLITELLATA

BRACHIOPODA

BIVALVIA

ASCIDIACEA

ANTHOZOA

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

2001

2007

2012

2018

2001

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

ESTU

ARY

FISH

…

OUTER BAY BAY FISH FACTORIES ESTUARY

Abun

danc

e pe

r m2

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

2001

2007

2012

2018

2001

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

2007

2012

2018

ESTU

ARY

FISH

…

OUTER BAY BAY FISH FACTORIES ESTUARY

Biom

ass (

g/m

2)

SCAVENGER

PREDATOR/SCAVENGER

PREDATOR

GRAZER

FILTER FEEDER

DETRITIVORE/PREDATOR

DETRITIVORE

UNKNOWN

Abundance

Biomass

Management Recommendations • Much work needs to be done to improve water quality in

St Helena Bay. • A number of CWDPs have been issued and industry is moving in

the right direction in this regard. • Permit conditions must be respected to enable improvements in

water quality and ecosystem health in the Bay. • Sediment quality and Benthic macrofauna monitoring should

continue at all of the current stations but frequency should be increased in line with permit specifications (annually if possible).

• Additional sampling stations to be identified for each outfall. • Given the current importance and likely future growth of both the

mariculture and tourism industries, it is imperative that action taken in recent years (e.g. upgrading of sewage and storm water facilities & compliance with CWDPs) is increased and applied more widely.

• Impacts of the dredging programme at Port Owen are low but necessary precautions need to be taken when dredging.

Management Recommendations Urgent management interventions are required to limit further degradation of the environment from the growing pressures and should focus on the following issues: • Ensure that all discharges to the Bay, including discharges

into the Berg River, are properly licensed and monitored (both effluent volume and quality) to confirm that conditions at the edge of the RMZ are compliant with SA WQGs for the Coast Zone and any other legislative requirements.

• Existing and future increases in the use of groundwater needs to be carefully considered, especially in the light of effects that this may have on the Berg River Estuary.

• Wastewater recycling should continue as wastewater production increases in the area.

Thank you