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NOTIFICATION: DECISION ON APPEALS LODGED AGAINST A DECISION TO GRANT ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION FOR THE PROPOSED SEARCHER SEISMIC SURVEY BASIC ASSESSMENT PROJECT, LOCATED OFFSHORE EXTENDING FROM APPROXIMATELY 256KM OFFSHORE OF ST HELENA BAY TO 220KM OFFSHORE OF HONDEKLIP BAY, OFF THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA

On 28 October 2026, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) issued its decision on the appeals (appeal decision) against the environmental authorisation (EA) granted to Searcher Geodata UK Limited (the applicant) for the proposed three-dimensional seismic survey (the proposed project).

The decision was to:

  1. Dismiss the appeals, subject to the inclusion of additional conditions. In summary these additional conditions relate to the roles and responsibilities of the Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO). Please refer to the appeal decision for full details.
  2. Confirm the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) decision of 21 October 2024 to grant the applicant an EA for the proposed project.
  3. Instruct the DMPR to amend the EA to incorporate the additional conditions specified in the appeal decision

A copy of the appeal decision is available by following this LINK (CLICK HERE). 

As indicated in the appeal decision, any party dissatisfied with any aspects of the appeal decision may apply to a competent court to have the appeal decision judicially reviewed. In accordance with the provisions of section 7 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000 judicial review proceedings must be instituted within 180 days of such party becoming aware of the appeal decision.

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