The spending focus over the medium term will be on developing a policy and regulatory framework to guide the sustainable development, conservation and management of ocean environmental resources, and on developing an ocean environmental management strategy and regime. Spending is thus expected to increase on agency, support and outsourced services to operate and manage the SA Agulhas II and Algoa research vessels. The programme also receives R20 million over the MTEF period for the upgrading of its research laboratories in order to comply with the occupational health and safety regulations.