Ocean Sciences an exciting new journey for South Africa

SA’s first dedicated Fast-tracking Africa’s A big need Ocean Sciences Campus 8 blue economy 18 for new skills 29 September 2017 ○ Ocean Sciences 1 CONTENTS

New oceanography and food security innovation bridge between SA and the UK 6

On the making of a new generation university 8

From space to earth to water: the composites revolution 10

Combating sea fisheries crime 11

Four fish or 15,000 fish – the choice is in our hands 12 Middle Stone Age people got smart Professor Derrick Swartz at the coast 14 ‘Extraordinary’ Eastern Cape rock pool systems 16

Sea law for Africa 18 This bold

The complicated task of ocean zoning 20 new journey It’s about working together to fast-track SA’s blue economy 21 Nelson Mandela University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Derrick Swartz, has been the driving force behind its bold Bringing shipbuilding and new Ocean Sciences Strategy since around 2014. This strategy arises from his passionate belief that the university marine engineering to enjoys a number of competitive advantages enabling it to become the leading Ocean Sciences university on the 23 African continent –its geographical location on the eastern seaboard, in a major port city (Port Elizabeth) with Nelson Mandela Bay two major ports, over 40 years of ocean sciences expertise, its establishment of a dedicated new Ocean Sciences Campus, and the roll-out of an exciting generation of marine and maritime science academic programmes. He 40 years of coastal spoke to us about his vision and strategy in this regard. and marine research 25 Arthur C. Clarke once aptly reflected of the seabed still has to be mapped. Ocean Sciences growth on “how inappropriate to call this planet Only a small fraction of all its estimated hub for Port Elizabeth 26 Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean”. life forms - from large creatures to The ocean mass covers about 71% of millions of microbes - have so far been our planet’s surface and comprises 97% discovered and classified. Aquaponics yields of its water mass. It plays a crucial role We are also only beginning to fresh fish, produce - in earth’s climate system – regulating understand its complex, dynamic 27 its average temperatures and storing marine ecosystems, and a great deal and partnerships over two-thirds of earth’s active carbon more work is required to develop Future ocean dioxide. fine-scaled, time-sensitive modelling Our oceans are indispensable of how human activities impact on sciences students 28 to human life. Yet it is an irony that specific ocean regions - crucial for need to learn to swim many aspects of the world’s oceans marine spatial planning and ocean are understood in superficial and protection strategies. And the Southern This humpback whale Harnessing the fragmented ways - despite great (Antarctica) and Indian Oceans are least (Megaptera novaeangliae) photographed during a potential of our oceans scientific progress over the past explored compared to what we know research study in Algoa Bay in for a sustainable future 29 century. It is often remarked that we about the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 2009 reflects the challenges know more about the surface of the Perhaps apart from the interior of of maintaining a healthy ocean Exciting new career moon than the oceans on earth. the earth, our oceans remain to be the when facing the growing Barely 5% of the ocean mass has last great unknown to earth science. pressures of global change. opportunities Photograph: Stephanie Plön 30 been explored, and the vast majority What we do know is that water

2 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2017 ○ Ocean Sciences 3 is key to DNA-based life forms. cultural value, its history and future key niche ocean sciences areas. And there is mounting evidence in a world under twin pressures of Nelson Mandela University has over suggesting that the earliest life human activity and climate change. 40 years of scientific expertise in forms may have started in Earth’s Towards this end, the university coastal and marine sciences that we primordial oceans (for example has adopted a bold new Ocean hope to build on into new directions hydrothermal vents) some 3.8 billion Sciences strategy to drive a new into the future. years ago. research, training and innovation The institution is the only We certainly know from written agenda to help finding better tools South African university bearing a records and oral traditions (songs, for managing the twin challenges of “comprehensive” knowledge and folklore) that human life, from human development and ecological skills profile with a prime location the dawn of time, has had a long sustainability. right at the coast. This profile brings connection to the sea - from Stone In this context, we have begun together basic, formative and Age hunter-gathers who survived to expand academic offerings in applied, professional knowledge in caves along the Southern African fields such as oceanography, marine competencies in Ocean Sciences in coastline some 200,000 years engineering, maritime economics novel ways. ago; the first Africans who left our and logistics, marine tourism, port This is a huge strategic advantage continent some 70,000 years ago, development and management, in that we can bring to bear to do and radiated across different parts marine spatial planning and the law both discovery research (exploring of the world, in the process taking of the sea, including fisheries law our oceans) and simultaneously also the world’s first African explorers enforcement. help to solve real world problems to new lands; to the sea-faring In the next few years, we hope arising from the imperatives of Phoenicians who first sailed the to recruit a new generation of human development needs and Mediterranean, and Polynesians who smart students, academic staff and ecological sustainability. discovered Australasia; the ancient researchers to get top-class training I am excited about the prospects Chinese and Nordic mariners of in critical fields. of Nelson Mandela University 11th centuries; 16th and 17th century Secondly, the university becoming the leading Ocean explorers and conquistadors who has recently begun with the Sciences University on the African colonised different parts of the establishment of a new and continent. We are hugely encouraged world; to the modern age, when a dedicated Ocean Sciences Campus by our growing portfolio of new era of seafaring emerged on the in Nelson Mandela Bay, to focus and international partnerships in ocean back of the industrial revolution and grow our capabilities in a selected sciences, including Universities of rise of global capitalism. number of areas. We have already Southampton and Plymouth (UK), Today, the sea is a vital part of invested R60m in the new campus, Agder and NTNU (Norway), Alto human economic and cultural life. In The Nelson Mandela Bay harbour, along with the and will be investing a further R75m (Finland) and Nairobi (Kenya) and the modern era, particularly after the nearby Coega deep-water harbour, will play a over the next three years in new Zanzibar. Second World War (1939-45), sea- key role in growing the country’s blue economy. infrastructure, labs, equipment and If the twin goals of modern based trade and economic activity Photograph: Rob Duker staff to facilitate this new growth science are to explain the world and had seen exponential growth, area. solve real life problems, we believe employing millions, generating huge Nelson Mandela University that the university’s Ocean Sciences revenues, and bringing consumer currently holds four NRF-funded future opens up a new horizon of goods within reach of nearly all the SARChI (South African Research exciting opportunities for students, earth’s populations. Chairs Initiative) Chairs in Marine scholars and other stakeholders of The global financial crisis of Spatial Planning; Ocean Science and “blue commons” to join hands with 2007/08 saw a marked decline in Marine Food Security, Shallow Water us in this bold new journey, which growth of the global ocean economy. Ecosystems; and Law of the Sea and is certainly one of the most exciting However, in recent years there has Development in Africa. developments in the history of the been a resurgence of interest by In 2016, we launched three university. states and investors in the ocean new research and training entities economy as a source of global - Centre for Marine and Coastal economic stimulus. Research (CMR), the FishFORCE Traditional sea-based industries At the same time, there has of ocean acidification. understanding of natural systems; neglected or narrowly developed – participation and inclusion – Academy, focused on fisheries were largely based on wild fishing, also been a dramatic population Together, these pressures our respect for biodiversity and for example marine spatial planning, particularly focused on marginalised protection (with a R50m Norwegian shipbuilding and shipping, port expansion of the world’s coastal have been affecting different ocean health; and importance of deep-sea oceanography, climate and poor communities. government grant), and Centre Ocean Sciences development, near-shore oil and cities and regions (over 1.4 billion parts of the world’s marine evidence-based policy-making and modeling, bioacoustics and long- Nelson Mandela University for Coastal Paleoscience doing gas, and logistics. In recent years, a people in 2012) and with this, new ecosystems – reduction of wild decision-making systems. range studies of the Indian and is committed to a research and discovery research on early human Campus Launch new generation of ocean economy pressures on, and risks to, the fish stocks; bleaching of coral If South Africa’s policy goal – as Southern Ocean systems. training agenda that brings questions origins along the southern coastlines The country’s first dedicated Ocean sectors has begun to emerge on the coastal and marine environments reefs in large parts of the world; expressed in Operation Phakisa Moreover, there is a real of social justice and equity into of South Africa. Sciences Campus will be launched back of the old - marine robotics, – growing levels of industrial and changes in developmental and Ocean Economy – is to grow need to grow the contribution of focus. We also hope to contribute In 2015, the university also at Nelson Mandela University in Port ship automation, deep-sea oil, gas, civil pollution of chemicals, waste, reproduction rates of many types GDP value to R177bn and create a social sciences and humanities to recording “hidden maritime established the South African Elizabeth on 22 September. tidal, wind and wave and energy, and plastics affecting the underlying of marine species; and accelerated million jobs by 2033 by stimulating in promoting sustainable ocean histories” - the stories and heritage International Maritime Institute Representatives from marine biotechnology and seabed health of our oceans. environmental changes outpacing economic activity in our oceans development. of coastal and island peoples in (SAIMI), focusing on maritime policy government, industry, civic society, mining. What makes this period the adaptive resilience of marine and coasts, such goals, I would Firstly, if human adaptation Africa and western Indian Ocean and training, with a R265m grant conservation and international The OECD (Organization distinctive is that the new drive for ecosystems. argue, must be moderated by a is a prerequisite to ecological islands. from the National Skills Fund. partners, including overseas for Economic Cooperation and growth in the global ocean economy Today, the biggest challenge of deeper understanding of how best sustainability, then we require more Our goal is to develop Nelson Since last year, we have also universities, will attend the event Development) estimates growth in is taking place at a time of major our generation, arguably, is that of to manage the difficult challenges effective tools to promote ecological Mandela University into a globally begun to position all our seven at the revamped former CSIR value of the ocean economy from changes in the earth’s climate sustainability. To balance human of sustainability; and this in turn citizenship. Secondly, if Operation recognised, cutting-edge, innovative faculties (Science; Engineering, campus, opposite Nelson Mandela USD 1 trillion in 2012 to over USD system (itself the result, at least in development – as expressed in requires better investment in basic Phakisa Ocean Economy is to avoid and pioneering “laboratory” for the Built Environment and IT, Arts, University’s North and South 3 trillion by 2030, with highest part, of previous industrial activity) the Sustainable Development and applied science and technology reproducing the same patterns of generating original and applied Education, Law, Health Sciences and campuses. growth forecast in maritime cruising - higher levels of CO2 released into Goals (SDGs) – with planetary to build better understanding of our inequality we see, for example, in knowledge to deepen our Business and Economic Sciences) to and tourism (26%), followed by oil the atmosphere warming up our sustainability will require major marine ecosystems and investment the mining and financial sectors, understanding of ocean dynamics align current programmes and create and gas (21%), and port expansion oceans, melting of the polar regions, transformations: in the ethics and in growing new careers and skills, then we must find more effective – its geophysics, chemistry, biology, new programmes at undergraduate See the new-look campus on (16%). sea level rises, and increasing levels patterns of human consumption; our especially in areas previously models of economic ownership, climate system, economic, social and and post-graduate levels around pages 8 and 9

4 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 5 “The aim is to exponentially grow and facilities at the UoS and NOC, research capacity and, in addition we are creating a WIOURI Centre of New to the research exchange, the UoS Excellence in Ocean Sciences and a and NOC are generously loaning us PhD production pipeline at Nelson costly research technology.” Mandela University,” says Prof A number of postgraduate Roberts. students from Nelson Mandela “Few African universities Oceanography University have already spent time outside of South Africa have at the UoS and NOC to acquire anywhere near sufficient numbers of specialist technical skills not yet ocean scientists with PhDs and you available in South Africa, and cannot build the research capacity Nelson Mandela University’s first required to innovate Africa’s and Food research cruise, to collect data off solutions to food security and other Madagascar, took place in November ocean challenges and opportunities 2016. without these.” “By offering our students the The comparative example he additional exposure to researchers provides is the new Indian Ocean Security Marine Research Institute (IOMRI) in Perth, Australia, which has 132 staff members, 82 with PhDs and a new research ship. By comparison one of Africa’s chief research institutes, the Innovation Institute for Marine Science (IMS) in Zanzibar, established in 1978, uses a ski boat as a research vessel and has 20 staff members and 15 PhDs. “The lack of good research infrastructure Bridge between hugely impacts our capabilities to do good research that matters,” he says. “Time is not on our side. Food security and climate change problems are worsening and the SA and the UK WIO is the fastest warming of the world’s oceans. Already early measurements show planktonic By 2050 there will be nine billion people on Earth, with food in the WIO is declining and coastal and pelagic (offshore) zones populations growing fastest in the low-lying coastal are becoming a lot less productive. regions. Many of these communities rely on the We have a humanitarian disaster busy unfolding and poor coastal oceans for food security, but the oceans are warming communities have little capacity to and food security risks are rapidly rising. adapt for change,” says Prof Roberts, who set up a regional hub in Kenya and Tanzania in February 2016 WHAT sustains marine food the island states of Comoros, Climate change – and the resulting together with the Kenya Marine and security? What are the underpinning Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius warming oceans – are impacting Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) ecosystems and how do they and Réunion. our food resources from the sea. Prof Mike Roberts holds the and the Institute of Marine Sciences function in this era of climate change Upwelling, Prof Roberts Research Chair in Ocean in Zanzibar, which is part of the and changing global oceans? explains, is the upward movement Science and Marine Food University of Dar es Salaam. These questions are the focus of deep, cold, nutrient-rich water Security, which is jointly Through the Chair, he has further of marine specialist scientist Prof to the ocean surface, encouraging of fishing such as with the use The Chair’s research The EAF-Nansen Project, builds momentum. secured R160 million from the hosted by South Africa and the Mike Roberts, the incumbent the growth of phytoplankton of dynamite, and high levels of programme, called the Western “Strengthening the Knowledge Base “The link with the University of United Kingdom government as a of the Research Chair in Ocean (microplants which form the base pollution. Indian Ocean Upwelling Research for and Implementing an Ecosystem Southampton (UoS) and the National United Kingdom. start-up for two large case studies Science and Marine Food Security of the marine food web), which “To find answers as to how to Initiative (WIOURI) embraces Approach to Marine Fisheries in Oceanography Centre (NOC) in South Africa and East Africa. at Nelson Mandela University. The ultimately provide energy all the address this requires an intensive transdisciplinary research and uses Developing Countries”, is all about creates an invaluable innovation “Time is not on our The South African case study will Chair is jointly hosted by Nelson way up the food web to reach the transdisciplinary research approach modeling to determine how, and by promoting the sustainable utilisation bridge between Southampton and investigate the squid fishery collapse Mandela University, the University top marine predators. Upwelling and from physics to fish to forecasts. This how much, climate change and a of marine living resources and Nelson Mandela University in South side. Food security and in 2013/2014 off the south coast. The of Southampton (UoS) and the the ocean physics causing it, directly encompasses research in physical changing ocean is going to impact improved protection of the marine Africa, which is ideally positioned to climate change problems East African case study will build Southampton-based National underpin marine food security. oceanography, biogeochemistry, food resources in the WIO. environment. conduct WIOURI research. are worsening and the knowledge about the Western Indian Oceanography Centre (NOC) - the As the planet’s climate is plankton, trophic ecology, fisheries “In addition to our research, The WIO’s counterpart, the “The innovation bridge will Ocean, where almost nothing is United Kingdom’s leading marine changing, so is the ocean’s upwelling and food resources, quantified concerted emphasis is placed on Eastern Indian Ocean Upwelling have a continuous flow of people Western Indian Ocean is known about these tropical, regional science research and technology system, strongly affecting all levels by end-to-end ecosystem and linking and transferring our research Research Initiative (EIOURI), and research between the northern the fastest-warming of the marine ecosystems. institutions. of the food chain. In the Western socio-economic modelling,” says outputs into ocean governance and supported by Australia, India, Japan hemisphere and Africa, with regional “We need to understand, To find answers, he is Indian Ocean (WIO) region, over Prof Roberts, who spent 26 years food security structures including and China, is well-developed, but projects extending from South world’s oceans … We have measure, model and predict our investigating marine upwelling 60 million people are directly working as a specialist marine national government, international research in WIOURI is only really Africa all the way up Africa’s eastern a humanitarian disaster marine ecosystems and the impact systems in the Western Indian dependent on the ocean for their scientist for the South African governments and the Food and getting going now, with the first coastline.” on their human dependents. We Ocean, an under-researched food and livelihoods. In addition to government’s Sea Fisheries Agricultural Organisation (FAO) seven postgraduate candidates and A large part of the Chair’s work busy unfolding and poor need scientists to come up with region, which extends all the way climate change, the region is also Research Institute (SFRI), Marine of the United Nations. The FAO is postdoctoral fellows participating in will involve the collection of data coastal communities have a research plan to deal with the up the eastern coast of Africa, experiencing the rapid deterioration and Coastal Management (MCM) thoroughly involved in WIOURI as the research required by WIOURI. using ships, automated subsea situation. Hopefully from this we can including Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, of the marine environment caused and Department of Environmental its EAF-Nansen Project is a core Student numbers will increase gliders, moorings, satellites and little capacity to adapt for come up with mitigation measures Mozambique, South Africa, and by overfishing, destructive forms Affairs’ Oceans and Coasts Division. partner,” says Prof Roberts. annually as the research programme ocean models. change” and a plan for adaptation.”

6 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 7 colonial occupation and apartheid this context, as an intellectual and Nelson Mandela University in a Antarctica. oppression. It is an affirmation of academic proposition that enables clear position to become the leading The research, teaching and their history and identity, of their the exploration of the frontier of new ocean sciences university on the training, innovation and engagement On the making of a new dignity and rights.” knowledge, in innovative and trans- African continent. will initially focus on four wide- The act of renaming of the disciplinary ways, in ways that help In establishing and running ranging themes: university “makes a statement us to take all our people with us and the Ocean Sciences Campus, ● Marine food security and about justice, rehabilitation and in ways that move us forward, as a the university will work in close sustainable livelihoods for reconciliation. It starts to reshape people, nation and continent. collaboration with the public and coastal communities; generation university our South African identity. It helps The campus is intended, in private sector, with local, continental ● Ocean governance and global us to move forward, together, as the words of Prof Swartz, to be a and overseas universities and change; a people. That is because Nelson creative hub for pioneering and institutions, with a core focus ● Oceanography and marine Mandela embodied the best in us.” ground-breaking transdisciplinary, on South African oceans, and an biodiversity conservation; and And so the launch of our Ocean postgraduate ocean sciences interest in extending to East Africa, ● Marine technologies and There is excitement in the air at Sciences Campus on 22 September research, teaching, innovation Indian Ocean Rim countries, infrastructure. Nelson Mandela University, and in 2017 needs to be located squarely in and engagement that should put the Southern Indian Ocean and the city and province where the bulk As we launch the new Ocean of the institution’s campuses are Sciences Campus, our Faculty of located. And so it should be for the Health Sciences is hard at work rest of the country and the continent preparing for the eventual launch of as well, for the launch of a dedicated South Africa’s 10th medical school. Ocean Sciences Campus - South It will be the second in the Eastern Africa’s first and only one - marks a Cape - a province with one of the hugely significant milestone. largest rural footprints in dire need The Ocean Sciences Campus of training and development of has been a long time coming. It, wide-ranging medical facilities and like the new, recently-launched services. Nelson Mandela University name, The orientation and work constitutes a trajectory which has towards the medical school is its genesis in the institution’s 2020 equally and intentionally focused vision and strategy, birthed in 2010. not only on training and graduating The vision and strategy whose students and practitioners, and formulation and execution, led from integrating them into the health day one by Vice-Chancellor Prof profession’s workforce, but is also Derrick Swartz, has been and is focused on promoting healthier about repositioning the university lifestyles, community health and in South Africa, continentally and wellbeing, food security and globally. poverty alleviation, and economic It is a repositioning that begins development. and ends with the reimagining of The above represents a the academic project. This entails, deliberate institutional strategy among others, and as articulated by aimed at creating, building and our Vice-Chancellor, the following: enhancing a differentiating and ● Reinvigorating curriculum distinctive identity and brand, renewal with a defined set of that coheres and remains true to epistemological and curriculum our vision, mission and values, statements, involving issues that resonates with what former of social justice, democracy, President Nelson Mandela stood equality and sustainability, and lived for, which is thankfully ecological justice, globalisation, embodied in our new name. technological change and the changing nature of work; Lebogang Hashatse ● Establishing faculty Senior Director: Communication and transformation committees, Stakeholder Liaison involving students and staff Nelson Mandela University facilitating co-creation of curricula, teaching and learning, research and engagement and innovations praxis; and ● Rinning staff orientation workshops of all academics to embrace the new knowledge and curriculum paradigm. It is a cause endorsed recently by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa when we celebrated the renaming of the university. On the day he said: “The decision to become Nelson Mandela University is not simply an exercise in corporate re-branding. It is a statement of intent. It is a statement of values. It is a validation of the struggles of our people against

8 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 9 Standing five metres tall, the 3D printer is for the manufacturing and rapid prototyping of moulds required for the composites industry. Combating sea fisheries crime

“FISHERIES crime and the illegal training along the Indian Ocean Rim, ad hoc basis. There are no courses the required training to municipal From space to harvesting, processing and trading of including countries like Indonesia.” specifically designed to train them to law enforcement officers. fish and seafood globally is so huge Norway committed R50m over fulfill their enforcement duties,” says Last year, FishFORCE ran five that it is in effect a parallel economic five years for the establishment Prof Van As. workshops in South Africa to train system that is undermining of FishFORCE, which also has the “Together with the National additional fisheries control officers sustainable economic growth.” buy-in from the world’s largest Prosecuting Authority, we will and Honorary marine conservation earth to water: So says Prof Hennie van As, international police organisation, be getting to the bottom of why officers as part of a public works Director of the Centre for Law in INTERPOL, the African Union and prosecutions for fisheries-related programme, with former Umkhonto Action (CLA) at Nelson Mandela the United Nations Office on Drugs crimes often fail. soldiers as part of the group. University, who has joined the and Crime because the oceans links “The regulating, policing and Also in 2016, FishFORCE co- global fight against fisheries crime, all nations, and porous harbours or law enforcement of fisheries hosted the high-level International the composites through FishFORCE, a Fisheries Law borders are a danger to all. vessels in the past has been too Sea Fisheries Crime Conference Enforcement Academy which was FishFORCE will work to achieve compartmentalised and full of in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which is established at the university in 2016, knowledge- and intelligence- loopholes because of the large establishing a counterpart fisheries as a partnership between the CLA, led investigations and increase number of different players involved. law enforcement academy. And it the Norwegian Department of Trade, successful prosecutions of “Illegal fisheries vessels take co-hosted a high-level conference revolution Industry and Fisheries and South criminals engaged in fisheries advantage of this. They commit in Mombasa, Kenya, together with Africa’s Department of Agriculture, crime. It will also enable fisheries document fraud to under-report the University of Nairobi and the Composites engineering is starting to gain momentum worldwide, with new research to an unprecedented Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). law enforcement officers to obtain catches, they fish illegally and they Kenyan Department of Fisheries, degree by adapting or adjusting “FishFORCE’s main purpose is formal qualifications, including change their flags (because countries where government authorities materials from the international aerospace programmes now being used in a wide designs on the computer in an to combat sea fisheries crime and higher certificates, diplomas and only have jurisdiction on the high from Kenya, Somalia, Mozambique, range of industries – including marine engineering – for lighter, stronger, more instant and then simply pressing related criminal activities,” says Prof postgraduate diplomas, with access seas over vessels that fly their flags) Tanzania, Indonesia, Mauritius and ‘print’ again,” says Prof Russell van As, who is also a member of an to further academic qualifications. or they transfer illegally caught fish Seychelles came together to discuss energy-efficient construction. Phillips, senior Mechanical international partnership on fisheries “FishFORCE is critical for from one boat to another. the combating of fisheries crime, Engineering lecturer and the head crime between South Africa and South Africa where, as is the case “We are now closely including significant poaching by of the Renewable Energy Research Norway, called PescaDOLUS. in most developing countries, the collaborating with the South African Chinese fishing boats. To assist in the development of new existing model (±200 kg). and employment opportunities and Group (RERG) within Faculty of “We have started training training of FCOs, police officers and Police Service, Defence Force, Navy, “South Africa faces the same composites in South Africa, funding “One of the lightweight boat secure eNtsa and the university’s Engineering, the Built Environment fisheries control officers (FCOs), prosecutors involved in fisheries National Prosecuting Authority and problem, with several Chinese from the Department of Science and prototypes will be used to train future growth and sustainability and Information Technology. police officers and prosecutors in law enforcement is conducted on an Home Affairs to develop a combined fishing boats apprehended in our Technology (DST) for a Collaborative Marine Engineering students, who through direct and indirect “This is invaluable for the South Africa and Kenya, and we offensive.” waters, but what people have to Fibre Composites Project (CFCP) can gain sea experience on it and partnerships with the commercial advancement of the renewable will be doing the same in other South Africa recently amended realise is that highly organised, was received last year by Nelson get a skipper’s licence. The other entities it partners with and energy industry, which is a major countries along the East its legislation to give municipal law well-financed transnational Mandela University’s internationally will go to the Nelson Mandela Bay incubates. growth area for South Africa that is African coastline. enforcement officers the powers criminal activities are taking place recognised innovation hub, called Composites Cluster at Propella (the “In the composites development booming in the Eastern Cape. We are also of FCOs. FishFORCE is giving within our waters and within eNtsa. bay’s university-linked business and construction process for wind “At Nelson Mandela University assisting with international waters all the time. “The CFCP is a skills- incubator) as a demonstrator of turbines or light aircraft structures, our goal is to be a global leader in These activities include a lot of other development programme because lightweighting.” for example, we need skilled applied renewable energy and we issues, including human and drug there is a huge growth and Young says the people to make use of the advanced are attracting increasing numbers of trafficking.” employment opportunity in the commercialisation of developed materials that have come out of the engineering postgraduates who are Research by the United Nation’s development of new composites technologies, engineering services aerospace programmes, and we interested in this field.” Food and Agricultural Organisation for a wide range of construction and high technology human require skills for their maintenance “To advance our students’ skills (FAO) estimates that Southern and needs, including marine, automotive, resource capability is a key strategic and repair. Both skills are scarce in we are setting up a composites skills East Africa lose in the region of R12.2 aviation, and renewable energy; objective for eNtsa. Focus is placed South Africa. Wind turbine blades, development and research lab that billion to illegal and unreported many wind turbine components on activities that will advance the for example, need to withstand will be used by undergraduates fishing every year. The FAO further are made from composites; and we local engineering community, harsh conditions, including high- and graduates alike,” says Young. estimates that 85% of fish stocks need to be able to do all this in South create new nodes for economic speed winds and hail, and we need “The DST is the funder and we are worldwide are now fully exploited, Africa,” says eNtsa Engineering people to repair them on site, 100 m collaborating the CSIR, with whom and illegal fishing is one of the main Director Andrew Young. in the air.” we have also worked closely on the contributors. The DST wants to see strong Through the CFCP, Master’s CFCP.” “We need to face up to the fact skills development and research “… there is a huge student Timothy Momsen developed One of the CSIR’s research areas that traditional legal approaches to outputs from its investments and growth and employment the largest 3D printer in South is on the replacement of costly combatting illegal fishing and the associated illegal activities have met eNtsa delivers this. opportunity in the Africa for his project. Standing five synthetic fibres with natural fibres. “As part of the CFCP’s skills metres tall, the 3D printer is for the “The opportunities for using FishFORCE’s main with limited success. development programme, we built a development of new manufacturing and rapid prototyping these fibres are huge; over and purpose is to combat “An alternative approach that is gaining momentum is four-metre lightweight recreational of moulds required for the above aircraft, motor vehicles and sea fisheries crime composites for a wide to approach illegal fishing as a boat … We laser-scanned it, used composites industry, such as moulds yachts, they can be used in the and related criminal range of construction transnational organised crime, and a CAD (computer-assisted design) for wind turbine blades. It can also insulation of buildings and in the activities. system to create a virtual prototype, needs, including marine, produce other three-dimensional, door panels of motor cars, which to investigate the policing, legal then we revised the shape of the structurally sound solid objects from Mercedes is already doing,” says and policy implications of using hull, added our own deck features automotive, aviation, and digital files. Young. “The revolution is upon us transnational criminal law and and used vacuum infusion as the renewable energy … and “The 3D printer is ideal for and we cannot wait to see what procedure to strengthen fisheries build technology to create a boat research and invention. Not only can we develop and what gets taken law enforcement.” that is stronger and less than half we need to be able to do researchers print the components, to market over the next couple of Website: http://cla.nmmu.ac.za the weight (±70 kg) of the similar all this in South Africa …” we can now accelerate prototype years.” and http://fishforce.nmmu.ac.za/

10 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 11 ‘Constantly Four fish or 15,000 fish – asking questions the choice is in our hands about how nature works’

The research conducted by marine biologist Prof Nadine Strydom – Africa’s leading Prof Nadine Strydom expert on early stage fish (larvae and juveniles) – contributes to fish ecology, (left) was Nelson conservation, fisheries and aquaculture. Mandela University’s Researcher of the Year: she explains what it took to take top honours for research

“I’m constantly asking questions about how the natural environment works and how fish function in their natural habitat and in response to human pressure - this is extremely important from a biodiversity, harvesting and food security perspective.” A collection of zooplankton in Algoa Bay from a larval Zooplankton (Copepods). Sardines offloaded at the harbour from Prof Strydom is also committed fish research survey. Photograph: Roland Birke a local purse seine fishing vessel. to growing the number of Photograph: Prof Nadine Strydom Photograph: Prof Nadine Strydom postgraduate students in marine biology and encourages publishing all her science with students. OVERFISHING of South Africa’s year and only 0.1% or four of their under a microscope. She tracks the encourage anglers to release the we are directly threatening the threat from waters polluted by multiple habitats in their lives. Recent work with graduate Dr linefish has put them in survival offspring will survive to adulthood larvae of fish – monitoring their prime stock they catch.” sustainability of species which agricultural runoff and sewage,” she The moonies, for example, spawn Paula Pattrick in the international mode, with smaller, younger fish under natural conditions. A movement from the sea (where There are approximately feed and support millions of people explains. at sea, and use the estuaries and marine science journal, Marine becoming sexually mature – but 30-year-old dusky kob can produce fish spawn) to the surf zone (where 2.5 million active recreational and are vital to the functioning Her work has already shown mangroves as their nursery areas. Ecology Progress Series, has producing far fewer and much 15 million eggs per spawning season fish larvae are part of the plankton) anglers in South Africa from every of our ecosystems.She is on the that young fish that are being As juveniles they can even move made some important advances smaller eggs, with only a handful of once a year and 0.1% will survive, to estuaries (where they grow into socioeconomic, age and gender management committee of the consumed in the recreational up rivers and feed on insect larvae in understanding fish spawning, babies surviving. which is 15,000 fish.” juvenile fish) and in some cases, group. They play a major role in the Swartkops Conservancy, an fishery on the Swartkops Estuary and when they reach maturity they including “that spawning occurs And so numbers continue Stocks of South Africa’s iconic even up-river where certain marine conservation of our fish stocks. The environmental education NGO in are contaminated with heavy go back out to sea.” closer to shore than what was to drop, says Nelson Mandela angling fish species – such as fish make use of unique nursery definition of recreational angling Nelson Mandela Bay, which is on metals such ascadmium. Fish In Prof Strydom’s field it often previously thought”. University marine biologist Prof red and white steenbras, black areas. ranges from catching fish from the a major engagement drive to meet that are contaminated in their takes years to gather the different Prof Strydom confirms that Nadine Strydom, who wastes no musselcracker, dageraad, kabeljou Her research on the larval shore to catching from rowing boats with citizens living in the vicinity nursery areas subsequently swim parts of the life cycle puzzle for many nearshore habitats are time getting to the heart of the (kob) and seventy-four – are now so stages of temperate southern or ski boats or with spear guns. of estuaries to talk about sewerage, to neighbouring estuaries as different species and put them underexplored and are extremely country’s fishing crisis. overexploited that they fall within African fish species spans a While the Department of industrial and agricultural pollution, adults where the contamination is together to start understanding important spawning and nursery “Many coastal linefish species the red list of threatened species, as geographic study area extending Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plastic and microplastics, which extended. the bigger picture of how fish use areas for fish that we rely on for can live for over 30 years but tracked by the International Union from the middle of the Transkei monitors the catches of the are posing a major risk to our Another area of concern their environment from hatching food. The value of the Eastern Cape because of over-fishing, their for the Conservation of Nature coast all the way to Angola. 22 commercial fisheries in South marine life. She gives presentations that falls within Prof Strydom’s to adults, many of which become as a fish nursery hotspot in South populations have either collapsed or (IUCN). This research is so important Africa, there is inadequate effort and provides educational material research domain is the shortage part of fisheries. South Africa has Africa is underestimated and there the numbers of older, mature adults When it comes to the because an understanding of fish in the monitoring of the catches in to coastal communities and of freshwater flow from the river exceptional marine biodiversity are a plethora of habitats along the have dangerously plummeted. musselcracker, targeting the largest, larvae and juvenile survival can help recreational angling, other than the schools about overharvesting of system into estuaries because with approximately 2,700 fish coast that are poorly studied often Their survival response is that the mature fish completely derails the with predictions about the size of number of permits sold and various resources and how pollution affects of large dams like those on the species; many are found only in because they are dangerous to smaller, younger fish are becoming species’ sex ratios, as the entire future fish populations. “It’s a well- surveys with fishers along our long river systems and estuaries and Kariega, Bushmans and Krom southern Africa and our knowledge work in. sexually mature at a younger age, population is female for the first known scientific phenomenon that coastline. ultimately the food we eat. rivers. The inflow of fresh water is of the full life cycle of many fish The province is home to the which is not good for the species 18 years of their lives and become the success of any fish population “Policing of recreational fishing Prof Strydom is pioneering essential to estuary health. “Many species is still unknown. large Agulhas Bank in the ocean because they do not produce males thereafter. is underpinned by the success of is almost non-existent. People the use of specialised biochemical people don’t realise the life link “There is so much that still and the most open estuaries in the nearly the same amount or size of These examples illustrate the the larval phase, which is directly are taking undersized fish and analysis used in northern between rivers and estuaries is needs to be investigated about even country, as well as many small eggs, which affects the survival of importance of Prof Strydom’s related to environmental conditions, taking more than they are legally hemisphere fisheries and applying necessary for marine ecosystem our best-known coastal fishes. bays and surf zones that are key offspring. research, which uniquely explores habitat threats such as pollution and allowed and our natural resources this to ecology in estuaries in South survival. Many of our key linefish Key aspects of their biology and fish areas. All this needs to be taken “Less than 0.1% of all spawned, fish reproduction across wetlands, overharvesting of breeding adults. are struggling to recover from the Africa in collaboration with the species use estuaries as nurseries, ecology are still unknown, such as into consideration in marine spatial fertilised linefish eggs make it rivers, estuaries and the ocean. Her “Because we understand how pressure,” says Prof Strydom. GEOMAR Research Institute in including the dusky kob, white where they are spawning. We are planning initiatives that serve fish through to adulthood. If we look speciality, which is a scarce skill devastating it is to remove the oldest An important part of her Germany. “We are using a fisheries steenbras, garrick, spotted grunter busy with cutting-edge research conservation in a changing world. at the dusky kob as an example, worldwide, is focused on the early fish, which are the best breeders, work is to educate the fishing and tool in an ecological context, to and many others,” Prof Strydom but at the same time we are trying at 10 years, it can produce 4,000 developmental stages of fish that producing larger eggs and stronger coastal communities about fish, understand the body condition of explains. to plug the leaking holes created by eggs per spawning season once a are so tiny they can only be viewed offspring, part of our work is to their life cycles, pollution and how fish in nursery areas that are under “Many fish species also cross pollution and over-fishing.”

12 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 13 were available – and how good Stone tools were the Swiss people were at extracting these army knife of the Stone Age world, resources – is the first step and the process of heating the Middle Stone towards determining how, when stone to create the “bladelets” took and why human beings started to several complicated steps – which advance cognitively. involved “baking” the stone under “With the evidence available sand – and Stone Age people today, one cannot refute that by then would have had to have Age people modern cognition emerged on developed an effective way of the Cape South Coast ... You can communicating to enable them to observe more about modern achieve what was needed. human development here than “Silcrete was their most anywhere else.” important raw material. It enabled got smart at Altogether, SACP4 has 35 them to make these very fine researchers from 20 universities bladelets and to have bows and from every continent, representing arrows, with ridged arrow heads a huge range of disciplines, ... These tools would have been a from archaeology to botany, major technological breakthrough,” the coast geosciences, climate sciences, says Prof Cowling. zoology, history and anthropology, Over the last decade, South who are “trying to put their pieces African and other international into the puzzle of building the researchers have also brought the palaeoscape”, says Prof Cowling’s dates of the earliest art works from co-worker Dr Alastair Potts, 20,000 to 30,000 years ago in BEING able to use fire to engineer available food resources. Finally, a senior lecturer in botany at France, to as far back as 120,000 weapons out of stone, and perhaps they test the predictions of the Nelson Mandela University, who years ago in South Africa, and the even read the lunar cycles to model against the archaeological is responsible for modelling time frames for the development know when the tides would be data available. vegetation for the recreated of a true coastal lifestyle based low enough to forage for shellfish, “We are using the agent-based palaeoscape. on intertidal resources to about are some of the signs that Middle model to develop hypotheses about “We’re at a juncture here. This 110,000 years ago. Elsewhere, Stone Age people first developed how people would have reacted project has brought together a the coastal adaptation emerged intelligence along South Africa’s to resources, how they would only relatively recently, in the past southern Cape coast. have obtained them, the success 30,000 years or so. An international, multi- rates of their hunting, how they Africa’s southern Cape coast, disciplinary group of researchers would have moved around, how “With the evidence with its prolific shell fish and edible has been collecting archaeological, many people would have lived and available today, one plants, and its warm Agulhas botanical, geological, climate- foraged in a 10 km radius, and the cannot refute that current ensuring the coastline related and other data in and around optimal group sizes for hunting,” didn’t ice up, would have been one the Pinnacle Point caves near says Nelson Mandela University modern cognition of the few spots on Earth where Mossel Bay, where it is believed botany professor Richard Cowling, emerged on the Cape humans could have survived at that that a small group of Homo sapiens a co-principal investigator in time. survived an Ice Age between the SACP4 project (the South South Coast ... You Nelson Mandela University PhD 195,000 and 123,000 years ago, and African Coast Palaeoclimate, can observe more student Jan de Vynck, supervised could very likely be the ancestors of Palaeoenvironment, Palaeoecology, by Profs Hill and Cowling, has been everyone alive today. and Palaeoanthrolopology about modern human looking at the high return rate of What they have found has project), which is led by development here than foraging in the inter-tidal zone. shifted the start of modern humans’ palaeoanthropologist Prof Curtis His Master’s research examined cognitive development from some Marean, from the Institute of anywhere else.” the availability of bulbs in the area 40,000 years ago in Europe, a view Human Origins at Arizona State and found they were abundant just long held in scientific literature, University, and funded by the whole bunch of different fields about all year round. to 100,000 years earlier, in South National Science Foundation, that are advanced enough to Dr Potts said modelling the Africa. Templeton Foundation, and Hyde incorporate it all together to vegetation for the recreated But what is also groundbreaking Family Foundations in the United try and crack the nut of human palaeoscape was challenging about the Pinnacle Point study – and States. cognitive evolution.” “because you are dealing with an likely to set a precedent for other “This is a very different The “agent-based foraging extinct ecosystem as the sea level major archaeological explorations approach – and it is a world leader model” is based on the research has changed”. Sea has reclaimed a – is that the research group is not in that sense,” says Prof Cowling, of Arizona State University’s huge portion of land – leaving much just relying on its own limited who also heads up the Centre for Prof Kim Hill, an anthropologist, of it under water, thus SACP4 has understanding to tell the story about Coastal Palaeoscience at Nelson who used the model to map the required the assistance of off-shore how things were. Instead, they are Mandela University. movements of the Aché Indians in marine geologist, Hayley Cawthra, using state-of-the-art technology “What adds the gloss to this Paraguay, with 95% accuracy. The to map the offshore geology, which to create a computer-generated study is that we are looking at development of the model is being has included extracting rocks from palaeoscape (the ancient landscape), the dawn of our species. SACP4 led by the University of Colorado’s the seabed in deep, shark-infested based on the archaeological is providing another layer of The view from cave PP13B at Mossel Bay’s Dr Colin Wren. waters. artefacts they find, along with the information, which makes the Pinnacle Point, where evidence of Middle Archaeological artefacts found ● Nelson Mandela University is flora and fauna in the area. They project [one] of global interest.” Stone Age people dates back 160,000 through SACP4 have brought the showcasing this research in a then create a computer model Already, a number of articles about to 90,000 years. Scientists determine dates of the earliest heat treatment unique palaeoscience exhibition of the behaviour of Middle Stone SACP4 have been published in the these dates using optically stimulated for weapons from 20,000 years titled “Point of Human Origin”, Age people by “releasing” them world’s leading science journals, luminescence (OSL), a process which ago in Europe to 72,000 years which runs till the end of the as “agents” within this simulated among them Science, Nature and measures the last time a grain of sand was ago at Pinnacle Point – where year. The exhibition includes Scientific American. landscape, checking how they may exposed to light. “bladelets” crafted out of silcrete an artist’s recreation of part of have gone about foraging for the Figuring out what resources rock have been found. Pinnacle Point’s cave PP13B.

14 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 15 ‘Extraordinary’ Eastern Cape rock pool systems provide clues to early life Prof Renzo Perissinotto and his students investigate one of South Africa’s minor estuaries, which are at risk of drying up.

COULD the Eastern Cape have Chairs and five international Australia and the Bahamas.” Eigth articles have been ecology, as well as the biodiversity fish utilise St Lucia for breeding – because of floods. However, when may occur.” played a role in the very origins of collaborators from universities in If you saw one today, you would published in prominent international of the system.” these have decreased dramatically the mouth is closed, there is a Prof Perissinotto and his earthly life? Norway, Italy, Poland, Sweden and be forgiven for thinking it was just journals so far on this subject. The In 2016 alone, Perissinotto and because St Lucia is currently a steady accumulation of silt, and we postgraduate students have also The recent discovery of one of the United States – which has been a stagnant rock pool covered in a first article, published in the South his team of researchers published closed estuary [it does not flow into don’t yet know what this could lead been conducting research into the the world’s earliest life forms right studying this phenomenon over the green carpet of algae – not realising African Journal of Science, has eight articles on the changes that the sea]. “Through the Umfolozi to.” Ideally, increased rainfall in the invertebrates living in the waters here along South Africa’s coastline past few years. that the same growth process that called for the government to protect had occurred since the previous connection, there will be more eastern part of the country would of the Karoo – which forms part of suggests it could. “This is an area of great interest occurred billions of years ago was these areas with special legislation, drought. recruitment ... This is one of the lead to more frequent floods, which a baseline study on this area, prior In a handful of rock pools around the world … there is an taking place right before your eyes. as is done in Australia. He is also promoting most important [fish] recruitment would take care of the sediment by to possible fracking efforts – and around the globe, this early form eagerness to know more about how “The process requires “If we can prove that these rehabilitation efforts at the park. areas on the African continent ... We breaching the mouth. they have discovered a number of of life – dating back some 3,7 they function, in comparison with super-saturation of the water structures are similar to the most In the 1960s, managers saw fit to are also discovering new species of Perissinotto said silt scouring highly-specialised organisms that by calcium carbonate (CaCO invertebrates there all the time.” through floods was the ideal have adapted to this area’s unique billion years ago, according to fossil those seen in the fossil record”. 3), ancient forms of life that have establish a dredge-spoil island to records – can still be found. “These bacteria-based systems which only occurs in today’s appeared on this planet, we have got disconnect the estuary from the One of the consequences of situation, as it led to more food semi-desert environment. It is a bacteria-based system provided the first photosynthetic marine environment under special a bit of the ‘origins of life’ story right Umfolozi river, the most heavily- restoring the connection between (phytoplankton) for fish larvae, A number of new species are responsible for “growing” the process that led to the transitioning conditions, for example, under here.” silted river in South Africa (they the river and the estuary has been ultimately leading to more fish in the currently being described by world calcified walls of coastal rock pools of the early Earth’s atmosphere into states of hyper-salinity, excess Perissinotto is also involved kept the mouth of Umfolozi River “huge sediments coming into sea. “It is a more natural system that specialists. – and it was recently discovered, in its current, productive oxygen-rich evaporation or the mixing of in a number of other research artificially opened into the sea) iSimangaliso from the Umfolozi.” sets in motion the productivity of “There is large interest abundance, in the Eastern Cape. state.” extremely different water types.” projects, the main one focusing on – and the island is now being However, this is a challenge the the coastline.” worldwide regarding this baseline Regarded as the oldest type He explained that these Perissinotto said the research iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which removed to restore the area to how Park Authority is now allowing However, climate change has study, as such studies haven’t been of biologically-mediated calcified bacteria-based formations – called team, which includes Nelson includes Africa’s largest estuarine it once was, with phase one of the nature to manage. brought uncertainty, with droughts done anywhere else in the world formations on Earth, other rare living marine stromatolites – occur Mandela University Research system (Lake St Lucia). project successfully completed. “It is a situation where we have becoming more prolonged, and [in countries like Australia, the living examples of these systems when freshwater seepage from Chair in Earth Systems Science, This UNESCO World Heritage Over 100 species of marine regular scouring of the system floods, when they occur, being United States and China, where are found in Shark Bay in Australia the land comes together with Prof David Bell, and Rhodes site in KwaZulu-Natal, receives much bigger. fracking operations are already well and the Exumas in the Bahamas. But seawater in the inter-tidal area, and University Research Chair in 700,000 to 800,000 visitors a year, Perissinotto is also conducting underway]. These countries have no scientists have been taken aback by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), Marine Natural Products, Prof coming only after the Kruger and Staff and students collect samples at rare living rock pool research on the biodiversity comparison with how the situation the sheer number found along the under certain conditions, play a role Rosemary Dorrington, along with the Cape Peninsula National Parks systems in the Eastern Cape. of surface and groundwater in was before.” coast, south of Port Elizabeth. in depositing calcite crystals. staff and postgraduate students as the most popular eco-tourism Photograph: Lynette Clennell the Karoo, as part of a natural Perissinotto’s research in this These colonies are giving “Although other rare, isolated from NMMU’s Geoscience, site in the country. baseline study by Nelson area has led to publications in three scientists a glimpse into the examples of similar formations Chemistry, Zoology and Botany Prof Perissinotto has been Mandela University’s Africa Earth international journals. hydrospheric (water) conditions that have been reported to occur departments, conducted a year- monitoring the park on a quarterly Observatory Network-Earth Perissinotto is also part of a prevailed at the very onset of life on from Port Elizabeth to Tofu in long baseline survey relating to the basis for the past 12 years, notching Stewardship Science Research team, led by the South African earth. Mozambique, the recent discovery structure, functioning and age of the up expertise that has enabled him to Institute (AEON-ESSRI), which is Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity “They were the only living things of numerous and closely-spaced stromatolites. The five international accurately track the many changes being undertaken in anticipation of (SAIAB), which is studying coastal in those days – they disappeared living stromatolites on the coastline universities involved in the research that have occurred through times shale gas exploration in this area. micro-inlets (minor estuaries), with the advent of other, more south of Port Elizabeth appears to be are the Norwegian University of drought and flood, and in the “We are mapping 30 to 40 systems, which could possibly dry up in the evolved organisms,” said Prof Renzo extraordinary ... We have discovered of Science and Technology, the transition periods between them. ranging from large dams to small next decade. “Forecasts predict Perissinotto, who holds a Research over 500 actively-growing marine University of Padova (Italy), the “We have been able to capture streams to temporary depressions that water demand will exceed Chair in Shallow Water Ecosystems stromatolites from Cape Recife to University of Lodz (Poland), the the changes for all these events – ... We need to put their biodiversity supply by 2025 ... We don’t know at Nelson Mandela University and Storms River. University of Gothenburg (Sweden) and have developed an excellent on record before shale gas mining the biodiversity of these inlets or is part of a high-profile team – “They are a unique feature and and Oregon State University (United picture of the major changes in begins, so that we are able to the role they play in relation to the including two other South African are very different to those found in States). the park’s physico-chemistry and monitor any significant changes that bigger estuaries.”

16 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 17 “A lot of work is being done [to enforce the law of the sea] with the use of technology such as drones, but Sea law many African states do not have the means to protect their waters…”

for Africa state, but for all other purposes the international law in order to develop zone is subjected to the same laws marine spatial planning laws.” as the high seas.” He has since been working with Every resource found in the the Chair on Marine Spatial Planning EEZ, from fish to oil, gas and other at Nelson Mandela University, which South Africa has one of the largest maritime zones minerals, belongs to the coastal is recommending to parliament in Africa with a sea area spanning 2.5 million square state, but it cannot prevent any other several critical legal improvements nation from navigating through this to the current Bill before it becomes kilometres, which is twice the size of our dry land area. In certain cases, however, an Act. territory. The big question is: How do we govern this if the continental shelf extends Prof Vrancken, who was further than the 200 nautical miles, the deputy leader of the marine vast sea area? a coastal state can claim the seabed protection services and ocean and its subsoil up to 350 nautical governance lab at the Operation miles (650km), such as South Africa Phakisa ocean labs in Durban does. in 2014, is also a member of the WITH all eyes on the oceans as a Law of the Sea and Development Then there are the high seas: International Law Association’s rich resource, and with the South in Africa, who five years ago wrote How does the law limit the freedoms Committee on International Law African government’s focus on the South Africa and the Law of the Sea, that all nations have on the high and Sea Level Rise, and last year, ocean economy through Operation which was the first book published seas to ensure the sustainability he organised and chaired the law Phakisa, there is an urgency on this subject. of our fish populations?. How do of the sea session at the Biennial to create and enforce strong, “The sea is divided into maritime we apprehend people invading our Conference of the International Law comprehensive laws for South Africa zones with different rules in different territorial waters and EEZ from the Association, held in Sandton. It was and Africa’s maritime domains. zones … You have laws governing high seas in order to illegally harvest the first time the conference has This is no easy task, given that the internal waters such as our bays; our fish and marine resources? been hosted in sub-Saharan Africa. the law of the sea is extremely then you have laws governing the “A lot of work is being done on “With global warming (and complex, and there is limited marine territorial sea extending 12 nautical All eyes on the sea: three key focus areas this now with the use of technology ocean levels rising), some island knowledge and understanding miles (22km). such as drones, but many African states might have their land territory worldwide. In fact, we know more “Beyond this is the exclusive The South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) Chair of the Law of the states do not have the means to disappearing. Current international about the surface of the moon than economic zone (EEZ) and many Sea and Development in Africa focuses on three areas: protect their waters, or to detect law says if the islands disappear, we know about the bottom of the people think it is part of the territory ships which are supposed to that island state loses one of the ocean. of the coastal state but it is not. The ● South Africa and the law of the sea, including the legal regime governing have GPS navigation [indicating] basic elements that define a state. The legal regime that applies at law treats the resources found in the South African continental shelf and the exploitation of its resources; their position but take various But what about the people with the sea is very different to the one which the EEZ, which extends as far as ● Development in Africa and the law of the sea, including relevant steps to avoid detection,” says nationality of that state, Where do applies on land, explains Prof Patrick 200 nautical miles (370 km) from indigenous law, and research at an international and comparative level Prof Vrancken whose research they go? And does that island state Vrancken (left), the incumbent of the the coastal baselines, as if they were on: includes the legal developments also lose its EEZ and its resources? South African Research Chair on the part of the territory of the coastal 1 the East coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean; that affect African coasts and the We have to relook at all these 2 the West coast of Africa and the Atlantic Ocean; maritime environment, as well as issues as the ocean levels rise. 3 the Southern Ocean and Antarctica; and incorporating the international law Part of this is to legally examine ● The legal aspects of marine tourism. of the sea into the domestic legal who is responsible for the islands system of African states and into disappearing, the island state or the South African law. major economies fuelling global Pirates, turtles and cruise ships: Last year, Prof Vrancken edited warming.” the first edition of a new journal Another pressing legal issue the An array of postgraduate research iilwandle zethu: The Journal of Chair is researching is the protection Ocean Law and Governance in of genetic resources at sea. During 2016, the SARChI Law of the Sea Chair had 10 PhD and five Master’s Africa (the title meaning “our sea” in Doctoral student Tanya Wagenaar is students working on marine projects in the following areas: Xhosa) and he produced an update researching this. of The South African Ports Law “It brings us to a completely ● Labour rights of fishers in Namibia; Handbook with Nelson Mandela different idea potentially of how ● Maritime piracy legislation for Nigeria; University doctoral student Zintle life is created and pharmaceutical ● Marine scientific research in Antarctica; Siwisa-Thompson. companies are spending billions ● Legal aspects of marine spatial planning; Also last year, he co-authored of dollars collecting and analysing ● Legal regulation of surfing in South Africa; an 800-page book being published specimens from (the sea),” says Prof ● The Common Exclusive Maritime Zone of Africa; by Juta in November 2017, titled: Vrancken. ● Protection of copyright aboard cruise ships at sea; The Law of the Sea: The African “But to whom do these ● Decommissioning of offshore installations on high seas; Union and its Member States. It has organisms belong and if a cure is ● The safety of navigation and the role of port state jurisdiction; more than 20 authors and is the first developed from one or more of ● The intellectual property consequences of marine bioprospecting; attempt at a systematic reference them, does the organism and cure ● African traditional fishers in the law of the sea and human rights law; work on the law of the sea in Africa. belong to the company that has the ● The legal framework of concession agreements relating to Nigerian Commenting on South Africa’s resources to find it or somebody ports; new Marine Spatial Planning Bill, else? These are some of the ● The role and efficiency of international conservation instruments for which was tabled in parliament complex laws we are addressing turtles and turtle habitats; and earlier this year, Prof Vrancken as the world fixes its focus on the ● Sustainable strategies for improved implementation of South Africa’s said: “You need to understand oceans.” marine living resources legislation.

18 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 19 The complicated It’s about working together to task of ocean zoning fast-track SA’s blue economy

THE ocean is a busy place. Apart from the sea life inhabiting its countless ecosystems, it plays host to commercial fisheries, ship traffic, gas exploration and seabed-mining companies, fish farms, marine tourism, marine protected areas and much more. Dividing the ocean into “zones” for its various uses – which are likely to increase with the government’s push to develop the country’s blue economy through Operation Phakisa – is the work of marine spatial planners. They are essentially the town planners of the sea. “Trying to zone any human holds the SARChI Chair on the Law involved in marine spatial planning predator species to identifying and activity in the sea is very of the Sea and Development in to fisheries management to policy mapping key fishing areas within complicated,” says Prof Mandy Africa at Nelson Mandela University. makers – can sit around the same exclusive economic zones. Lombard, who holds a Research The two Chairs are working closely, table and talk about their different For many years, Lombard Chair in Marine Spatial Planning at recommending to parliament interests, to make the best decisions and other researchers have been Nelson Mandela University. several critical legal improvements about managing South Africa’s working hard to design strategically Marine spatial planning is a to the current Bill before it becomes ocean space.” placed marine protected areas for highly specialised field, because an Act. She said the different research South Africa. With the arrival of it has to take into account all the Lombard and her team of and legislation could then feed into Operation Phakisa, many of these ecosystem activities that take postgraduate students have also an Integrated Oceans Act, similar in protected areas have been gazetted place in three-dimensional ocean made recommendations for the purpose to the existing Integrated for comment. space, from the bottom of the ocean Bill relating to marine conservation Coastal Management Act. “The good thing is that Phakisa through the water column to the strategies and adaptive management The nine students conducting has allowed us to take a lot of steps surface. In addition, different areas approaches, based on their research, research under the Chair all focus forward. However, at the same time, of the sea – from the high water which is underpinned by a healthy- on projects that demonstrate the government is pushing to unlock Nelson Mandela Bay is destined to play a lead role in developing the untapped potential of the blue economy without it negatively impacting on the mark on the shore to the deep blue ecosystems approach. value of functioning ecosystem the ocean’s economy – the ‘blue’ country’s ecological sustainability. yonder – fall under the jurisdiction Lombard said marine spatial services to the planning process. economy – and we need proper of different legislation, national planning had two essential flavours: Their projects range from research legal instruments in place to guide “National government has levers reflect at least 4% annual closer to the shore and international, one was economy-driven, and the on whales and other marine top this process, and help us understand ● Small harbours and coastal Growth plans formally recognised Nelson Mandela growth in both GDP contribution the further out one goes – adding other was ecosystem-driven. the trade-offs involved in allocating property development; and Plans to grow the maritime University as the leading South and job creation. Such ambitious complicated legalities to the zoning “The latter is the view I take, ocean space to one activity versus ● Coastal and marine tourism. economy depend on the availability African university in the marine targets cannot be realised without process. and that most scientists take. One of another.” Through Operation Phakisa, the of skilled people to implement and maritime fields. Ocean sciences increasing the pool of skills available The Chair is playing a key role my principle roles in this Chair is to Lombard, who has a PhD in South African government plans them, along with the generation research, training and innovation to the maritime industry. in commenting on and helping to demonstrate that ecosystem security animal physiology (specialising in to use the potential of the oceans of knowledge and technological across numerous disciplines at “Qualifications are needed for a improve the draft Marine Spatial underpins everything we get from sea birds) from the University of economy to address the challenges innovation to support a globally our university, several of which wide range of marine and maritime Planning Bill released in 2016, the the ocean. All our research is based Cape Town, has been working on of poverty, unemployment and competitive maritime industry. are already well established, will sectors and South Africa can learn aim of which is to achieve better on healthy functioning ecosystems systematic conservation planning inequality. The ocean covers 70% The South African International play a pivotal role in the growth of from leading maritime nations regulation of the ocean space. … Let’s take care of ecosystems first, since 1991, initially focusing on land of the earth’s surface and is an Maritime Institute (SAIMI) was the ocean economy and Operation such as our partners in the United Prof Lombard explains that the and then see if we can do all the and shifting to marine in 2004. important source of food, energy established in response to that need, Phakisa,” says Judge Ronnie Pillay, Kingdom, Finland and Norway with Bill is highly complex as there is all other things.” She completed post-doctoral and minerals. as a national institute to coordinate the university’s Chair of Council. its blue growth for a green future sorts of existing legislation, such Lombard said the management work in the United States and “An analysis of South Africa’s and facilitate skills development to Operation Phakisa is the fast- strategy. as for fisheries, Marine Protected of South Africa’s coastline Australia, and also worked for oceans economy estimates that support the growth of the oceans track development plan, launched This strategy incentivises the Areas (MPAs) and some oil and was currently a divided field, UCT’s Fitzpatrick Institute of African the ocean has the potential to economy. by the South African government in establishment of local, regional, gas legislation, but the legislation with different specialists and Ornithology. contribute an estimated R177 “SAIMI plays a linking role 2014. Its oceans economy project continental and global marine and doesn’t converge and this is what the stakeholders concentrating on their She has been an independent billion to the country’s GDP, while between industry, education includes six key areas, namely: maritime clusters. draft Marine Spatial Planning Bill is own respective areas of interest, research consultant in conservation creating up to one million new jobs and training institutions and ● Marine transport and Through these clusters, marine supposed to do. rather than how they fit into the planning since moving from Cape by 2033, explains Nelson Mandela government. Our role is to help manufacturing; and maritime industry experience To understand the complex bigger picture. Town to Sedgefield in 1998, and has University’s Senior Director of identify industry needs and ● Aquaculture; is linked with research-based legislation she is collaborating “There is lots of disconnect. What Prof Mandy Lombard has been published papers through Nelson Institutional Planning, Prof Heather opportunities, and facilitate the ● Offshore oil and gas; knowledge from universities to with the leading legal specialist on we are pushing for is integrated working hard for many years, to Mandela University. What drives her Nel, a key driver in the university’s development of education and ● Marine protection and ocean stimulate innovation for the benefit the law of the sea in South Africa, ocean management, where all the design strategically-placed marine research is “a longstanding and deep Ocean Sciences Campus. training programmes to meet those governance; of the blue economy.” Professor Patrick Vrancken, who different stakeholders – from those protected areas for this country. love for the ocean”. “These potential growth needs,” says SAIMI chief executive

20 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 21 Bringing shipbuilding and marine engineering to Nelson Mandela Bay

WITH all eyes focused on South Africa’s blue economy, there is an overriding need to develop skills for the marine and maritime industry – which includes boosting the country’s shipbuilding capabilities. Nelson Mandela University’s Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology (EBEIT) is determined to drive development in this area. Not only do its expanded Greg Davids, a prominent figure in facilities include training space for the marine manufacturing sector, shipbuilding, but it is also offering is CEO of the Urban Soul Group, new qualifications in the industry, which includes USG Advisory including a degree in Marine Nelson Mandela University’s Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment Services, the organisation that Engineering from 2018 and one in and Information Technology (EBEIT) is determined to play a significant role represents Finnish corporation Nautical Science from 2020. in the development of Port Elizabeth as a manufacturing hub for marine Wärtsilä - one of EBEIT’s key The faculty has received much vessels of all sizes. Photograph: Greg Davids industry partners – in South Africa. support for its marine and maritime focus, including funding from the Part of the funding from energy industry. The company sector. Last year, EBEIT appointed manufacturing, engineering and merSETA is being used to hire routinely trains engineers and Davids as an Adjunct Professor. related services SETA (merSETA) of experts in Marine Engineering to technicians from all over the world. Other lecturers and specialists R10 million a year for three years, teach, support and grow students for Wärtsilä recently won the recently contracted by EBEIT starting in 2016. the marine and maritime industry tender to supply the engines include Finnish naval architect “The new degrees and the and to increase research for naval and power train for the South Hakan Enlund, who has extensive association with merSETA will architecture and ship engineering. African Navy’s new hydrographic ship building experience, including significantly contribute to the “Drawing on our significant vessel – a scientific research and the construction of a number of maritime future of the Eastern Cape base knowledge in Mechanical investigation vessel that uses sound South African navy vessels, such as and South Africa. Our approach and Electrical Engineering, we and visual detection to determine Agulhas I and II; John Fernandes, is also aligned with the Nelson have registered the new Bachelor what is happening under the sea. who is currently doing his PhD Mandela Bay Metro’s request that of Engineering Technology: It is being built by the Southern in Mechatronics with a maritime Prof Malek Pourzanjani. economy depend on the availability What is SAIMI? SAIMI and Operation Operation Phakisa invest in a Marine Engineering, which will African Shipyards in Durban and the focus on intelligent navigation of Established in 2014, the successes of skilled people to implement The South African International Phakisa shipbuilding sector in Port Elizabeth,” be offered at Nelson Mandela contract requires Wärtsilä to engage mobile systems for unmanned of SAIMI to date include: them, along with the generation Maritime Institute (SAIMI) is SAIMI is a direct outcome of says Karl du Preez, merSETA Chair University from 2018,” says EBEIT’s in development activities, which they vehicle applications, such as the ● Managing the National Cadet of knowledge and technological facilitating the development of Operation Phakisa, the South in Engineering Development at the Marine Engineering and Nautical are bringing to the university where loading of cargo vessels or the use Programme, which is supporting innovation that looks to the the skills and knowledge base African government’s initiative to university. Science Project Manager, Howard they will establish a Wärtsilä /Nelson of submarines to inspect undersea over 200 aspirant professional future. SAIMI is the outcome of required to ensure the success unlock the potential of the oceans The faculty’s exponential Theunissen. This unique qualification Mandela University Land and Sea pipelines or unmanned sea mariners; that identified need, and is of “blue economy” maritime to generate socio-economic value marine and maritime expansion in South Africa has been endorsed Academy. vehicles to inspect the surface of ● Forging new partnerships to facilitating a number of skills development initiatives such and employment – estimated at over 2016/17 coincides with and approved by the Engineering As part of this, Wärtsilä is the sea; Port Elizabeth-based Chief expand the training of sea- development initiatives to support as Operation Phakisa and the up to R177 billion added to Gross the completion of additional Council of South Africa (ECSA) and donating Wärtsilä engines, a 2-speed Engineer Sergio Giannotti, who has faring cadets, as well as new the realisation of Operation African Union’s African Integrated Domestic Product (GDP) and infrastructure, which includes two the SA Maritime Safety Authority . gearbox, thruster and propeller, 15 years of practical ocean-going programmes in other areas of the Phakisa objectives. Maritime Strategy. a million jobs by 2033. training studios for shipbuilding and From 2020, another new as well as a range of cutting-edge experience; and Boswell Douse, maritime sector; It is estimated that the oceans It is a multi-disciplinary, Successes reported by the high definition video conferencing degree will be offered by EBEIT, the simulation and software packages who is completing his Master’s in ● Coordinating the Operation lapping the 3,900 km South multi-stakeholder institute active government by the first quarter facilities. The combination of contact Bachelor of Nautical Science, to train for the training of technicians and Naval Architecture at the University Phakisa Skills Working Groups African coastline (including in all aspects of the maritime field, of 2017 include the unlocking of and live video lectures combined ship captains and ship navigators. marine engineers who work on ship of Southampton, the leading marine whose work will lead to a national the Prince Edward Islands) including shipping, harbours, R7,323 billion in investments into with practical instruction offers It is being designed in collaboration power systems. and maritime university in the maritime skills framework; have the potential to contribute manufacturing and construction, the Oceans Economy and the EBEIT students access to world-best with Captain Richard Dunham from Wärtsilä is represented in United Kingdom. ● Facilitating the development substantially. In fact, these growth sustainability, environment, creation of over 6,900 jobs. education. the Australian Maritime College South African by USG Advisory Adding to EBEIT’s applied Marine of the Research, Innovation levers reflect at least 4% annual law, and marine tourism. SAIMI Operation Phakisa and its “EBEIT intends to (AMC) in Tasmania. Services, a division of the Urban Engineering skills is the Advanced and Knowledge Management growth in both GDP contribution also links with industry and forerunners – a maritime skills play a significant role One of EBEIT’s key industry Soul Group whose CEO, Greg Mechatronics Technology Centre at Roadmap for the maritime sector; and job creation. academia in marine and coastal study, summit and feasibility study in the development partners is the Finnish Davids, is a prominent figure in the university, which has received and Based in Nelson Mandela Bay sciences and works closely with commissioned by SA Maritime of Port Elizabeth as a corporation Wärtsilä, which the marine manufacturing sector. support from MerSETA to develop ● Securing a three-year grant – the only city in South Africa with existing education institutions Safety Authority and government manufacturing hub for manufactures and services He has extensive experience and its capabilities in process control from the National Skills Fund to two commercial ports – SAIMI is offering post-school maritime partners between 2011 and 2013 – marine vessels of all engines for about 40% of all longstanding partnerships in the in the marine industry – such as establish SAIMI, to ensure the uniquely positioned to stimulate courses. identified the need for a dedicated sizes,” says EBEIT’s ships worldwide, in addition international and South African controlling ship rudders, heating and continuity of the National Cadet and coordinate the research, The Institute facilitates input institute to coordinate and Executive Dean, to a range of shipbuilding and repair industries, cooling systems, and the integration Programme, and develop new education and skills development from the industry to ensure improve the provision of maritime Dr Oswald equipment in and among vessel owners and fleet and visualisation of systems, many programmes needed to position South Africa as that the necessary job-related education, training and skills Franks. the marine and managers as well as the fishing of which are remotely controlled. skills and training are being development. a global leader in the sustainable SAIMI is hosted at Nelson Mandela offered. Plans to grow the maritime utilisation of maritime resources. Dr Oswalds Franks, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology University. (EBEIT), is looking forward to Port Elizabeth’s development as a manufacturing hub for marine vessels of all sizes.

22 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 23 40 years of coastal and marine research

Nelson Mandela University’s we can interact and explore land and sea, nurseries for many transdisciplinary Institute for collaborative opportunities across important marine species including Coastal and Marine Research (CMR) faculties and with our national and linefish, zones of economic activity – which was launched last year international partners.” for coastal cities and towns, such as and is the culmination of 40 years Prof Adams says an important for fishing, and buffers against sea of coastal and marine research at part of their work is to generate level rise and coastal erosion.” the university – will be the largest interest amongst researchers “One of our PhD candidates, institute in the university’s Ocean and students across faculties to Gerhard Cilliers, who is a resource Sciences Campus. focus on the marine and maritime manager from the DWS, has put A school of dolphins swims along Port Elizabeth’s Algoa Bay coastline. “We have over 160 researchers environment. “We are also engaging together an estuary-monitoring Photograph: Dr Th. Bouveroux, CMR and four South African Research with government, learners and programme for South Africa that is Chairs in the CMR, which will be citizens about Ocean Sciences.” now implemented in over 20 areas.” based at the new Ocean Sciences Last year, Prof Adams co- It is a good example of the Campus,” says CMR Director Prof edited a special issue in the South link between science, policy and Janine Adams (above), a professor in African Journal of Botany on management the CMR encourages. Prof Janine Adams heads up the Botany Department, specialising the biodiversity and ecology of The CMR draws on many areas of the Institute for Coastal and in estuaries. estuaries. its research to inform policy and to Whales and dolphins - Marine Research (CMR) - which “The new Ocean Sciences “Estuary health, conservation transfer knowledge and expertise is the largest institute in the Campus will provide a multi-and and management is critical because through training programmes to new Ocean Sciences Campus. transdisciplinary space where they are the meeting place of various government departments. flagships of ocean health

SARChI Chairs in the Institute for Law: marine governance Research Diving Unit mental change. Coastal and Marine Research Science The Research Diving Unit (RDU) Living resources and food security ALGOA Bay has a great diversity environment since 1995. whales’ acoustic calls. She is declined in recent years, leading Over the past seven years, Botany, Zoology, Geosciences, is consolidating its operations This covers projects studying and of marine life, including unusually researching how this affects cow- to the species being declared as Dr Plön and her team have also SARChI: Shallow Water Statistics, Chemistry, Oceanography, under the Institute for Coastal developing coastal and marine large groups of bottlenose dolphins. calf pairs, as it is not yet known “Endangered” in South African been researching the pathology of Ecosystems Sustainability Research Unit and Marine Research (CMR) and living resources, which are, or can While many marvel at this beauty, whether they communicate vocally waters. Dr Stephanie Plön, a dolphin and stranded dolphins and comparing Professor Renzo Perissinotto will be housed on the new Ocean be, utilised as food sources, with the or by touching or both. Increasing Many factors may influence National and International Sciences Campus. Last year, the emphasis on sustainability. whale (cetacean) specialist with them to the dolphins caught in the human impact on the marine whether a population can be SARChI: Law of the Sea Partners RDU conducted a total of 104 Biodiversity and conservation the Earth Stewardship Science KwaZulu-Natal shark nets. environment could potentially have considered “healthy” or whether Research Institute at Nelson “We know that strandings are Professor Patrick Vrancken Numerous external partners both operational days facilitating subtidal This covers a wide range of projects an adverse effect on whale calves managers and conservationists in most instances a result of the national and international include: and marine research, which equates broadly relating to understanding, Mandela University, is interested bonding with their mothers. need to be concerned. For example, SARChI: Marine Spatial Planning National to 2.1 diving operations per week protecting and managing coastal in what these creatures can tell us animal being sick, whereas the by- previous research conducted by about the state of our oceans. catch animals should be reflective Professor Amanda Lombard Close linkages with SAEON, for various research projects and and marine ecosystems, both for Sightings Dr Plön and her students indicated of the normal, wild population. The Bayworld/BCRE, SAIAB, DEA: service level agreements. conservation and for sustainable Dr Plön explains that Algoa Master’s student Titus Shaanika that the sardine run has changed pathology investigation therefore SARChI: Oceanography and Food Oceans & human use. Bay and the Eastern Cape are ideal is interested to see if he re-sights substantially over the past 30+ significantly assists us in assessing Security Coasts, SANParks, SAIMI, CSIR, Research, training and Training settings for research on dolphins individual dolphins (which may be years and, as a result, the diet of the and whales for a number of the general health of South Africa’s Professor Mike Roberts Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, isiMangaliso consulting activities include: Members provide research-based resident in Algoa Bay) or if they are main dolphin species associated oceans.” Wetland Park, Nansen-Tutu Centre for Research training through Master’s and reasons, including the presence of only seen once and are therefore with the sardine run, the long- Since 2009, parasite lesions Transdisciplinary research Marine Environmental Research Research, particularly Doctoral programmes based in about half of the world’s recognised simply passing through the bay. beaked common dolphin Delphinus Some of the transdisciplinary International interdisciplinary research, is the participating academic departments. cetacean species, and the marine have been detected in a number A population size estimate capensis, has also changed. of different dolphin species, and research areas at Nelson Mandela Links exist with institutions in Norway, primary activity of the Institute, The CMR offers short courses to mammal research collection at from research done in the mid- “The warming in ocean both in the stranded animals as University include: France, Sweden, United Kingdom grouped under three broad thematic train divers and courses on other the Port Elizabeth Museum, which 1990s has indicated that Algoa Bay temperatures has meant that Arts areas with several projects spanning topics on demand. is believed to be the largest in well as those caught in the shark may house a population of up to the sardines either go deeper or the southern hemisphere and the nets. The specific parasite is yet to Political and Conflict Studies: The blue Engagement beneficiaries more than one theme: Consultancy 28,000 bottlenose dolphins, but migrate further offshore as they third largest in the world. It is a be identified, but marine parasites economy ● Local government: Nelson Global change The CMR embraces a broad and minimal research has been done like cooler water, rendering them fascinating, invaluable resource for are increasingly being linked with Architecture: Regenerative architecture Mandela Metro, Kouga, This covers a range of projects unique spectrum of expertise on these animals since. “We know less available to predators like marine scientists worldwide. ocean pollution. & ecosystem rehabilitation eThekwini; aimed at monitoring and under- relevant to coastal and marine little about whether these dolphins dolphins,” explains Dr Plön. Business and Economic Sciences ● Provincial government: DEDEA, standing change, both anthropogen- issues through its members who “Our dolphin and whale species simply pass through the bay or “Stomach content analysis are not only important in their own Development Studies: Marine socio- Western Cape; ic (caused or influenced by humans) are drawn from diverse disciplines. Human impact whether they visit frequently or revealed that previously, the right; they are key indicator species ecological systems, resource economics ● National government: DEA, and natural, and how this impacts This pool of expertise, the broadest PhD student Renee Koper is even may be resident.,” says Dr common dolphin’s main diet Engineering, the Built DW&S, DAFF; coastal and marine systems and in the region, is used to provide for overall ocean health because examining the potential impact of Plön. during the sardine run consisted of Environment and Information ● International: Ramsar, Nairobi human communities dependent on community service in the form they are at the top of the marine shipping noise on baleen whale This knowledge is important sardine, but since the late 90s this Technology and Abidjan Conventions; them. It includes monitoring climate of commercial consultancies on food chain. Research on them mother-calf pairs, particularly in in order to monitor populations, has changed to mackerel.” informs the decisions and actions Engineering: coastal infrastructure ● Conservation authorities: change; pollution monitoring; bio- issues in the coastal zone and relation to Coega’s deep-water and while there is currently little However, indicators of nutrition Health Sciences SANParks, CapeNature, Eastern diversity loss; building socio-eco- marine environment, including required to sustainably conserve port. concern about bottlenose dolphin and body condition have not our oceans and marine species,” Emergency Medical Care: Diver Cape Parks, Ezemvelo KZN logical resilience in light of global environmental impact assessments, Baleen whales are adversely populations in Eastern Cape changed over the time period, says Dr Plön, who has researched Occupational Health & Safety Wildlife; and changes; and understanding risks site inspections and specialist affected by the “masking effect” waters, the population of Indian suggesting that the change in diet Law ● Public, Learners. and vulnerabilities due to environ- reports. the Eastern Cape Coast and Algoa of low-frequency noise from Ocean humpback dolphins (Sousa is so far not impacting the dolphin Bay’s dolphins, whales and marine shipping, which blocks out the plumbea) in Algoa Bay has rapidly population adversely.

24 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 25 Ocean Sciences Growth Hub for Port Elizabeth

THE city of Port Elizabeth in Nelson Councillor Andrew Whitfield, Head of the Portfolio powers of cities be unlocked Mandela Bay is extremely well by national government and positioned at the base of Africa to for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture key national parastatals, such become a key South African port in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, shares how as Transnet, which is the Port city. Authority. We have invited Transnet Our goal is to create a marine unlocking the Bay’s oceans economy potential can to partner with us and have initiated and maritime growth hub here, help to grow the city. a port forum on how we can work in partnership with national more closely with Transnet in government, industry and Nelson the development of our port city, Mandela University – the most confidence, that we have to bring and we are working to change this. harbour, waterfront area and blue important resource and stakeholder good governance and integrated For example, we are now actively economy. in the city. planning to the table, and we marketing ourselves as the dolphin We need to bring everyone on Primary school learners and the neighbouring community are benefiting The city and the university are are working hard to achieve this capital of the world, and we look board on this new journey – and we from an aquaponics unit at Nelson Mandela University’s Missionvale Campus. in the process of developing a much against the backdrop of the metro’s forward to the imminent issuing welcome investment delegations. In closer relationship, with integrated poor governance over the last of whale-watching licences, to time, we will build a team to work marine and maritime research and decade. bring visitors closer to our ocean on unlocking the oceans economy development projects. To achieve As the city’s DA-led coalition wildlife. We will also proactively potential, working with marine this, the city’s Mayor, Athol Trollip, municipality [elected in 2016], we market ourselves as the national and maritime specialists, Nelson has already engaged extensively are pleased to say that while we still and international conferencing Mandela University, Transnet, the with Vice-Chancellor Prof Derrick have many challenges to overcome, destination of choice for the marine Deepwater Port of Ngqura and Aquaponics yields fresh fish, Swartz. we are in a much stronger financial and maritime sector, the blue Coega Development Corporation, As a metro, we are pursuing a position with notably improved economy and Operation Phakisa. and the Nelson Mandela Bay cluster approach to our economic good-governance indicators, in The waterfront development Development Agency (the driving growth and development strategy terms of cutting red tape, dealing will further increase our tourism force behind urban regeneration in – including automotive, agri- with corruption and facilitating numbers; our goal is to redevelop the Metro). produce - and partnerships processing, tourism and maritime trade and investment. . the industrial port areas into a From our anchor automotive clusters – and are working with Tourism is a key cluster for the working port combined with living, industry, to eMobility innovations partners in major port cities in city and we need to make sure that leisure and lifestyle developments. and ship-building, to our marine Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, the ocean health is prioritised and not The tender has been awarded for and terrestrial wildlife offerings, A NEW aquaponics unit at Nelson intensive and inexpensive food Action programme launched in involved with studies on the salt United Kingdom and the United overlooked for other blue economy the dismantling and removal of the and our outstanding hospitality Mandela University’s Missionvale production technique that brings 2015 to promote healthy lifestyles, and sugar intake of primary school States. We believe this cluster pursuits, such as oil and gas, and fuel tanks. offerings, conferences and sporting Campus is an excellent example together aquaculture (fish farming) address obesity and alleviate hunger children and its effect on health, approach to economic development offshore bunkering [refuelling of As the municipality, we are events, including the Ironman of institutional collaboration and and hydroponics (soilless crop among primary school children. As while Nursing Sciences students will help us to reap the full benefits ships]. In 2016, Nelson Mandela the custodians of the city and have 70.3 World Championships in partnerships that benefit others. production) in a closed system that many as 70 primary schools will take the blood pressure of these of working in partnership with the Bay saw the arrival of eight million a significant role to play across September 2018, we have identified The new unit, alongside the dramatically conserves water (using benefit from the project that was youngsters. All these projects are university and industry towards domestic tourists and 249,000 all sectors – from new business ourselves as an iconic, friendly medicinal garden, will see ongoing 90% less water than traditional launched last year. run in collaboration with INMED shared objectives international visitors. The tourism development to public health, ocean city. Together with our interaction between Agriculture, planting methods), and yields Using a holistic and integrated South Africa. This approach will not only sector is responsible for about which includes river, estuary and partners, we will be going all Game Ranch Management, Human abundant and marketable fresh approach, the project has seen An MTech student, Mpendulo attract people to invest and settle in 50,000 jobs and has tremendous ocean health. out to establish ourselves as the Movement Science, Dietetics and produce and fish. Nelson Mandela University’s Human Ngcakani, is managing the Port Elizabeth, but will also serve growth potential. I believe the future of the global ocean sciences, blue economy and Nursing Sciences students involved Working with partners INMED Movement Science students assist aquaponics system as part of his to retain our university’s graduates Our incredible coast, beaches economy is going to be more tourism destination of choice. in implementing an innovative and South Africa (an NPO helping with training unemployed and out- postgraduate research, which is who too often migrate to other and Big Five malaria-free game prominently driven by cities as the cost-effective food production hub vulnerable children) and Mondelez of-school youth to become school- based on examining factors affecting cities to pursue their careers. reserves, attract people here. But at engines of growth. It is therefore Councillor Andrew Whitfield and support services. South Africa, the aquaponics unit based break-time buddies. the viability of aquaponics in the To attract investment and present, they don’t stay long enough important that the decision-making E: [email protected] Aquaponics is an innovative, forms part of a broader Health in The Dietetics students are Nelson Mandela Bay region.

26 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 27 Nelson Mandela University graduate Yonwaba Sipeliti, a full-time member of Nelson Mandela Bay’s Learn to Swim programme, gives free swimming lessons to children from underprivileged backgrounds. Harnessing the potential of our oceans for a sustainable future

The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s approach to highlight the urgency way, maritime skills development, surface and holds 97% of the planet’s of delivery. Through Operation research and innovation will act as water. The world’s oceans regulate Phakisa, detailed plans are informing a catalyst for sustainable growth global climate systems that make strategy implementation to stimulate through the country’s oceans. the Earth habitable for humankind growth across various spheres of the South Africa can learn from and produce more than half of the oceans economy, namely: marine leading maritime nations such as oxygen in the atmosphere. About transport and manufacturing; Norway with its strategy known half of the world’s population lives aquaculture; offshore oil and gas; as “blue growth for a green future”. within the coastal zone and ocean- marine protection and ocean This strategy incentivises the based businesses contribute more governance; small harbour establishment of local, regional and Future ocean sciences than $500 billion to the world’s development; and marine and global maritime clusters. Maritime economy. coastal tourism. industry experience is linked with Given the significance of A common thread running research-based knowledge from the oceans for sustaining life on through all Operation Phakisa universities to stimulate innovation the planet, globally renowned initiatives is the need to expand the for the benefit of the oceans students need to learn to swim oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia pool of skills available to marine and economy. Earle, asserts that: “We need to maritime industries. This requires As a comprehensive university respect the oceans and take care devoting particular attention to with the only dedicated ocean “If you learn to swim as a child and are comfortable in water, you of them as if our lives depended issues such as: sciences campus in South Africa, can later pursue a career in the marine and maritime.” on it. Because they do.” Inclusive ● Cultivating learner interest Nelson Mandela University is well Research Diving Unit economic growth, social inclusion in ocean sciences through a poised to become a university of and environmental protection are comprehensive career advising choice in generating cutting-edge Nelson Mandela University So says Nelson Mandela University drownings. positive; they must feel the pleasure vital, interconnected prerequisites strategy from basic to higher knowledge for a sustainable future, wants to ensure that all students, for a sustainable future. The United education levels. in particular as it relates to the graduate Yonwaba Sipeliti who “Water covers over 70% of the of moving freely in water,” he postgraduates and researchers is teaching children from poorly Earth’s surface and the ability to explains. Nations Sustainable Development ● Improving the capacity at grand challenges of our oceans. pursuing marine, maritime and economy. TVET colleges produce resourced areas to swim. swim is a wonderful experience. The freedom of movement in Goals (SDGs), adopted by world technical and vocational As a coastal university, located related disciplines are able to swim artisan skills required for maritime “It’s a big thing for children to It can also save your life and it water has been a magnet for Sipeliti leaders in September 2015, education and training (TVET) in one of the world’s only cities competently, and to benefit from manufacturing, as well as the vessel climb into a swimming pool for the expands young people’s future since he was a child growing up in a foreground efforts to end all colleges and universities to with two ports, Nelson Mandela the exceptional Research Diving construction and repair industry. In first time. The moment the water is career horizons,” explains Sipeliti. rural community near Ngcobo in the forms of poverty and inequality, expand their ocean sciences University has a long history of Unit (RDU), which is part of the addition, TVET colleges need to be above their chests they either feel “Nelson Mandela University Eastern Cape. while tackling climate change and programme offerings. involvement in ocean sciences and Institute for Coastal and Marine more widely involved in maritime as if it is going to swallow them or offers all young people with “I have been in love with water protecting global oceans, seas and ● Promoting closer cooperation is actively cultivating emerging Research (CMR) on the Ocean training beyond the basic production they jump in and risk drowning,” academic potential the opportunity since I was a very small boy. I would marine resources. between educational providers strengths in fields such as: marine Sciences Campus. of artisans. To address this, there is says Sipeliti (30), a full-time member to pursue marine and maritime go and swim in the dam at every As part of the National and industry to improve the engineering; naval architecture; On average, the RDU operates an initiative underway to assist six of Nelson Mandela Bay’s Learn to studies through its new Ocean opportunity … I didn’t know how Development Plan, the South African alignment between the available renewable ocean energies; marine on just over 100 dive days per colleges to pilot maritime training Swim programme. Sciences Campus. Anyone who to swim, I simply imitated people government aims to harness the pool of skills and market and coastal tourism; marine year, which equates to two diving programmes for ratings and marine He teaches children from the cannot swim will never feel I saw swimming, including on TV. economic potential of the country’s demands. resource economics; shipping and operations per week. Class 4 engineering. age of nine years to swim at eight comfortable about pursuing an Then when my older brother came oceans to address the triple ● Stimulating growth in the port logistics; and marine spatial commercial diver and supervisor Research shows that ocean public swimming pools in the inner ocean-related career. to Nelson Mandela University to do challenge of poverty, unemployment oceans economy to reduce planning. training, and Class 5 scientific diver sciences appear to exist in isolated city, townships and northern areas “The other important aspect of his BCom, I visited him and I would and inequality by 2030. South Africa unemployment and improve the The university’s ocean sciences training courses and upgrades are pockets of excellence at selected of Nelson Mandela Bay, as well as educating children and all people watch people swimming at the is bordered by the ocean on three absorption of graduates into the campus will be a hub for creative, offered. universities. No single university at the swimming pool at Nelson to understand and enjoy water, university. The coach was Elizabeth sides and its coastline is about 3 924 labour market. pioneering transdisciplinary, At the RDU location on campus, in South Africa can claim to be a Mandela University. The lessons are freshwater and seawater, is that ‘Bitty’ Joubert and I asked her to km long and is located along one of Basic education is important postgraduate ocean sciences a new Hyperbaric Chamber is leading provider in responding to free. it makes it easier to explain about teach me, which she did. Twenty the busiest international shipping in fostering a national maritime research, teaching, innovation being installed through the South the wide-ranging skills development His goal is to grow it into a ecosystem conservation and to get years later I’m committed to a trade routes in the world. South consciousness in a country that and engagement that will build, African Environmental Observation needs of the oceans economy. national model that is included in the our anti-pollution message across. swimming career and she is on the Africa’s coastal waters support has historically been terrestrial in maintain and develop critical mass Network-Department of Science The South African International curriculum for all primary schools. “I have a team working with Board of Learn to Swim.” thousands of jobs and contribute its thinking. The Department of and strategic impact in key niche and Technology (SAEON-DST) Maritime Institute (SAIMI) was The programme already runs in me and we first do water safety Sipeliti also teaches children and millions of rand to the national Basic Education has recognised this areas. The mission of the campus partnership. established in 2015 to support several provinces through their in the schools and then offer free adults to swim in the sea, and is a economy each year, with coastal and is promoting maritime sector will span the three interdependent A diving medical emergency the goals of Operation Phakisa by respective swimming federations. swimming lessons from Grade 4. lifeguard on Port Elizabeth’s Hobie goods and services estimated to education at dedicated maritime high spheres of sustainability, namely, service provider services the RDU facilitating a coordinated marine In Nelson Mandela Bay, it is part We focus on 9-, 10- and 11-year- Beach. contribute 35% to South Africa’s schools such as Lawhill Maritime promoting sustainable livelihoods to meet the requirements of the and maritime skills development, of Nelson Mandela Bay Aquatics olds, as most drownings are in that “Most children love water gross domestic product (GDP). Centre in the Western Cape and, for coastal communities by tapping Occupational Health & Safety Act research and innovation plans that (NMBA), affiliated to Eastern Cape age group, with children running and our goal is to make sure that Operation Phakisa was more recently, the first maritime the economic potential of the oceans and Diving Regulations. respond to industry needs. The Aquatics and Swimming South and jumping into water without as many children as possible embarked upon in 2014 through a high schools in the Eastern Cape, while preserving marine biodiversity The unit also supports the institute will provide support to Africa. understanding the consequences.” throughout South Africa learn to collaborative partnership between George Randall and Ngwenyathi and ecological integrity for the Emergency Medical Care (EMC) ensure that relevant qualifications Sipeliti has been nominated It’s a joyful experience to watch swim properly from a young age. government, industry, academia High Schools. benefit of future generations. Department by providing practical and courses are developed and for The Herald Citizen of the Year Sipeliti teaching children to swim, If I can get the Learn to Swim and civil society. Phakisa means, The post-school sector has crew training for the paramedic offered through partner public award for the contribution he makes and witnessing their love of water programme included in the primary “hurry up” in Sesotho and it is a also been gearing itself to respond Professor Heather Nel students for their water rescue and private providers in close to the safety of local communities, developing. “Their first experience school curriculum then I have planning methodology adapted to the skills and innovation Senior Director: Institutional module. collaboration with industry. In this especially his efforts to curb of being in the water must be really achieved my current life goal.” from Malaysia’s Big Fast Results requirements of the oceans Planning, Nelson Mandela University

28 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 September 2 ○ Ocean017 Sciences 29 The importance of working together

P arTNERShips As a means of advancing the scientific contribution to the oceans economy, Nelson Mandela University is working closely with an Wide cross-section of qualifications array of national and international partners. As part of its strategy to develop a whole new range of maritime and marine education and training, research, innovation and A n array of marine-focused offering both undergraduate and as an array of short learning few years, including: engagement programmes to support Africa’s blue economy working with a wide range of other universities, big business and qualifications at Nelson Mandela postgraduate programmes across a programmes specifically ● Marine engineering; conservation groups (as seen below). University gives students the wide range of disciplines. customised for executive leadership ● Marine spatial planning; opportunity to conduct practical It is also poised to introduce development within the marine and ● Maritime logistics, shipping and research from the shoreline to many more in line with national and maritime sectors. port management; estuaries to the ocean deep. international needs. Building on what is currently ● Coastal, cruise and marine To meet the skill sets needed At present, the university offers in place, Nelson Mandela tourism; to grow the potential of the blue postgraduate programmes in University plans to systematically ● Nautical sciences; economy in a sustainable manner, Maritime Studies, Oceanography, introduce various new ocean ● Naval architecture; and Nelson Mandela University is and the Law of the Sea, as well sciences programmes over the next ● Marine resource economics. Exciting new career opportunities

Thanduxolo Nkala is one of growing number of students who has chosen to pursue a qualification in the unchartered territory of law and the sea. We asked him why.

What degree do you have? The treatise was on South Africa We need to constantly I have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and its legal relationship with the interrogate this as we go International Other degree. Antarctica Treaty System. forward. There has been so much universities UNESCO – Indian Ocean Expedition Department for Public Works This area of focus was inspired conversation around “the blue World Maritime University, Sweden Department of Science and Technology What qualification are you by Prof Patrick Vrancken, my economy”, which has provoked high South African International Maritime pursuing now? supervisor, who is the incumbent levels of excitement throughout Washington State University, USA Institute (SAIMI) Department of Agriculture, Forestry and I am pursuing a Master’s of Laws South African Research Chair in the our nation. This is fine and well, Carl von Ossietzky University of South African Environmental Observation Fisheries Law of the Sea and Development degree (LLM) but what does this mean for the Network (SAEON) South African Institute for Aquatic in Africa. It was further inspired by ordinary South African? Oldenburg, Germany What is your area of research? the fact that there is a need for legal We had high hopes of an University of North Carolina Wilmington, British Council Biodiversity (SAIAB) The research Master’s I am doing capacity for our country in respect economic shift with the 2010 USA British High Commission Pretoria – UK Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is in the law of sea branch of public of its Antarctic affairs. Fifa World Cup. The beneficiation international law. The research As a result, I had the privilege of opportunities largely went to the Universidade Ferdereal do Rio Grande do Science & Innovation network in South Nansen-Tutu Centre for Marine focuses specifically on the legal being part of the South African already privileged. What did it Sul, Brazil Africa Environmental Research government delegation to the regulation of marine scientific translate to for the ordinary South Plymouth University, UK Newton Fund Coega Development Corporation activity in Antarctica. 39th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Thanduxolo Nkala African? Meeting in Chile, in 2016. Therefore, it will be important University of Southampton, UK National Research Foundation South African National Parks (SANParks) Why is your area of research so I am both excited and cautious. for us to critically think about how South African Management Industrial Bayworld The excitement comes with ocean University of Agder, Norway important? Tell us about your friends who are this new page can be written so that Association The continent of Antarctica is not also studying in the field. Are they sciences being a greenfields it does not repeat these patterns of University of Tromso – The Artic East Cape Development Corporation governed by any one sovereign doing similar work? opportunity for our university, privilege. It is difficult, but we have University, Norway South African Coelacanth Ecosystem (ECDC) metro and country alike. It is government. It is governed through I have two peers who are also to think about it. Programme Wildlife and Environment Society of a multilateral system of governance doing with their Master’s in the law even more exciting because of University of Bergen, Norway comprising mainly the signatory of the sea field.T hey are focused its transdisciplinary nature – the What is your advice to anyone who Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, French National Research Institute for South Africa (WESSA) States to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. primarily on law of the sea topics coming together of various academic might be considering studying in Finland Sustainable Development Nelson Mandela Bay Development This treaty specifically consecrates domestically. Racheal Chasakara disciplines in the institution to create this field? Institute of Marine Sciences, Tanzania Agency (MBDA) Antarctica and its surrounding is looking at the Marine Spatial our new campus. It is incredible From the law aspect, it is a difficult University of Gothenburg, Sweden waters for the purposes of scientific Planning Bill, and Nathi Dwayi is and innovative. And, it’s going to field because it is not readily University of Queensland, Australia Kenya Marine and Fishereies Research World Ocean Council investigation only. How this scientific looking at the jurisdiction of organs set Nelson Mandela University available like your constitutional law Institute Water Research Commission on a completely new trajectory University of Reunion, France investigation is regulated to of state at sea. or criminal law. The subject does Western Indian Ocean Marine Science preserve natural resources, among We are all supervised by of innovation, away from the not feature in most LLB curriculums, merSETA Shanghai Maritime University Association other things, becomes a critical Prof Vrancken and have a hub- “traditional” set-up of a university. so there is no foundation from Wärtsilä Marine Solutions question. like network of LLB, LLM, LLD I am cautious because what all of which to work. I would the advise Western Norway University of Applied National Oceanography Centre candidates, and post-doctoral these opportunities will mean for the students to expose themselves to the Sciences CapeNature Council for Scientific and Industrial Why did you choose to study in the fellows, doing law of the sea or ordinary South African - particularly, fundamentals of the subject while University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Department of Water Affairs and the poor and the marginalised. I Research (CSIR) field of Ocean Sciences? ocean governance-related topics. still at undergraduate level. Sanitation I actually started doing law of the think this is the question that should But it is possible and very The university also has close working Department of Environmental Affairs sea related academic work in my really preoccupy us, especially doable. If we can do it, so can any South African National Biodiversity What’s your take on the future of relations with other institutions of higher (Oceans and Coasts) undergraduate studies. In the final ocean sciences for the university, since our vision is to be a “dynamic other like-minded student. And learning which have Ocean Sciences Institute year of my LLB, I made the hard the metro, the country and African university”. What will this of course, this field offers great Department of Higher Education and links in South Africa. Transnet National Ports Authority choice of doing a research treatise. continent? mean for the ordinary African? opportunities into the future. Training (DHET)

30 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017 For any Ocean Science related queries contact: [email protected] or [email protected] 2 ○ Ocean017 Science s 31 Nelson Mandela University’s new Ocean Sciences campus will be a creative hub for pioneering and ground-breaking transdisciplinary, postgraduate Ocean Sciences research, teaching, innovation and engagement that puts us in a clear position to become the leading Ocean Sciences University in Africa.

Find out more: oceansciences.mandela.ac.za E: [email protected]

32 Ocean Sciences ○ September 2017