Over 500 local and international marine scientists and biologists met up last week in Port Edward in KwaZulu-Natal to share knowledge and experiences on the management and governance of the marine and coastal environment in the Western Indian Ocean region.

Partially bordered by the Indian Ocean, South Africa’s hosting of this symposium is significant as the country seeks to unlock the economic potential of the ocean, in line with the Operation Phakisa initiative.

Environmental value

The symposium was officially opened by Sipho Mkhize, chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board who said the ocean space was a resource rich and relatively pristine environment. He said South Africa was committed to the protection of its oceans.

Monitoring the ocean and coastal environment over the last 20 years has grown to be a significantly greater practice due to the increasing understanding of the importance of the oceanic environment to South Africa. A network of Marine Protected Areas is extremely important to increase ecosystem resilience, maintain genetic biodiversity and our ability to cope with and adapt to the greatest threat facing human kind: climate change.

“The ocean represents a significant asset for current and future generations of South Africans. The use of various marine resources in our ocean space has increased over time and there remains significant potential for the unlocking of further economic development opportunities,” said Mkhize.

SA leaders in science

KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board is the proud host of the conference, along with the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the CSIR. According to CSIR coastal systems research group leader and scientist, Dr Louis Celliers, the aim of the symposium is to showcase the growing scientific capacity of countries in the Western Indian Ocean region, and to devise ways and means to use this capacity to better manage coastal and marine resources to the benefit of communities.

“Coastal and marine science is strong and healthy in countries bordering the Western Indian Ocean. The question is how we put this wealth of capacity and knowledge to good use. How can the products of science make us better custodians of the incredible diversity and abundance of ecosystem services of the Western Indian Ocean? The WIOMSA Symposium is one of the most exciting and unique fora where coastal and marine science meets management and policy,” said Dr Celliers.

Addressing the delegates, CSIR Group Executive: Operations, Laurens Cloete said the CSIR was dedicated to contributing to an understanding of the ocean environment through its many related research groups that include Coastal Systems, Ocean and Climate Systems, Ecosystem Services and Coastal and Marine Remote Sensing.

Symposium details

The theme of the Symposium is “Knowledge – improving lives in ocean and coastal systems”. In line with its reputation as the major hub for exchange and dissemination of information, the 9^th Symposium will comprise a range of presentations and sessions from keynote presentations to oral and poster presentations. Six keynote presentations, 215 oral presentations, and over 250 poster presentations will be delivered during the week. A total of 12 special sessions on different topics will be held on 30 October.

The Western Indian Ocean is incredibly important to countless coastal communities and populations. From small subsistence fishermen, to large ocean going ships, this part of the world’s oceans sustains millions. Fourteen African countries have coastlines in this ocean, stretching out from Madagascar to Egypt, and down to Cape Agulhas in South Africa. Coral reefs along the coastline of Kenya, Tanzania, and northern Mozambique form a large fringing reef complex that is amongst the largest in the world.