.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
THE OCEANS AND COASTS ANNUAL SCIENCE REPORTS formerly known as THE STATE OF THE OCEANS AND COASTS AROUND SOUTH AFRICA REPORT CARDS
The department publishes the Oceans and Coasts Annual Science Reports annually. The reports describe scientific observations in the marine environment, from the inshore to the offshore and from the ocean surface to the ocean floor within South Africa's exclusive economic zone. The Oceans and Coasts Annual Science Reports present results of science and science-related activities of the departnment's Chief Directorate: Oceans and Coastal Research. These activities support the Branch Oceans and Coasts in fulfilling their mandate of managing and conserving South Africa's coastal and marine environment, as well as addressing the country's international and regional commitments to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its biodiversity.
OTHER RESEARCH
NATIONAL DATA AND INFORMATION REPORT FOR MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING:
KNOWLEDGE BASELINE FOR MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING IN SOUTH AFRICA
AUGUST 2021 [PDF - 8.31 mb]
This National MSP Data and Information Report for the South African MSP process gives a description of how the different sectors are currently using the South African ocean space and how they intend to continue using the ocean space in the future in order to meet their sectoral objectives. The document draws together sectoral information in order to generate a better understanding of the current and future interests of relevant marine activities in the South African marine space. In doing so it conveys a multi-sector perspective and serves as the foundation for the development of marine area plans in South Africa.
ERADICATING INTRODUCED HOUSE MICE:
SUB-ANTARCTIC MARION ISLAND: LARGEST ISLAND YET ATTEMPTED FOR MICE
MAY 2019 [PDF - 1.80 mb]
Marion is home to globally important seabird populations and since the early 2000s mice have resorted to attacking seabird chicks. Since 2015 c. 5% of summer-breeding albatross fledglings have been killed each year, as well as some winter-breeding petrel and albatross chicks. The research shows that the five ACAP-listed species, along with the regionally near threatened great-winged petrel, are at serious risk to predation from introduced mice on Marion Island.
SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL ACTION LIST:
SCREENING OF DREDGED SEDIMENT PROPOSED FOR MARINE DISPOSAL
JANUARY 2012 [PDF - 2.1 mb]
Sediment management is complex and multivariate, involving a careful balance of science, politics, and economics (Apitz et al. 2004). The national action list will need to balance the sometimes conflicting needs of dredging proponents and the need to protect the ecology of the dredging and dredged spoil disposal environments. Because of conflicting needs and economic realities, the logical approach is to revise the national action list by consulting stakeholders. This report does not, therefore, present a revised national action list, but rather provides stakeholders with information on factors that need to be considered and options for its revision.
VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY:
ANTARCTICA AND SOUTHERN OCEAN ISLANDS
South Africa’s involvement in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean Islands dates back to the earliest voyages of discovery, due to the then Cape of Good Hope’s position as a stop-over for explorers, whalers and sealers (people hunting whales and seals). Post-graduate thesis have been produced from research on Marion Island, and South Africa has been operating a weather station on Gough Island since 1956. The country has also launched the research and supply vessel, SA Agulhas II and was dedicated to the late Singer Miriam Makeba.
