Benguela Current ecosystem health under the microscope

MARCH 2017 – A SUSTAINABLE BENGUELA Current ecosystem is the lifeblood of the ‘Ocean Economy’ on South Africa’s West Coast – supporting fisheries, tourism and recreation, and thousands of jobs. Like any living system it needs regular health check-ups, and the best way to do this will be examined in Cape Town this week (22 and 23 March, 2017).

Scientists, government officials, business and civil society representatives will consider linkages between the diverse “ecosystem services” provided by the ocean and coastal environment, and how best to measure and monitor both their economic value and environmental health.

The workshop forms part of a project by the Benguela Current Convention (BCC) to strengthen the ability of member states – Namibia, Angola and South Africa – to monitor the health of the Benguela Current ecosystem in their own countries, as well as implementing an integrated approach to sustainable ecosystem management across national boundaries.

The workshop will also aim to identify gaps in current monitoring activities and data, capacity and resource needs, and how to resolve potential conflicting uses in future.

“This is vital to maintaining the sustainability of the economic and social benefits to the people who rely on the ecosystem. For South Africa, this is particularly important, given the focus on developing the maritime economy through Operation Phakisa, which has earmarked a number of diverse projects for the West Coast,” project leader Dr Samantha Petersen said.

The productive waters of the Benguela Current support the largest portion of South Africa’s commercial fisheries, with increasing activity in small-scale fishing and aquaculture. The West Coast is also a hub of off-shore oil and gas exploration, a focus area for redevelopment of small harbours and coastal tourism, and home to the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone.

It also has a number of significant conservation areas, provides shelter for migratory bird populations, and is attracting increasing tourism and recreation activities.

“A healthy marine ecosystem provides services that have a measurable social and economic value to human well-being. Some have direct commercial value such as fisheries, mineral and energy resources, and tourism assets, while others such as climate regulation, recreational benefits and symbolic cultural or spiritual uses, are more difficult to measure the value of.

“Putting a value on the services provided by the ecosystem is important for understanding its benefits to society, promoting conservation, and future decision-making, especially in resolving conflicting uses,” said Prof Ken Findlay, Oceans Economy Research Chair at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and a guest speaker at the workshop.

Together with the output of this week’s meeting, feedback from workshops in Namibia and Angola will contribute to integrated monitoring of the Benguela ecosystem’s health and the BCC’s planning for future collaborative projects and support to member states.

The Benguela Current sweeps up the South African West coast, along the entire Namibian coastline and into Angola. This creates a Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) with productive resources shared by the three countries.

The Benguela Current Convention, signed by the three countries is the first LME in the world to embrace an “ecosystem approach to ocean governance”, which means managing trans-boundary resources at the ecosystem level, rather than each country acting alone, and balancing human needs with conservation imperatives.

The coastal and ocean resources of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) are estimated to contribute about US$269-billion annually to the economies of Namibia, Angola and South Africa. The BCLME is rich in fisheries resources, oil, gas, diamonds and other minerals, and the West Coast of South Africa is a growing local and international tourism destination.

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