What is the state of marine life in South Africa?
Currently, 23% of the South African coastline, but less than 1% of the country’s EEZ, falls within marine protected areas (MPAs) [14]. Although the proportion of coastline in declared MPAs is high, there is concern that only 9% of coastal protected areas enjoy total protection (no-take MPAs).
Why are there so many marine species around South Africa?
This marine species richness is largely attributable to the diversity of habitat and the fact that South Africa is located at the confluence of three great oceans: the Indian, Atlantic and Southern Oceans.
Why the west coast of southern Africa is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world?
Intense upwelling along the west coast results in high biological productivity, which in turn supports large fish stocks, including pilchard, anchovy, hake, and rock lobster, each forming the basis for lucrative commercial fisheries.
What percentage of South Africa’s coastline is protected?
The coastal MPAs protect about 34% of the continental shoreline, of which about 12% is classified as restricted zone, based on a coastline length of 3113 km (the coastline length was previously estimated at 3656 km). 5.4 percent of the continental EEZ is protected, of which about 3% is restricted zone.
Does South Africa have a navy?
Today the South African Navy is one of the most capable naval forces in the African region, operating a mixed force of sophisticated warships, submarines, patrol craft, and auxiliary vessels, with over 7,000 personnel; including a marine force.
What is Marine Month?
National Oceans Month is celebrated each year in June and it’s time to honor the element that is essential to the planet Earth. The ocean is known as the “lungs of the Earth” and very rightly so. It gives us many important foods and medicine.
How many oceans are in South Africa?
three oceans
South Africa lies at the interface of three oceans, the Southern Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean (Fig. 5.1).
What is cold Benguela Current?
The Benguela Current is a cold, wide current that flows northwards along the west coast of southern Africa. It is an Eastern Boundary Current and forms the eastern flank of the South Atlantic Gyre The ocean current “begins” roughly where the eastward-flowing South Atlantic Current swings northward at the Agulhas.
Can you fish in a marine protected area?
Fishing and the take of marine life such as shellfish or seaweed is allowed in about half of California’s marine protected areas. Each type or kind of marine protected area has different regulations; inside state marine parks, sport fishing is encouraged, but commercial fishing is prohibited.
Why is pondoland a MPA?
The MPA was proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, (Marthinus van Schalkwyk, in Government Gazette No. 26431 of 4 June 2004 in terms Section 43 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998. The MPA is named for the local Pondo people, and provides protection for threatened line fish.
Does South Africa have Marines?
South Africa currently does not have a marine corps, though in the past it did. It was originally set up as a sub-branch of the South African Navy during the apartheid era, with the primary purpose of protecting the country’s harbours (1951-1955).
How strong is sa military?
South Africa is ranked as having the 26th greatest military strength globally – up from 32nd in 2022. The country ranks as the strongest military force in sub-Saharan Africa, but is behind Egypt (12th) on the African continent.
Which South African university has the largest number of students?
The distance University of South Africa has the largest number of students – over a quarter of a million – while Rhodes University in Grahamstown has the smallest number, with just over 6,000 students. Mergers of two or more institutions created some very big multi-campus universities.
What percentage of South African students graduate each year?
But only around 15% of students graduate each year, far fewer than the government’s benchmark of 25%. The number of graduates produced annually by South African universities has been steadily growing, from 74,000 in 1994 to more than 127,000 in 2007.
What are the demographics of South Africa?
The demographics of South Africa encompasses about 57.7 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. The last census was held in 2011 and the next will be in 2021.
What makes South African universities so special?
Several South African universities produce world-class research, and feature in the top 1% of the world’s institutions (captured in the United States’ Essential Science Indicators database).