THE oceanic waters of KwaZulu-Natal will be undergoing a survey by a world-class marine biological ship, Norway’s R/V Dr Fridjtof Nansen.
Several Ocean Research Institute (ORI) scientists are on board for the KZN survey, as well as scientists from academic and government marine research institutions in KZN, and the Eastern and Western Cape.
Some of the questions being posed include: Are there fish stocks off KZN which have not been identified yet? What are the levels of contaminants (including microplastics) in sediments and marine organisms off KZN? Are there organisms new to science off KZN? Are there unique seabed features off KZN?
“It is rare for KwaZulu-Natal scientists to have access to world-class marine biological research ships, so the imminent survey off our coast by the R/V Dr Fridjtof Nansen, a new Norwegian ship, is a great opportunity,” said the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR).
“The ship is owned by the Norwegian Agency for Research Development (NORAD), in a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The ship and its predecessors have surveyed many developing countries in Africa and Asia, with a particular focus on fisheries and marine environmental issues.”
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“Local survey leader and ORI scientist, Dr Sean Fennessy has developed a research plan to incorporate local research questions with the standard Nansen survey protocols which are used wherever the ship operates,” explained SAAMBR.
Marine conscious organisations and associations are anticipating findings of great interest.
From the waters of KZN, the ship will continue up the east coast of Africa, via Mozambique and Tanzania, before heading across to Mauritius and eventually Bangladesh.
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