SANCOR Newsletter Issue #170:June 2002
dge holders in such a way that the source of the knowledge is recognised. He further said that "Indigenous knowledge research is intrinsically multi-disciplinary in nature and that there is scope for involvement by the marine and coastal science community." For example, indigenous knowledge research could include: "The knowledge and management of biological resources and ecosystems" and/or "The indigenous environmental resources and documentation of indigenous communities heritage in all forms of media". Mosimege concluded by inviting the marine and coastal science community to comment on the Draft Policy and Bill on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Research which will be available for public commentary at the end of June 2002.ºC, and that they were predominantly found in caves in quaternary terraces of the Pleistocene age.
"Much more extensive research still needs to be conducted," says Ribbink, "which hopefully will help us to understand the genetic variability of coelacanths in the Sodwana Bay region".It is all about communication", I feel that those who attended this SANCOR Forum meeting were positively enriched with knowledge that would otherwise surpass their somewhat focused attention. So in conclusion, these meetings are definitely of value and I encourage all persons who have an interest in marine and coastal science to actively participate in future SANCOR events.ºC, and that they were predominantly found in caves in quaternary terraces of the Pleistocene age. "Much more extensive research still needs to be conducted," says Ribbink, "which hopefully will help us to understand the genetic variability of coelacanths in the Sodwana Bay region".It is all about communication", I feel that those who attended this SANCOR Forum meeting were positively enriched with knowledge that would otherwise surpass their somewhat focused attention. So in conclusion, these meetings are definitely of value and I encourage all persons who have an interest in marine and coastal science to actively participate in future SANCOR events."It is all about communication"
SANCOR forum meeting 2002
Renee Le Roux, (NRF)
The SANCOR (South African Network for Coastal and Oceanic Research) Forum is a consultative, communicative and advisory body that represents institutions and scientists from different provinces and disciplines. This Forum, which welcomes attendance and participation by all interested persons, meets at least once a year in one of the coastal centres and the last meeting was held on 30 April 2002 at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town.
At that meeting, three enlightening talks were presented on the current thrust and the potential for future marine and coastal science research in South Africa by well-esteemed researchers. Rudy van der Elst of the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban unveiled the plans for "Ushaka Island"- a multi-million rand "ship wreck theme" initiative to be launched on 4 April 2004 in Durban. This island would house "Sea World" for tourism and awareness, an "Education Centre" for marine environment education, and a "Research Facility" for conservation and scientific research and training. Van der Elst said that this initiative would not only revive marine science in KwaZulu-Natal, but that there is great enthusiasm for collaboration between South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania - in alignment with the whole concept of NEPAD.
On a slightly different note, Dr Mogege Mosimege of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST) sensitised the marine and coastal science community to the issue of indigenous knowledge research in South Africa. Mosimege asked the question: "Who holds the knowledge in South Africa?" and went on to say that knowledge is located both within the local indigenous communities as well as the "conventional" researchers. To optimise the benefits of this knowledge for all South Africans, researchers should form partnerships with the indigenous knowle
dge holders in such a way that the source of the knowledge is recognised. He further said that "Indigenous knowledge research is intrinsically multi-disciplinary in nature and that there is scope for involvement by the marine and coastal science community." For example, indigenous knowledge research could include: "The knowledge and management of biological resources and ecosystems" and/or "The indigenous environmental resources and documentation of indigenous communities heritage in all forms of media".
Mosimege concluded by inviting the marine and coastal science community to comment on the Draft Policy and Bill on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Research which will be available for public commentary at the end of June 2002.ºC, and that they were predominantly found in caves in quaternary terraces of the Pleistocene age. "Much more extensive research still needs to be conducted," says Ribbink, "which hopefully will help us to understand the genetic variability of coelacanths in the Sodwana Bay region".It is all about communication", I feel that those who attended this SANCOR Forum meeting were positively enriched with knowledge that would otherwise surpass their somewhat focused attention. So in conclusion, these meetings are definitely of value and I encourage all persons who have an interest in marine and coastal science to actively participate in future SANCOR events.
holders in such a way that the source of the knowledge is recognised. He further said that "Indigenous knowledge research is intrinsically multi-disciplinary in nature and that there is scope for involvement by the marine and coastal science community." For example, indigenous knowledge research could include: "The knowledge and management of biological resources and ecosystems" and/or "The indigenous environmental resources and documentation of indigenous communities heritage in all forms of media". Mosimege concluded by inviting the marine and coastal science community to comment on the Draft Policy and Bill on Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Research which will be available for public commentary at the end of June 2002.
A talk by Dr Tony Ribbink of the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity highlighted the current status of the "Coelacanth Conservation and Genome Resource Programme". This multi-faceted, biophysical programme aims to ascertain the conservation status of coelacanths from an evolutionary approach. According to Ribbink’s hypothesis, the coelecanth’s mode of rapid speciation should be followed by rapid extinction, however these enigmatic organisms are still surviving.
This has given rise to much speculation and interest from the scientific research community. Ribbink indicated that current knowledge (from an expedition in April 2002) showed that the South African population of coelacanths (consisting of about 10 individuals) appears to have a narrow habitat tolerance range. They appear to favour a sea depth of between 95 and 140 m, a sea water temperature range of 14-20 ºC, and that they were predominantly found in caves in quaternary terraces of the Pleistocene age.
"Much more extensive research still needs to be conducted," says Ribbink, "which hopefully will help us to understand the genetic variability of coelacanths in the Sodwana Bay region".It is all about communication", I feel that those who attended this SANCOR Forum meeting were positively enriched with knowledge that would otherwise surpass their somewhat focused attention. So in conclusion, these meetings are definitely of value and I encourage all persons who have an interest in marine and coastal science to actively participate in future SANCOR events.
