Summary on the South African Situation

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Summary on the South African Situation Michael
H. Schleyer Oceanographic Research Institute,
P.O. Box 10712, Marine Parade, Durban 4056, South
Africa schleyer_at_ori.org.za
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• Only 20 km2 coral reefs in three reef complexes,
  in MPAs
• Marginal and unique, with a mixture of tropical,
  temperate and endemic fauna.
• Constitute a biodiversity peak in corals and
  associated fauna.
• Therefore small but important.

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Structures

• World Heritage Site - World Heritage Act -
  Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority
• Conservation Authority - Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
• Research - Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI)
• Basis for management
• Long-term monitoring Condition, climate change,
  bleaching
• Connectivity
• Propagation and molecular genetics for
  rehabilitation
• Reef surveys

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Threats

• COTS

Bleaching

• Ecotourism

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Integrated GIS-based Model

• Partners (Consortium of parastatal, NGO private
  bodies)
• Marine Geoscience Unit, Marine Geosolutions
• Oceanographic Research Institute
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
• Graham Muller Associates
• Rating of nodes for sustainable development
• Geological data
• Biological reef data
• Infrastructural and coastal data
• Socio-economic and cultural data
• Wider application in the region

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Logic

• Ecological zonation
• Community structure, biodiversity
  bio-sensitivity
• A sanctuary in each complex
• In northern region due to Agulhas Current
• Biodiversity and breeding refuge
• Benchmark precautionary measure
• Safe diving
• Primarily depth, training areas

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INTEGRATED 3-D SEAFLOOR MODELLING
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Aliwal Shoal MPA

• IAP promoted MPA south of Durban
• Sanctuary for heavily exploited fish stocks and
  two endemic soft corals
• Co-management
• Imminent promulgation in 2003/2004

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Collaboration with WIO neighbours

• Eritrea southwards
• CORDIO Mozambique, monitoring and capacity
  building
• Current proposal on soft corals Kenya, Tanzania,
  Mozambique and South Africa
• Extend to SIDS