Regional neighbours unite to protect marine resources

NAMIBIA, South Africa and Angola are in the process of establishing an inter-governmental commission that will work together to manage the Benguela Current Ecosystem – one of the world’s most productive ecosystems.

Since 2002, fisheries and environmental scientists from the three countries have shared information and research through the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) Programme, a regional initiative supported and partially funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The task of the proposed Benguela Current Commission (BCC) will be to implement an ecosystem approach to managing the shared fish stocks such as hake, pilchard, tuna and deep-sea crabs.The Commission will also incorporate scientific research, monitoring, training and reporting on the state of the environment.It will create an early-warning system for harmful algal blooms, low oxygen water and warming events, commonly known as ‘Benguela Niños’.Furthermore, the BCC will be in a position to advise on potential economic opportunities that could improve the living standards of coastal communities.The steering committee of the BCLME Programme consists of senior ministerial representatives of the three governments and recommended that an interim commission be established as soon as possible.A formal commission will be established after a treaty has been signed by all three countries.The ball will then pass to working groups that will address the most pressing transboundary concerns.The GEF has contributed US$15,2 million through the United Nations Development Fund for the BCLME Programme.In addition, the three countries invested US$16 million.Other sources, such as the Benguela Environment Fisheries Training Interactions Programme, Benefit, granted more than US$7 million.The BCLME Programme is administered by a Co-ordinating Unit based in Windhoek and an Activity Centre is situated in each of the three countries.The Benguela is among the four largest of the world’s 50 large marine ecosystems where almost all ocean fish is harvested.Its ecosystem stretches from Angola’s Cabinda Province in the north to just east of Port Elizabeth in South Africa.The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis says it is an important centre of marine biodiversity and has a primary marine food production six times higher than that of the North Sea ecosystem.It supports a global reservoir of biodiversity and biomass of zooplankton, fish, sea birds and marine mammals.Near-shore and offshore sediments offer rich deposits of precious minerals, particularly diamonds, and oil and gas reserves, while the pristine coastal regions hold unique tourism possibilities.The ecosystem is also unique because it is bounded by warm water systems in the north (the tropical-equatorial Eastern Atlantic) and south (the Agulhas Current of the Indian Ocean).The Analysis states further that the Benguela’s major upwelling centre near Luederitz is the most concentrated and intense found in any upwelling regime.The task of the proposed Benguela Current Commission (BCC) will be to implement an ecosystem approach to managing the shared fish stocks such as hake, pilchard, tuna and deep-sea crabs.The Commission will also incorporate scientific research, monitoring, training and reporting on the state of the environment.It will create an early-warning system for harmful algal blooms, low oxygen water and warming events, commonly known as ‘Benguela Niños’.Furthermore, the BCC will be in a position to advise on potential economic opportunities that could improve the living standards of coastal communities.The steering committee of the BCLME Programme consists of senior ministerial representatives of the three governments and recommended that an interim commission be established as soon as possible.A formal commission will be established after a treaty has been signed by all three countries.The ball will then pass to working groups that will address the most pressing transboundary concerns.The GEF has contributed US$15,2 million through the United Nations Development Fund for the BCLME Programme.In addition, the three countries invested US$16 million.Other sources, such as the Benguela Environment Fisheries Training Interactions Programme, Benefit, granted more than US$7 million.The BCLME Programme is administered by a Co-ordinating Unit based in Windhoek and an Activity Centre is situated in each of the three countries.The Benguela is among the four largest of the world’s 50 large marine ecosystems where almost all ocean fish is harvested.Its ecosystem stretches from Angola’s Cabinda Province in the north to just east of Port Elizabeth in South Africa.The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis says it is an important centre of marine biodiversity and has a primary marine food production six times higher than that of the North Sea ecosystem.It supports a global reservoir of biodiversity and biomass of zooplankton, fish, sea birds and marine mammals.Near-shore and offshore sediments offer rich deposits of precious minerals, particularly diamonds, and oil and gas reserves, while the pristine coastal regions hold unique tourism possibilities.The ecosystem is also unique because it is bounded by warm water systems in the north (the tropical-equatorial Eastern Atlantic) and south (the Agulhas Current of the Indian Ocean).The Analysis states further that the Benguela’s major upwelling centre near Luederitz is the most concentrated and intense found in any upwelling regime.