final seakeys monitoring workshop report aug2016 · seakeys monitoring workshop report – august...

SeaKeysMonitoringWorkingGroup

WorkshopReport

By:Dr.LaraAtkinson1,Dr.KerrySink2,Ms.HannahRaven1andMs.Mari‐LiseFranken2Mapsby:HeatherTerrapon2

August20161SouthAfricanEnvironmentalObservationNetwork,Egagasini,CapeTown2SouthAfricanNationalBiodiversityInstitute,Kirstenbosch,CapeTown

SeaKeysMonitoringWorkingGroup

WorkshopReportWorkshopheld11thNovember2015,SANBIColophonroom

Table of Contents

SEAKEYSPROJECTBACKGROUND........................................................................................................................1

MONITORINGWORKSHOPOBJECTIVES..............................................................................................................2

A)PRESENTATIONSFROMWORKSHOPPARTICIPANTS:..............................................................................3LARGEMOORINGARRAYS...................................................................................................................................................................3ALGOABAYSENTINELSITE.................................................................................................................................................................4INTEGRATEDECOSYSTEMPROGRAMME...........................................................................................................................................7WASTEWATEROUTFALLMONITORING............................................................................................................................................9AQUACULTUREFACILITIESMONITORINGFORHARMFULALGALBLOOMS..............................................................................12LONG‐TERMINTERTIDALMONITORING.........................................................................................................................................13SANPARKSMARINEPROTECTEDAREAMONITORING...............................................................................................................15LINEFISHANDNETFISH......................................................................................................................................................................18MARINEREMOTEIMAGERYPLATFORM.........................................................................................................................................20INVERTEBRATESANDFISHMONITORING.......................................................................................................................................21SEABIRDSANDSEALMONITORING..................................................................................................................................................26BOATBASEDACTIVITIES,INVERTEBRATES,TURTLEANDSTRANDINGMONITORING...........................................................27CORALBLEACHINGMONITORING.....................................................................................................................................................29DEMERSALANDSMALLPELAGICFISH............................................................................................................................................30

B)MONITORINGPROJECTSTHATWERENOTPRESENTED........................................................................32FISHABUNDANCEINLANGEBAANLAGOON...................................................................................................................................32CAPEPENINSULAGALJOENMONITORING......................................................................................................................................33DEHOOPMPAFISHMONITORING.................................................................................................................................................33STELLENBOSCHUNIVERSITYMARINELABROCKYSHOREMONITORINGPROJECT.............................................................34ESTUARYMONITORING......................................................................................................................................................................35

C)MARINEMONITORINGGAPSINDENTIFIED................................................................................................35

APPENDIXA:LISTOFPARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................37

APPENDIXB:METADATATEMPLATE................................................................................................................38

REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................................39

AGeographicalInformationSystem(GIS)projectdepictingallstationcoordinatespresentedinthisreport,areavailableontheSANBIBGISportal:http://bgis.sanbi.org/Projects/Detail/182

SeaKeysMonitoringWorkshopReport–August2016 1

SeaKeys project background (presentedbyKerrySink)

TheSeaKeysprojectisalargecollaborativethreeyearmarineresearchproject(2013‐2016)involving30teammembersfrommorethan17differentorganisations.Theprojectaimstocollate,increaseanddisseminate marine biodiversity information and support the application of this knowledge inmonitoring,decisionmakingandmaintainingbenefitsfrommarinebiodiversityforSouthAfricans.Thisresearch project is funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa through theFoundational Biodiversity Information (FBI) Programme. The FBI Programme was developed inresponse to gaps and challenges in the knowledge base for South Africa’s biodiversity. The SeaKeysProjectisthefirstlargecollaborativeprogramfundedthroughtheFBIprogramme.TheprimaryfocusoftheProgrammeistogenerate,co‐ordinateandmakeaccessibleknowledgerelevanttothese“essentialbiodiversityvariables”.Thistypeofinformationisoftenreferredtoas“fundamental”or“foundational”becauseitformsthebasisofsomanyotheraspectsofbiodiversityresearchanddecision‐making.Thesedatasetsarecriticalforecosystemmapping,monitoringandreportingonthestateofbiodiversity,forsustainableuseofbiodiversity,and forunderstandingandmitigatingthe impactsofglobalchangeonbiodiversity.

Marine biodiversity knowledge lags behind that of other ecosystems for four main reasons: theenvironmentisgenerallylessaccessibleandmoreexpensivetosample;manyexistingbiodiversitydataarenotdigitisedorareinaccessible;capacityislimitedwithfewmechanismstoengagecivilsocietyinthe collection of primary marine biodiversity data; and data management and flow of informationwithinthemarinecommunityispoorlyco‐ordinated.Keyknowledgegapsincluderesearchonhabitatforming, resource, indicator and biosecurity species and ecosystems that deliver key services or aresensitivetoimpact.TheSeaKeysprojectaimstounlockmarinebiodiversityknowledgetoremedythissituation.SouthAfrica’s emergingnewpolicyand legslative framework for theoceans focuseson thedevelopmentofIntegratedOceanManagementespeciallybeyondthecoastalzone,thedevelopmentoftheoceaneconomyandtheneedforSouthAfricanstoderivesustainablebenefitsfromourcoastalandmarinebiodiversity.ThedevelopmentandimplementationofaframeworkforMarineSpatialPlanningis a key component of this new phase. Evidence‐based policy and management advice and newcollaborationsandimprovedco‐ordinationareneededtosupportthesedevelopments.

TheSeaKeysprojecthasfivecoreobjectives:

1. To develop new collaborations improving co‐ordination, management and dissemination ofmarinebiodiversitydata,informationandknowledge.

2. To unlock priority marine biodiversity records through the collation, verification anddigitisation of existing historical and un‐captured contemporary data and through citizenscienceinitiatives.

3. To undertake genetic, species and ecosystem research to support systematics, ecosystemdescriptionandevidence‐basedpolicyandmanagementadviceforprioritytaxaandecosystems.

4. To ensure marine biodiversity data and knowledge is disseminated and applied through co‐ordinatedon‐lineplatformsandapplicationofsciencebasedmanagementandpolicyadvice.

5. Topilotinnovativecapacity‐building,knowledgegenerationandinformationflowapproachestoincrease, improve and apply knowledge in marine resource and ecosystem management,monitoring,globalchangemanagementandmarinespatialplanning.


To achieve these objectives 10Working Groupswere established under the SeaKeys project. One ofwhich,aMonitoringWorkingGroup,aimedtoco‐ordinateanddelivermonitoringoutputsandadviseonmonitoring priorities and gaps. A workshop was held in Cape Town bringing together a sub‐set ofresearchers, representing nine organisations around the country, currently involved in some level ofmonitoring.Thisreport,combinedwiththedigitalGISproject,servestofulfiltheMonitoringWorkingGroupoutputsfortheSeaKeysProject.

Monitoring Workshop objectives (presentedbyLaraAtkinson)

TheobjectivesoftheSeaKeysMonitoringWorkshopwereoutlinedasthefollowing;

1. ShareinformationaboutmarinemonitoringinitiativesinSouthAfrica2. Advancespatialmappingofmonitoringprojects3. Identifyandenablenewcollaborations,synergiesandopportunities

Participantswereinvitedfromseveralkeynationaldepartments, institutionsandorgansationswithinSouth Africa that engage in some level ofmarine ecosystem and/or speciesmonitoring. Participantswererequestedtorepresentlong‐termmonitoringinitiativesthatareinexistanceorplannedforinthenear future within their organisation. A simplified metadata template (Appendix B) was distributedprior to theworkshopwith the request that participants source the relevant information from theircolleaguesabouteachappropriatemonitoringinitiativeandsubmitwithpositioninformationpriortotheworkshop.

Itwashighlightedthatmonitoringcanbeconductedinmanydifferentforms.Twomajortypesofbroadmonitoring that occur in the marine environment are 1) science driven monitoring i.e. long termmonitoringof fixedplotse.g. asconductedbySANParks,universities, SAEONandotherorganisationsand2)managementdrivenmonitoringwhichisfrequentlyadhocorfocussedonspecificprojectgoalsorrelatedtostockassessmentneeds.

Broadly,monitoringcanbegroupedintofourcategories;

1)TargetedmonitoringFocal(e.g.speciesofspecialconcern)Indicatorspecies(e.g.vulnerablespecies)

2)SurveillancemonitoringSiteorRoutebasedrepeated(e.g.ASCA,IEP,AlgoaBaySentinel,Coralbleaching)RegionalorAtlastypemonitoring(e.g.Demersal,Pelagic,Linefish)

3)Land/SeascapemonitoringPatternindicators(e.g.rockyshoreinundationbysand)Surrogatebioticindicators(e.g.remotesensingSSTupwelling)

4)Collationormeta‐analysismonitoringe.g.NationalBiodiversityAssessment,StateofBiodiversityReports

It iswithin this context that the SeaKeysMarineMonitoringworkshopwas framed.The scopeof theworkshopwasdefinedasallmarinemonitoringcurrentlyunderway,orplannedforinthenearfuturewithin South Africa’s exclusive economic zone, but exclusing pure estuarinemonitoring. The reason


estuarinemonitoringwasexcludedatthisworkshop,isthatitisextensive,ofaspecialisednatureandwarrantsadedicatedworkshop.

A) Presentations from workshop participants:

Large Mooring Arrays

1)TamarynMorrisSAEON,alsorepresentingProf.IsabelleAnsorgefromUCT

Tamarynpresentedonseverallargemooringarrayscurrentlyindeploymentwithin(andoperatingbeyond)SouthAfrica’sEEZ.

Fig.1.LargemooringarrayswithinandbeyondSouthAfrica’sEEZ.

a)TheSouthAtlanticMeridionalOverturningCirculationSouthAfrica(SAMOC‐SA)incorporatesthreemooring arrays, namely South Atlantic Meridional Basin‐Wide Array (SAMBA), CrossRoads andGoodHope (Fig. 1). The SAMOC‐SA project forms part of the greater SAMOC project which is aninternationalinitiativemonitoringtheOverturningCirculationoftheSouthAtlanticOcean.Thisprojectis led by Prof. Isabelle Ansorge from University of Cape Town, Oceanography Department. SAMBAconsists of shelf and tall moorings which include ADCPs (Acoustic Doppler Current Profile), currentmeters and MicroCAT CTDs (Conductivity‐Temperature‐Depth, including dissolved oxygen sensors).There are Current and Pressure‐Inverted Echo Sounders (CPIES) deployed in conjunction with themoorings themselves. A CTD transect is sampled each time the moorings are serviced (~ every 12months) which includes the standard CTD sampling and will start including data collection fromzooplanktonnetsandbiogeochemicalsensorsfromSeptember2016.


b) GoodHope: The GoodHope Line has been monitored annually since 2004 and provides highresolutionmonitoringof the SouthAtlantic and SouthernOcean throughdeepCTD casts (where andwhenpossible),XBTcastsandlagragianinstrumentdeployments(e.g.ArgofloatsandSurfaceVelocityProgram(SVP)drifters).Recently,CPIESmooringshavebeendeployedalongthefirstsectionofthelineto provide additional coverage of volume transport calculations of waters leaking in to the SouthAtlantic fromthe IndianOcean.Thisproject fallsunder theSAMOC‐SA initiative, ledbyProf.AnsorgefromUniversityofCapeTown.

c)CrossRoads:TheCrossRoadsLineismonitoredannuallyduringthereturnreliefvoyagefromMarionIsland (April/May). It is a high resoultionCTD andEXpendableBathyThermograph (XBT) linewhichmonitorslong‐termtrendsoftheAgulhasReturnCurrentandtheAgulhasCurrentitselfbyprovidingasnap‐shotstudyofthetwosystemsasclosetogetherintimeaspossible.Thissurveyprovidescriticalinformation to improve understanding of the long‐term volume fluxes. This project falls under theSAMOC‐SAinitiative,ledbyProf.AnsorgefromUniversityofCapeTown.

d)TheAgulhasSystemClimateArray(ASCA)iscoordinatedbySAEONwithstrongcollaborationfromDEA. The project is a five‐year initiative tomonitor the Agulhas Current using an array ofmoorings(whichincludesADCPs,currentmetersandmicroCATCTDs)alongwithCurrentandPressure‐InvertedEchoSounders(CPIES).ThesemooringsweredeployedinApril2015andwillbeservicedevery12to18months.Atthisstage,aCTDandzooplanktonnettransectisundertakenfordiscretesamplingtoa)validate moored instrumentation such as CPIES and MicroCats, b) collect additional biogeochemicalparameters and c) obtain snap‐shot transects of the Agulhas Current over time. Current fundingfacilitatesfora5‐yearproject,however,intensionsaretoextendthistimeframe.

Algoa Bay Sentinel Site

2) Dr Shaun Deyzel SAEON, also representing Dr Tommy Bornman (SAEON), Dr Paul‐Pierre Steyn(NMMU)andProf.EileenCampbell(NMMU).

Shaun presented six sub‐projects that make up the Algoa Bay Sentinel Site Long‐term EcologicalResearch(LTER)programme.

Fig.2.OverviewofAlgoaBaySentinelSitemonitoringactivities


a) ContinuousMonitoringPlatform(SAEON):Thisconstitutesanetworkoftemperaturerecordersand sea current measuring arrays distributed throughout Algoa Bay and St Francis Bay tooptimise long‐term bay‐scale observations (Fig. 2). Equipment deployed includes GullyTemperature Probes (GTP), Underwater TemperatureRecorders (UTR) and AcousticDopplerCurrentProfilers(ADCP).Atotalof40mooringshavebeendeployedsinceOctober2008withongoingmaintenanceandnewequipmentbeingadded.

b) Pelagic Ecosystem LTER programme (SAEON): A collaboration between SAEON, SAIAB andNMMUthataimstomonitorthepelagicecosystemwithinAlgoaBay(Fig.3).Theprojectstartedin 2010 and collects monthly samples of water column nutrients, phytoplankton andzooplanktonwithCTDcastsateachstation.

Fig.3.PelagicEcosystemStationsmonitoredinAlgoaBay

c) Estuaries LTER programme (SAEON):Monitoring four estuaries that influence the Algoa Baymarine environment, Kromme, Swartkops, Gamtoos and Kariega river estuaries. This projectwasinitiatedin2012andsamplingfrequencyvariesfordifferentparametersbetweenmonthlyandannually.

d) TufaStomatoliteecosystems:ThisisacollaborativeprojectbetweenSAEON,NMMUandRhodesUniversitythatmonitorstheecosystemsofTufaStromatolites(rareecosystemsassociatedwithfreshwater seepage from dune slopes and limestone calcification forming rimstone dams inwhichmicrobacteria, especially cyanobacteria, occur). Monthly surveys are conducted duringwhichconductivity, temperatureandavarietyofbiologicalvariablesare recorded to improveknowledgeabouttheseecosystems.

e) AlgoaBayIslandrockyshoreandsubtidalreefresearch:ThisseasonalmonitoringisledbyDrPaul‐PierreSteyn(NMMU)duringwhichcommunitycompositionismeasuredalongtransectsatJaheel,StCroixandBirdIslandcomplexes(Fig.2).Baselinedatawerecollectedin2000withadhoc samplingbeing conducted every2 years subsequently. Since 2012 seasonal samplinghasbeenconducted.

f) Sandy beaches and groundwater research (Prof. Eileen Campbell NMMU): Biological andphysicalvariablesaremeasuredat10surf‐zonestationsspanningAlgoaBayeverymonthsince2010(Fig.4).Eachsiteismonitoredforphysical(surfenergy,surf‐zonewidth,waveheightandsurf‐zone topography, water temperature), water chemistry (ammonium, nitrate/nitrite,phosphorusandsilicate)andbiotic(phytoplanktonbiomassandspeciescomposition)aspects.


Groundwater flowismeasured in fivePVCwells installed intheduneslacksoftheAlexandriadunefield.

Fig.4.SandyBeachandgroundwaterresearchstationsinAlgoaBay

Additionally Shaun presented on the South African Coastal Temperature Network which has beencoordinatedsince2014withHOBOandStar‐Odditemperatureloggersbeingplacedwithin5mwaterdepth around South Africa’s coastline. There are currently 127 sites around South Africa wherenearshore temperaturedataarebeingcollected.Prof.AJSmit (Universityof theWesternCape) is thekeyprojectcoordinatorandmoreinformationcanbefoundathttps://github.com/ajsmit/SACTN.

Shaun presented on behalf of Dr Tommy Bornman about the imminent South African ResearchInfrastructure Roadmap (SARIR): Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure. This is aproposedprojectpendingfundingapproval,toestablishtwoadditionalSentinelSites(TwoOceansandNatal Bight), maintain the existing Algoa Bay Sentinel Site and establish 5 satellite sentinel sites atLambertsBay,MosselBay,PortStJohns,SodwanaandPrinceEdwardIslands(Fig.5).Moredetailsofthisinitiativewillemergeduring2016.


Fig.5.ProposedSARIRlong‐termsentinelandsatellitesitemonitoring

Integrated Ecosystem Programme

3)DrHansVerheye,DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs(DEA)Co‐ordinatingscientist‐KeshneePillay(DEA)

Hans presented on behalf of the DEA focusing on the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: SouthernBenguela (IEP:SB) and its relevance to the SouthAfricanMonitoring Programme ofMarine Plankton(SAMPoMP).

a) TheIntegratedEcosystemProgramme:SouthernBenguela isconsideredoneofDEA’s flagshipprogrammes focusing on the southern Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem. Thisprogrammeaimstoprovidea relevant,reliableand improvedassessmentof theecosysteminsupportofitseffectivemanagement,preservationandconservation.Theoverarchingobjectiveis toenhance theunderstandingof the importance, timingandmagnitudeofmechanismsandprocessesthat influencethesouthernBenguelaecosystemstructureandfunctioningincludingtheimpactofclimatechange.Keyobjectivesinclude: Analysis and/or re‐analysis of long‐term, archived samples and data to inform the

developmentofecosystemindicatorsforuptakeintoecosystembasedmanagement(EBM)decisions;


To enhance understanding of fluxes (physical and biological) and their influence onecosystemcomponentsandmechanisms;

ToimplementabaselineecologicalsurveyoftheproposedNamaquaMarineProtectedArea.

Fig.6.IntegratedEnvironmentalMonitoringProgrammelinesandpCO2monitoring

Therearecurrently fourmonitoring lines that aresurveyedquarterlyeachyear (inFebruary,May, August andNovember, Fig. 6). The Scarborough line in the south (previously called theSARPline)aimstomonitortheBenguelaJetandAgulhasCurrentintrusion.TheStHelenaBayline aims to monitor water retention and productivity. The Namaqua line aims to providebaseline data for the proposedmarine protected area. The Kleinsee line aims tomonitor forseasonalupwelling,sealsandseabirds.

Additionally,andinconjunctionwiththeIEP:SB,coastalpCO2ismonitoredfromCapeTowntoKleinseewithantransecttraversingtheshelffromtheendofStHelenaBaylinetothestartoftheNamaqualine.

ResearchcomponentsoftheIEP:SBincludephysicaldynamics,biogeochemistry,oceanecology,advancesinnewtechnologyandsocialimpacts.Notallareasofexpertisearecurrentlyhousedwithin DEA and not all components planned for in the IEP are currently active. This is adevelopinglong‐termmonitoringprogramme.

b) The South African Monitoring Programme of Marine Plankton (SAMPoMP) is underdevelopment throughDEA andwill focus on SouthAfricas entire EEZ (i.e.mainland and sub‐Antarctic Prince Edward Islands). The initial plan is to implement plankton (zooplankton,


phytoplankton and Harmful Algal Blooms) monitoring within the four existing IEP:SBmonitoring lines on the west coast of South Africa. Additionally, quarterly surveys are to beconducted from commercial ships of opportunity operating on their normal trading routesbetweenCapeTownandWalvisBayorLuanda,towingaContinuousPlanktonRecorder(CPR).SAMPoMPintendstofurtheralignwithothercoastalandoffshoremonitoringprogrammes,suchastheoperationalSAEONSentinelsiteinAlgoaBayandthepotentialSentinelsiteonthewestcoast.Otherexistinglong‐termsurveys(e.g.DAFFPelagicsurveysandDEAmooringcruises)aswellasfutureIEPprogrammesonthesouthandeastcoastscouldbeconsideredasadditionalopportunitiesalongwhichtoexpandtheSAMPoMPinthefuture.

Waste water outfall monitoring

4)BrentNewman(CouncilforScientificandIndustrialResearchCSIR)

BrentpresentedonbehalfoftheCSIRCoastalSystemsResearchGroupbasedinDurbanonseveralkeywastewateroutfallmonitoringprogrammes.Theseinclude:

a) Durban outfalls monitoring programme: The impact of effluent discharge through twooutfalls on the marine environment has been monitored annually since the late 1970’s,usuallyinMayeachyear.Atotalof63sitesinandaroundtheoutfallaresampledforwaterquality, chemistry, toxicity, sedimentproperties andbenthicmacrofauna (125samples) toassess for any changes in the system that may have been caused by the wastewaterdischarge (Fig. 7). Components that aremeasured include nutrients, bacteria, metals andhydrocarbons.

b) RichardsBayoutfallsmonitoringprogramme: The effects of three outfalls on the marineenvironmenthavebeenmonitoredannuallysincetheearly1980’s,alsousuallyinMayeachyear.Asat theDurbanoutfalls,90sites inandaroundtheoutfallaremonitoredforwaterquality, chemistry, porewater toxicity, sediment properties and benthic macrofauna andmeiofauna(Fig.8).Componentsthataremeasuredincludenutrients,bacteriaandmetals.Inaddition,attheRichardsBayoutfall,benthicfishandmega‐invertebratesarecollectedfromthreesurveytrawlsconductedthroughthearea.Speciescollectedareusedtomonitortissuechemistryandcommunityassemblagetoassessforanychangesinthesystemcausedbythewastewaterdischarge.


Fig.7.Durbanoutfallmonitoringsites(mapproducedbyCSIR).

Fig.8.RichardsBaybenthicmonitoringstations(mapproducedbyCSIR).

c) SappiSAICCORoutfallmonitoringprogramme:Theimpactofwastewaterdischargethroughanoutfalloff theUmkomaasareaofKZN throughwhichSappidischargeswastewaterhas


beenmonitoredannuallysincetheearly1980’s(alsousuallyinMay,Fig.9.).Ateachofsevensites, water quality, toxicity (quarterly sampling), sediment and benthic macrofauna (35samples)aremonitoredtoassessforanychangesinthesystemasaresultofthedischarge.

Fig. 9. Benthic and water quality monitoring sites at Sappi SAICOR outfall north of Umkomaas inKwaZulu‐Natal(mapproducedbyCSIR).

TheCSIRadditonallymonitorstheimpactofwastewaterdischargethrough6otheroutfallsaroundthecoastasreflectedbelow.

Location Monitoringfrequency ParametersmonitoredHoutBay Annual Sedimentandwaterquality,including

toxicitytestingCampsBay Annual Sedimentandwaterquality,including

toxicitytestingGreenpoint Annual Sedimentandwaterquality,including

toxicitytestingVleesbaai Baselinecompletedin2014and

recommendforevery3yearsSedimentandwaterquality,macrofauna,meiofauna

Chevron(TableBay) Every3years SedimentandwaterqualitySizela(±70kmsouthofDurban)

Annual(shorelinemonitoring) Sedimentinterstitialwaterqualityandmeiofauna


Otherlong‐termoutfallmonitoringinitiativesraisedattheworkshopinclude:

d) Musseltoxicitywatch:monitoredineThekwiniarea(Durban)e) Harbour monitoring: Harbours currently monitored annually, since 2009, by the CSIR

includeRichards Bay, Durban, East London, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth,Mossel Bay and CapeTown.Physical,chemical(includingmetals)andbiologicalparametersofthewatercolumnaremeasured twice annually (summer and winter), while sediment chemistry (includingmetalsandhydrocarbons),benthicmacrofaunaandmetalandhydrocarbonsinmusselsaremeasured annually. Theharbour of SaldanhaBay,DangerBay and LangebaanLagoon aremonitoredannuallybyAnchorEnvironmentalConsultantsCC througha contractwith theSaldanha Bay Water Quality Forum Trust. Annual monitoring since 2008 includes waterquality,sedimentproperties(includingmetalsandhydrocarbons),benthicmacrofauna,surf‐zonefish,rockyintertidalinvertebrates,seabirdsandalieninvasivespecies.

Aquaculture facilities monitoring for Harmful Algal Blooms

5) Grant Pitcher (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries DAFF, Directorate AquacultureResearchandDevelopment)

GrantprovidedinformationonmonitoringofHarmfulAlgalBlooms(HAB)aroundSouthAfrica’scoast,focusingparticularlyontwolongtermmonitoringprogrames:

a.) AHABMonitoringandResearchProgrammeimplementedbytheSeaFisheriesInstitutein1989was maintained for 16 years (until 2005). The primary objective of this programme was toprovide a warning and information system to the public and the aquaculture and fishingindustry of developing harmful blooms. The programme also served was to identify thosespeciesresponsible forharmfulbloomsand toestablish theproblemsassociatedwitheach. Itwas not intended to serve the purpose of ensuring seafood safety. This monitoring includedinvestigations of all reported red tides and daily collection of phytoplankton samples fromElandsBayandGordonsBay.

b.) SouthAfricanMolluscanShellfishMonitoringandControlProgramme(SAMSMCP)implementedin2000throughtwoDAFFdirectorates(SustainableAquacultureManagementandAquacultureResearchandDevelopment).Thisprogrammeaimstoprimarilyservetheaquacultureindustryby providing the necessary guarantees to foreign buyers and Governments, and to localconsumers, that the risk of disease and poisoning through consuming molluscan shellfish isadequatelymanagedandminimised(Fig.10).


Fig.10.AquaculturefacilitiesatwhichmonitoringforHABsisunderwaythroughDAFF.

HABsontheSouthAfricancoasthave, in thepast,beenattributedtodinoflagellatespecies,butmorerecentlyharmfulimpactshavealsobeenascribedtoothergroupsofphytoplankton,includingdiatoms.TheriskofHABsdecreasesasonemovesfromthewesttotheeasternregionofSouthAfricaresultingindifferentsamplingschedulesforthedifferent locations.ThecurrentmonitoringofHABsontheSouthAfrican coast through the SAMSMCP is considered substandard owing to its focus on land‐basedaquaculturefacilities.

Intheworkshopdiscussion,itwasraisedthatDEAhaveafocusonHABsandtestingofwaterquality.DEA are currently establishing a working group and securing funds to further develop such aprogramme.

One of the biggest concerns affectingHABsmonitoring is the fact that phytoplankton species on theSouthAfricancoastarepoorlydescribed.EffortisrequiredincompilingaPlanktonspecieslistforSouthAfricatofurtherinformpotentialinvasivespecies.Aplanktonbarcodingprojectwasplanned,however,nofundingwassecuredandisnotcurrentlybeingimplemented.

Long‐term Intertidal Monitoring

6)DrToufiekSamaaionbehalfofMayaPfaff(DEA)

The DEA are currently implementing Operation LIMPET: Long‐term Intertidal Monitoring throughParticipation,EvaluationandTraining.ThisprogrammeservesasSouthAfrica’snational rockyshore


monitoringprogramme,andaimstodetectimpactsofclimatechange,pollutionandalieninvasionsoncoastal biodiversity. To make the best use of existing monitoring efforts and historical data fromprevious surveys, the initial phase of the monitoring programme focuses on streamlining aims andmethodologiesacrossallexistingmonitoringprogrammes.Monitoringonanational scale isachievedthrough inter‐institutional collaborations and research questions are being aligned across relevantdepartments.Basedonthisapproach,theDEAareplanningtoimplementmonitoringinitiativesinthefollowingecosystems:

1. IntertidalRockyShores(OperationLIMPET)(MayaPfaff)2. Shallowsubtidalreefs(TanyaHaupt‐Schuter,ToufiekSamaai)3. Estuaries(JabulileNhleko)

These three areas of monitoring require the development of a national database which would havepublicdata sharingagreement. In implemetingsuchaprogramme tohavenational coverage, there isinevitablya trade‐offbetweenthespatio‐temporalcoverageandtheresolutionof thedataduetothelimited resource availability. Considerable capacity is required to implement an effective nationalmonitoring programme and a synergistic approach is being taken that requires strong collaborationwith other government departments, conservation agencies, non‐governmental organisations,academicsandcitizenscientists.

Theprogrammewasinitiatedin2015inclosecollaborationwithSANParks,CapeNature,EasternCapeParksandTourismAgency(ECPTA),EzemveloKwa‐ZuluNatalWildlife(EKZNWildlife),andUniversityofKwa‐ZuluNatal(UKZN).ThesitesatwhichmonitoringiscurrentlyactiveareNamaquaNationalPark(4sites),ElandsBay(2sites),Betty’sBayMarineProtectedArea(MPA)(2sites),GoukammaMPA(2sites),RobbergMPA(2sites),Dwesa‐CwebeMPA(2sites)andKwa‐ZuluNatal(10sites,Fig.11).Inthenear future, standardised rocky shore monitoring will be implemented at Hondeklipbaai (andnorthwards),WestCoastMPA,Kleinbaai,Knysna,TsitsikammaMPA,HagaHaga,andAliwalShoalMPA,withseveralsitesateachlocation.Sitesareselectedtoallowaddressingrelevantspatialquestions,suchastheeffectofMPAs,impactofpollutionoutlets,mining,waveexposure,geologyetc..Themonitoringmethod at each site is standardised to allow comparisons and also to ensure a realistic, rapidassessmentcanbemade.Threetransectsarepermanentlyfixedontherockyshore,whichreachfromthetopshoretothelowshore.Photoquadrats(30x30cm)arecapturedeverymeterduringspringlowtide. A temperature logger will also be secured at each site in 1‐2 m depth and data downloadedregularly.Photographswillbestored inanationaldatabase toallow forpublicaccess tobiodiversityinformation.Togenerateknowledgeproducts, thepercentagecoverofall invertebratesandalgaearerecordedwithabsolutecountsofallmobileinvertebratespecies.Duetoaback‐logofdata,preliminaryanalyses will focus on indicator species/groups, whichwill assist in detecting changes as quickly aspossible,allowingformorein‐depthanalyseswhereneeded.

Some work has been implemented in monitoring the shallow subtidal regions of Table MountainNationalPark(SAEONandSAIABpermanentquadrats)forfishandinvertebrates.Furtherplansareinplacetostandardisesubtidalmonitoringandexpandaroundthecoast.

Adatabase iscurrentlybeingdevelopedwithinDEA(byChrisDuncome‐Rae)thatwillhouseall long‐termintertidalmonitoringdata,includingphotographsandmetadata.


Fig11.Locationsatwhichrockyshoremonitoringhavebeenimplementedin2015/16(orangecircles)andpositionsofproposednear‐futuresites(bluetriangles)throughOperationLIMPET.Ateachlocation,severalsiteswillbemonitored,toallowforspatialeffects,suchastheeffectofMPAs,impactsofmining,pollution,waveexposure,geology..

SANParks Marine Protected Area Monitoring

7) Mbulelo Dopolo (South African National Parks SANParks), including information from Dr AnéOosthuizenandKyleSmith

Mbulelo discussed the current monitoring of line fisheries within the SANPark‐managed MarineProtected Areas (MPAs), focusing on the roving creel surveys. This type of monitoring is mostlymanagementdriven.Datarecordedduringrovingcreelsurveysincludes:

fishandinvertebratespeciescomposition, quantitiesofharvestedresources, sizefrequencydistribution, starttimeoffishing, speciestargeted adherencetosizeandbaglimitregulations.

Thesedataareusedtothenestimatethecatchperuniteffort(CPUE).Routinepatrolswereinitiatedin2005 in the TableMountainNational ParkMarine Protected Areawith a target of approximately 80shorepatrolspermonth.Thepatrolstakeplaceatleastfivedaysperweek,includingweekends,duringwhichthemonitorsmoveunidirectionallythroughthecoastalstrip,stoppingonlyforinterviewswith


anglers (Fig. 12). In 2008monitoring at the slipways came to an end, and the roving creel surveyscontinueduntilearly2015.

Fig.12.TableMountainNationalPark:2005‐2015.Slipwaymonitoringceasedin2008.Similar rovingcreelsurveyswere introduced into theWestCoastNationalPark in2009,and2011 inAgulhasNationalParkandbothalso continueduntil early2015 (Fig.13).These rovingcreel surveyswereconductedundertheauspicesofWorkingfortheCoastprogrammefundedbytheDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs,whichhassincelapsed.


Fig.13.AgulhasNationalPark:2011‐2015Surveypatrolzones(1)Buffeljags–QuoinPoint(2)QuoinPoint–CaravanPark(3)CaravanPark–Ratelreviermond(4)Ratelreviermond–RietfonteinseBaai(5)RietfonteinseBaai–Brandfontein(6)Brandfontein–DougJefferey’s(7)DougJeffery’s–Suiderstrand(8)Suiderstrand–Aghulhascampsite(9)Agulhascampsite–Stuisbaaiharbour(10)Struisbaaiharbour–Andrewsfield(11)Andrewsfield–DeMondestuary.In addition, within the Langebaan Lagoon MPA, West Coast National Park the impact of prawnharvestingandtramplingismonitoredat5sites(SandyBay,KleinOosterwal,MaartsePlaat,Kraalbaaiand Klein Mooimak, Fig. 14). SANParks has started Cape fur seal count surveys to track therecolonization of Schaapen Island, West Coast National Park. Since 2010 there have been sporadicsightings of seals in Langebaan Lagoonwith approximately 30 seals sporadically aggregating on theisland.

Fig.14.WestCoastNationalParkSurveyPatrolZones:2009‐2015


KyleSmith,fromtheRondevleiScientificServicesofSANParks,providedinformationaboutSANParks’monitoringofmusselbedsinTsitsikammaMarineProtectedArea(TMPA)andintertidalcommunitieswithinbothTMPAandNaturesValley.MusselbedsweremonitoredonanannualbasiswithinTMPAbetween1983 and 2005 (initiated byNickHanekom) to document the increase in abundance of theinvasiveMediterraneanmussel(Mytilusgalloprovincialis)inadenselypopulatedbrownmussel(Pernaperna)area.Changesindensity,biomass,diversityandspeciesrichnessofassociatedintertidalfaunalcommunitywere recorded. Thismonitoring programme is no longer in place, however, an intertidalrockyshoremonitoringprogramme,withanemphasisonbaitspecies,iscurrentlybeingimplementedby Clement Arendse (SANParks) in TMPA and Natures Valley. This programme aims to instal fixedtransectsatfoursiteswithinTMPAandonesiteatNaturesValleytoannuallymonitorintertidalrockyshore biodiversity. Fixed photo transects and horizontal transects will be used to supplement theinformationcollected.TheprojectspecificallyaimstomonitorecosystemchangesorimpactsrelatingtothecollectionofbaitspeciesAlikreukel(Turbosarmaticus)andVenusear(Haliotisspadicea).

Catchandeffortdataof linefishandbait collectionaremonitoredmonthlyat Swartvlei (2008‐2016),Knysna (2008‐2014), Natures Valley (2008‐2010) and from Wilderness to the eastern border ofGoukammaMPA(2011‐2015)usinginstantaneouseffortcountsandarovingcreelsurvey.Fishingeffortand catch size and species are monitored. Seine or gill net fishing catch is monitored annually atSwartvlei(2010‐2015)andquarterlyattheGrootriverestuary(2010‐2016).Since2015BaitedRemoteUnderwater Video (BRUV) technology has been used to monitor the shallow water fish communityannually in Tsitsikamma MPA to provide information on the relative abundance of fish and sharkspecies.

CurrentlyallmonitoringinAlgoaBay,includingthecurrentBirdIslandandproposedlargerAddoMPAareconductedbyindependentresearchers.

Linefish and netfish

8)SteveLamberth(DepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries)

Steve presented on the current monitoring programs related to small scale subsistence and linefisheries.

1. SmallscalefisheriesmonitoringTheDepartmentofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries(DAFF)currentlyoutsourcesmallscalefisheriesmonitoringtoJaymatEnvironmentalSolutionsCC,untilsuchtimeastheplannedSmall‐ScaleFisheriesPolicy is implemented. There are currently ± 120 trained monitors that record daily shore‐basedextraction of linefish, molluscs (e.g. abalone) and crustaceans (e.g. rock lobster species). Fieldidentificationguidesareprovidedforfishandinvertebrates.Monitoringisonlyconductedonweekdaysandalthoughtheprojecthasnationalcoverage,thevastmajorityofmonitoringeffortiscentredintheEasternCaperegion.VerifiedcoordinatesoftheEasternCapemonitoringsitesarepresentedinFig.15.Onetothreemonitorsareassignedtopatrolaspecificstretchwithineachareaandrecordnumbersoffishersharvestinginvertebratesandanglers(bothsubsistenceandrecreational)targetinglinefishwitheitherrod/’stick’andlineorhandline.Asub‐sampleoffishersareinterviewedeachday(meanof56.2%) to obtain information about gear and bait used, and to count the harvested species (fish andinvertebrates).Ifpermittedbythefisher,species‐specificmeasurementsaretaken.Permitsarechecked


and fishers are classified as subsistence, recreational or unknown according to the permit number.Althoughthemonitoringprogramstartedin2011,datafrom2012areconsideredreliable.Itisreportedthatover300000recordshavebeencollectedfrom2012untilcurrent(2015).Furtherinformationonthisprogramand future intensionsshouldbeobtained fromMrCraigSmith,DAFFDirectorofSmall‐ScaleFishing.

Fig.15.SmallscalefisheriesmonitoringlocationsintheEasternCape

2. NationalMarinelinefishsystemThismonitoringsystemformspartofthelargestgeo‐referencedspeciesdatabase,ataglobalscale,andhas been operational since 1985 until current (2015). Commercial linefish data are collected daily,mostlyfromtheKwaZulu‐Natalcoast.Alimitedamountofrecreationallinefishcatchdataarerecordedinthissystem.Themassofthecatch,perspecies,perboatisrecordeddaily.Theareaofoperationisupto15nauticalmilesoffshoreandthecatchisrecordedata5x5nauticalmileresolution.

3. NetfishmonitoringsystemThis monitoring system focusing on commercial beach‐seine and gillnet catch returns with datacollection since 1985 until present (2015). Monitoring of netfish catches in KwaZulu‐Natal includesmixedshoal,sardinebeach‐seine,shoveanddragnets.Thecatchmassand/ornumberperspeciespernet‐dayarerecorded.Thegeo‐referencedataishowevernotasgoodasitwasinpreviousyears.Beachseineandgillnet fishingoperationsarealsomonitoredbyDAFFat15 recognisednetfishareas in theNorthern andWestern Cape from Port Nolloth toMacassar.Monthly catch returns are submitted toDAFF(since1984)andinsitucatchmonitoringoccasionallyoccursthroughobserverprograms.


4. Miscellaneousobserverprograms/surveysThere are several miscellaneous monitoring surveys that have been implemented to record specificinformation about linefish or netfish over different time scales. These include the National MarineLinefish Surveys (1990s), regional and local line‐fish surveys (1990s‐2015), Netfish surveys (1998‐2000)and theLinefish (andnetfish)observerprogram(2009‐2012).There is aneed tocollate theseeffortsintoonedatabaseinordertostandardisetheinformationcollectedandtomakethedatamoreusefulandaccessibleforguidingresourcemanagement.

5. Monitoringmassmortalitiesoffish,invertebratesandbirdsDAFF,CSIRandSANParksallactivelymonitormassmortalityevents.Thereisdetaileddocumentationrecordingspecies,volume(estimatedmassornumbers),causesandimpactsofallpastmassmortalitiesincluding estuarine areas. Suchmonitoring effort would benefit from a cohesive approach to enablestandardisationofdataandimprovedatause.Itwasalsomentionedthatthereisaneedforaplatformforthepublictologinformationaboutmarinestrandings.

Marine Remote Imagery Platform

9)AnthonyBernard(SAEON/SAIAB)

Anthonypresented theMarineRemote ImageryPlatform (mar‐RIP) research onmonitoring reef fishpopulations,macro‐benthicinvertebratecommunitiesandhabitatsurveyswithinandoutsideofMarineProtectedAreas(MPAs).ThisprogrammehasalsobeencalledtheNationalbaitedremoteunderwaterstero‐videosystem(stereo‐BRUVs)programme.

Thisresearchaimstoaddressthreebroadquestions;1)assessingtheMarineProtectedAreanetworkdesignandeffectiveness,2) theeffectofdepthonpopulationsof interestand3) spatialdistributions(presence,abundance,size/biomass/age)throughoutthedepthdistributionsofendemicandimportantspecies.Thesequestionsarebeingaddressedusinganarrayofremotevisualtools:

Reeffishpopulationsareobservedusingbaitedandun‐baitedremoteunderwaterstereo‐videosystems(stereo‐BRUVs)

Macro‐benthiccommunitiesareobservedusingdropcameraphotoquadrats Habitat surveys are conducted using stereo‐BRUVs, drop camera’s and simple bathymetric

mapping

Visualsurveysareconductedfromdepthsof6to115mwhichincludesthefullextentofmostcoastalMPAs.Thismonitoringprogrammewasinitiatedin2013andtodate41,sitesfromtheFalseBayareatoPortEdwardhavebeensurveyed(Fig.16.).Thisincludes±1000spatiallyreferencedsamplescollectedwiththefurthestoffshoreextentbeing72MileBank.AsofFebruary2015,thisinitiativehasrecorded15 000 fish length measurements from 21 000 counted fish and 5000 unique observations of 190differentfishspecies.Theinvertebrateandhabitatresearchlagsbehindthefishresearchcurrently.


Fig.16.Sitesatwhichunderwater imageryhasbeenusedtomonitorbiodiversityandfutureplannedmonitoringsites.

Samplingcurrentlyincludes: BiannualsurveysinTsitsikamma(since2013), Annual surveys in Algoa Bay/Bird Island (since 2014) and Pondoland/ Port Edward (since

2014) DeHoop,GoukammaandAmatholeMPAs surveyed in2015withplannedquadrennial (every

fouryears)repeatsurveys.

Remainingsitesaresurveyedonanadhocbasis.Futureplans toexpandthismonitoring to thewestcoast, Dwesa‐Cwebe MPA, Hluleka and iSimangaliso MPA are being explored. The majority of thesurveysbeingconductedarelinkedtoexistingstudentprojects.

Expandingthefuturepotentialofthemar‐RIPprogrammeincludes:

Expandingthecurrentplatformtomeetlocaldemand, Improvingthesamplingtechnologiestoenableresearchontheouterregionsofthecontinental

shelfofSouthAfrica,betweendepthsof100and250m, Exploring avenues for shallow subtidal/intertidal (<5m depth) research with the platform

technologies, Developingacomprehensivedatabasetomanageandmakeaccessiblethedatacollectedbythe

platform.

Invertebrates and fish monitoring

10)SeanPorter(OceanographicResearchInstitute),alsorepresentingErikaSteyn,StuartDunlop,JadeMaggsandBruceMann.

Sean presented on several monitoring programs that are managed by the Oceanographic ResearchInstitute (ORI), currently underway along the KwaZulu‐Natal coastline, focusing on harvestableinvertebratesandfishspecies.


1. Long‐term monitoring of commercially harvested oysters (managed by Erika Steyn): OysterharvestingoccursonanannualrotationalbasisinfourzoneseachbetweentheUmgeniandTugelarivermouthsinthesouthandbetweentheIsipingoandMzimkhulurivermouthsinthenorth(Fig.17).Onlyoneoffourpossiblezonesinthesouthandonezoneinthenorthareharvestedeachyear,with theharvestedzonebeing rotatedeachyear.Themajorityofoysterharvestingoccurson theKZN north coast and the fishery in the northern region (between Isipingo andMzimkhulu rivermouths) has beenmonitoredmonthly since January 2002, and is ongoing. The size frequency ofCape rock oysters (Striostreamargaritacea) harvested by commercial fishers along the northernKZNcoastismonitored.ThedatacollectedbythismonitoringprogrammehasbeenusedtodevelopanOperationalManagementPlanforthisfishery.

Fig.17.OysterharvestingzonesinnorthernKZNdepictingthenorthernzonethatismonitored.Thesouthernzonesupportsoysterharvestingbutisnotmonitored.

2. Long‐term mussel monitoring (managed by Erika Steyn): Populations of brown mussel (Pernaperna)aremonitoredbiannually(autumnandspring)onfixedtransectlinesatfoursitesalongtheKZN coast (Fig. 18.). Thismonitoring program, initiated in August 1993, records the percentagecover,widthofmusselbed,sizefrequencyandrecruitmentsuccessofbrownmussels.Monitoringisconducted in closed areas that were previously overexploited and comparesmussel recruitmentbetweenclosedandharvestedareas.

3. Invertebrate catch statistics (managed by Erika Steyn): Catch statistics of inshore invertebratescollected by recreational/subsistence fishers in KwaZulu‐Natal are recorded. Species primarilyrecorded include East coast rock lobster Panulirushomarus,brownmusselPernaperna,red baitPyurastolonifera,CaperockoystersStriostreamargaritacea,sandprawnCallichiruskraussi,octopusOctopusvulgaris, twomole‐crab species and ghost and rock crabs. Data voluntarily submitted by


inshore recreational fishers span the timeframe from1974until2002.More formal surveyswereintroducedbyEmzemveloKwaZulu‐NatalWildlife (EKZNW) in1995withdaily creel surveysandtheOceanographicResearchInstitute(ORI),withquarterlysurveysfrom2001.

Fig.18.Longtermbrownmussel(Pernaperna)monitoringstationsinnorthernKZN.

4. ORICooperativeFishTaggingProject(ORI‐CFTP,managedbyStuartDunlop):Thisprojectmonitorsmovementpatterns,growthrates,mortalityratesandpopulationdynamicsofkey linefishspeciesfromtheOrangeRiverMouthtotheSouthAfrican/Mozambiqueborder(somefisharealsotaggedinMozambiquewaters).Thisprojectinvolvesthecooperationofconservationconsciousanglerswhovoluntarily tag and release linefish they catch and the marine angling public, who report tagrecaptures to ORI. In addition, a large number of smaller tag‐and‐release linefish monitoringprojectsrunbyscientistsormanagersfromvariousinstitutions,usetagsprovidedbyORIandareassociatedwiththisprogramme(e.g.DeHoopMarineReserveTaggingProject).TheORI‐CFTPwasofficiallystarted in1984,althoughsomerecordsdatebacktothe late1970s,andisstillcurrentlyongoing. Data are used by scientists and managers for policy and decision‐making in linefishmanagement.

5. iSimangaliso Surf‐zone FishMonitoring and Tagging Project (managed byBruceMann): This fishmonitoringprojectwasestablishedwiththeprimaryaimofcomparingsurf‐zonefishpopulationsintheStLuciaMarineReserveSanctuarywiththoseintheadjacent,previouslyexploitedarea,southofLevenPoint (Fig. 19). The project started inNovember 2001 and has involved bi‐monthly (2001until2006)andthenquarterly(2007until2011)four‐dayfieldtripstotheStLuciaMarineReserveto conduct shore‐anglingand fish tagging. In2015 theprojectwasexpanded to include fournew


samplingareaswithintheiSimangalisoWetlandPark,namely;SodwanaBay,BhangaNek,MapelaneandCapeVidal (Fig. 19).Datamonitored at each of these sites includes catch composition, catchrates, length frequencies and fishmovementpatternswithin the iSimangalisoWetlandPark.ThisprojectisassociatedwithORI’sCooperativeFishTaggingProject.

Fig.19.iSimangalisosurf‐zonefishmonitoringandtaggingsites.

6. PondolandMPAReef‐fishMonitoring Project (managed byBruceMann): Thismonitoring projectusesresearchanglingtorecordlinefishcatchandeffort;fishspeciescompositionusingBRUVsandfishmovementpatternsusingtagrecapturewithinandadjacenttotheoffshoreno‐takeareainthePondoland MPA (Fig. 20.). The monitoring takes place quarterly with 2‐3‐day field trips duringwhich boat‐based angling, fish tagging and BRUV work is conducted. The sample sites extendbetweenPortEdward(outsidetheMPA)andMsikaba(withintheMPA).ThisprojectisassociatedwithORI’s Cooperative FishTagging Project.With the cessation os funding fromDEA through toECPTA,this10‐yearmonitoringprojecthasnowstopped.


Fig.20.PondolandMPAreeffishmonitoringsites.

7. National Marine Linefish System – KZN Recreational data (managed by Jade Maggs): ThismonitoringprogrammeispartoftheDAFFNationalMarineLinefishSystem(SeeSection8.2ofthisreport).Thiscomponent,managedbyORI,focussesonlinefishcatchandeffortdatafromallsectorsofthemarinerecreationallinefisheryinKwaZulu‐Natal,fromKosiBaytoPortEdward.Monitoringin KZN is primarily conducted by Ezemvelo KwaZulu‐NatalWildlife bymeans of observer‐basedshore angling inspections (creel‐type shore patrols) and boat angling inspections (access pointinspections).Monitoringdatahasbeencollectedonadailybasissince1984.A limitedquantityofvoluntarilysubmitteddataiscollectedfromshore‐basedfishingtournamentsandviaacatchreturncardsystem,althoughthelatterisbeingphasedout.InadditiontotherecreationalcatchandeffortdatacollectedinKZN,alimitedamountofobserverdatahavebeenreceivedfromotherareasalongtheSAcoast, includingtheGoukammaandBetty’sBayMarineProtectedAreas(MPAs).Capturingtheserecreationaldatafromotherprovincesisbeyondthemandateofthisprojectbuttheworkhasbeendoneintheinterestsofstimulatinglong‐termcatchandeffortmonitoring,particularlywithinSouthAfrica’sMPAs.

8. KZNBoatLaunchSiteMonitoringSystem(managedbyBruceMann):Thisproject,iniatedin2004,collates,processesandinterpretsdailyboatlaunchstatisticsfromeachoftheregisteredmarineandestuarinelaunchsitesinKZN.Anumberofunregisteredlaunchsitesalsoparticipatevoluntarilyinthis project. Information collected at each launch site includes number of launches, vessel type,activity, destination, number and species of linefish caught (if fishing and only by recreationals),numberofpeopleonboardandtimeatsea.RecordsarecollectedmonthlyfromeachlaunchsitebyEKZNWandreturnedtoORIwhocaptureandanalysethedata.


9. ORI Long‐term Coral Reef Monitoring Project (managed by Sean Porter): This monitoringprogramme was iniated by ORI in 1993 and contributes to the international Global Coral ReefMonitoringNetwork (GCRMN).Annual surveys are conducted along four fixed transects onNine‐mileReefinSodwanaBay(32.726611°S,‐27.414917°E)wherereefbiodiversityisrecordedwithafocusonhardandsoft coralpercentagecover, recruitmentandmortality.Apermanentlymooredtemperaturelogger(UTR)recordshourlytemperatureatadepthof18m.

Seabirds and Seal monitoring

11)ToufiekSamaaipresentingofbehalfofNewiMakhado(DEA)

ToufiekpresentedanoverviewofseabirdandsealmonitoringcurrentlybeingimplementedbyDEAinSouthAfrica,PrinceEdwardIslandsandAntarctica,onbehalfofNewiMakhado.

1.Sixspeciesofseabirdsaremonitoredannuallyatupto17stationsinSouthAfrica(Fig.21)withanadditional 7 stations in Namibia. The species monitored for population size and trend are Africanpenguin(since1990),Capegannet(since1980),Capecormorant(since1988),Bankcormorant(since1977),White‐breastedcormorant(since1988)andtheSwifttern(since1987).ThedietsoftheAfricanpenguinandCapegannethavebeenmonitoredsince1990and1986,respectively.

Fig.21.MonitoringstationsforseabirdpopulationsinSouthAfrica.

2.Sealpopulationsaremonitoredat11coloniesinSouthAfricaand16coloniesinNamibia(Fig.22.).Countsof sealpupshavebeen conducted every threeyears in SouthAfricaandNamibiausing aerialsurveyssince1973.Dietsurveys,throughcollectionandprocessingofscatsamples,areconductedona


monthlybasisfromthreecoloniesinSouthAfrica;LambertsBay,GeyzerRockandMosselBay.Monthlyscat collections have been conducted at these three colonies since 2011. On occasion, full stomachsampling(fordietassessment)andpopulationdemographicsaresurveyed,however,thisisirregularlyconductedasitrequireslethalsampling.

Fig.22.Sealcoloniesatwhichmonitoringtakesplace.

Boat based activities, invertebrates, turtle and stranding monitoring

12)TamsynLivingstone(EzemveloKZNWildlife)

TamsynpresentedfivemarinemonitoringprogramscurrentlyrunbyEzemveloKwaZulu‐NatalWildlife(EKZNW):

1. Non‐consumptiveresourceusemonitoring:Thiscoversallnon‐consumptiveboatbasedactivitiessuchasSCUBAdiving,pleasurecruisesandwhalewatchingalongtheKZNcoast.Dataarecollectedthroughlaunchregisters,whichareanationalrequirement.Datarecordedincludenumberoflaunches,numberofpassengers,destinationandpurposeoflaunch.

2. RockyShoreMonitoringProgramme:Monitoringtakesplaceat7stationsalongtheKZNcoastlinefromKosiBaytoPortEdward(Fig.23.).Sixtyrandomquadratsinfourintertidalzonesaremonitoredforinvertebratebiodiversity,onceayear.Thismonitoringprojectaimstoassessforchangesinrockyshorebiodiversityovertime.

3. ReefMonitoringProgramme:Thismonitoringprogramincludessubtidalreefbiodiversitysurveysat6sitesalongtheKZNcoast(Fig.23.).Fiftyquadratsalongatransectaremonitoredforinvertebratebiodiversity,onceayear.Fivemooredseatemperatureloggersrecordseawatertemperatureevery30minutesandaredownloadedtwiceperyear.Thismonitoringprojectaims


toassessforsubtidalreefbiodiversitychangesovertimeandlong‐termchangesinwatertemperature.

Fig.23.RockyshoreandreefmonitoringstationsinKwaZulu‐Natal.

4. TurtleMonitoringProgramme:Shore‐basedmonitoringofLoggerhead(Carettacaretta)andLeatherback(Dermochelyscoriacea)turtleshasbeenoperationalsince1963with39communitymonitorsconductingtwodailypatrols(85kmduringeachfootpatrol)duringtheturtlebreedingseasonfromOctobertoMarcheachyear.Allfemaleturtlesthatcomeashoretolayeggsaretagged,micro‐chippedandmorphometricandnestingdataarecollected.Theextentoftheshorepatrolswasexpandedsouthwardsin2014fromMabibitoSodwanaBaysuchthatthefullextentofTurtleMonitoringProgrammenowspansfromtheMozambiquebordertoJesserPoint,SodwanaBay(Fig.24).ThismonitoringisconductedincollaborationwithDEA.

5. StrandingMonitoringProgramme:AllstrandingsdetectedalongtheKZNcoastarerecordedwithinformationonspecies,locationandstatusbeingcollected.Iftheanimalisrehabilitateditistrackeduntilreleased.WhalestrandingdataaresenttoDEA(MikeMeyer)tobecollatedintoanationalstrandingdatabase.


Fig.24.Extentofshore‐basednestingturtlemonitoringinnorthernKZN.

Coral Bleaching monitoring

13)KerrySink(SouthAfricanNationalBiodiversityInstitute)

Kerrypresenteddetailsaboutthelong‐termCoralBleachingsurveythattakesplaceannually(betweenApril andMay) in iSimangalisoWetlandPark (Fig. 25). The first surveys of this nature tookplace in2005,2007and2008withannualsamplingfrom2011untilthepresentyear(2016).Ateachof16sites(maximum),atleast250individualcoralcoloniesarescoredableachingindexusingthesevencategorybleachingscalemethoddevelopedbyMcClanahanetal. (2007).ThesesurveysaredoneusingSCUBAgear and divers monitor corals between 6 m and 18 m depth, spanning the Northern, Central andSouthern Reef Complexes within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Underwater temperature loggersrecord semi‐continuous water temperature at 9 sites spanning the same depth and spatial extent.Temperaturedataaredownloadedannually.Theobjectiveof thismonitoringproject is toassessandprovideearlywarningforextremeenvironmentalconditionsthatmayleadtocoralbleachinginSouthAfrica.


Fig.25.CoralbleachingmonitoringstationsiniSimangalisoWetlandPark.

Demersal and Small Pelagic fish

14)LaraAtkinson(SouthAfricanEnvironmentalObservationNetwork)

Lara presented the current long‐termmonitoring programmes within the demersal and pelagic fishsectors of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, due to unavailability of the DAFFspecialistscientistsonthedayof theworkshop. InformationpresentedwashoweverprovidedbytherelevantscientistsfromDAFFasindicated.

1.Demersalfish,sharks,cephalopodsandinvertebrates(DeonDurholtz,DAFF)Demersalabundancesurveysareconductedannuallyonbothwest(January‐February)andsouthcoast(April‐May)since1984(Fig.26).Datacollectedincludedemersalfish(257speciesincludingsharksandcephalopods), benthic invertebrates (350 species), hydrography, ambient wind speed and direction,atmosphericpressureandwatercurrentspeed.Typically120sitesaresampledeachyearbetweenthecoastand1000misobath.

Datacollectedduringthesurveysare,however,alsousedintheassessmentofanumberofimportantdemersalspeciessuchashake,chokkasquid,monk,kingklip,Agulhassoleandhorsemackerel.


Fig. 26. Spatial and depth extent of the annual demersal surveys conducted by the Department ofAgriculture,ForestryandFisheries(mapproducedbyDAFF).

2.Smallpelagicfish(CarlvanderLingenandJanetCoetzee,DAFF)Small pelagic surveys are conductedbiannually betweenOrangeRiverMouthon theWestCoast andPort St Johnson theEastCoast to adepthof ±300m.Twosurveysaredone annuallywith the firstfocusingonrecruitment(OrangeRiverMouthtoatleastCapeInfantabutsometimestoPortAlfred,Fig.27)inautumn/winter(May‐June)andthesecondfocusingontotalbiomass(HondeklipBaytoatleastPortAlfred,sometimestoPortStJohns)inspring/summer(October‐December).Totalbiomasssurveyswere initiated in1984whilerecruitsurveyswereinitiatedin1985,andbothsurveyscontinuetothepresent (2016). Data obtained from these surveys are used to determine annual quotas for keyharvestedsmallpelagicspecies.

Duringeachsurvey,thefollowingdataarerecorded:1.Abundanceanddistributionof5epipelagicfishspecies(anchovy,sardine,roundherring,horseandjuvenile chubmackerel) and2mesopelagic fish species (lantern, lightfish)usingacoustic surveyinganddirectedmidwatertrawling.Samplesofthesespeciesarealsoretainedforotherresearchprojects.

2.Abundanceanddistributionofichthyoplanktonofepipelagicandmesopelagicfishes(aslistedabove),and ichthyoplankton of some other fish species (e.g. sole). Ichthyoplankton are collected bydeployment of CalVET nets at every 10 nautical mile station along selected survey transects andCUFES (continuous underway fish egg sampler) which are delpoyed both on‐station and whilstunderway,alongselectedsurveytransects.

3. Physical parameters of the water column, including vertical profiles of temperature, fluorescence,dissolved oxygen, salinity and tubidity, are measured from CTD deployments at 10 nautical milestationsalongselectedsurvey transects.Between2012and2015 thesesurveyswereconductedonboardacommercialvesselandenvironmentalsamplingwasdoneusingamini‐CTDattachedtotheCalVETnet.Priortothis,afullrosetteCTDarraywasused,whichalsoenabledthecollectionofwatersamplesthroughthedepthprofileenablingfurtherdetailedanalysis.


Fig.27.TransectlinessurveyedduringtheNovember2015DAFFsmallpelagicspawnerbiomasssurvey(mapproducedbyDAFF).

B) Monitoring projects that were not presented Several researchers involved in long‐term monitoring initiatives were not able to participate in theworkshop,however,providedinformationabouttheirmonitoringprojectsontheprescribedtemplate.Informationaboutthesemonitoringprogrammesareprovidedbelow.

Fish abundance in Langebaan Lagoon

Prof. ColinAttwood from theUniversityof CapeTown leads an annual sampling event in LangebaanLagoon duril April (autumn) as part of a student training programme. Fish abundance, speciescompositionandsizestructurearerecordedusinganglingandBRUVsduringthree‐dayfieldtripseachyear.Samplingeffort isconfinedtoControlledZoneAandRestrictedZoneBofLangebaanLagoon,asZone C is a Sanctuary Zone with no disturbance permitted (Fig. 28). Fish monitoring in LangebaanLagoonwasinitiatedthroughthisprojectin2005andcontinuesannually.


Fig. 28. Langebaan Lagoon,WesternCape indicating ZonesA andB, inwhich annual fishmonitoringtakesplace.

Cape Peninsula Galjoen monitoring

This monitoring project is a collabortive effort between Lieze Swart (DEA) and Prof. Colin Attwood(UCT). The abundance, size structure andmovement behaviour (through tag‐and‐release) of Galjoen(Dichistius capensis) is monitored from Cape Point to Scarborough on the western coast of CapePeninsula,WesternCape.Twovolunteershore‐anglersarerecruitedtocatch,measure,andreleaseallsurf‐zone fish landed,with specific gajoen individuals being tagged, during ± 20 sampling trips eachyear. This projectwas initiated in 1999 and continues to present (2016). Data from this project arejointlyhousedatDEAandUCT.

De Hoop MPA Fish Monitoring

This monitoring project is a collabortive effort between Lieze Swart (DEA) and Prof. Colin Attwood(UCT) and contributes towards the ORI Cooperative Fish Tagging Project (see Section 10.4 of thisreport).Theprojectwasimplementedin1983andcontinuestothepresent.Six,four‐daysamplingtripsareconductedeachyear,duringwhichvolunteershore‐anglerscatch,measure,tagandreleaseallsurf‐zonefishspeciesattwosites(KoppieAlleenandLekkerwater)intheDeHoopMPA(Fig.29.).Over40linefishspecieshavebeenmonitoredthroughthisprojectandthedata,housedjointlyatDEAandUCT,providethelongest,unbrokenfishmonitoringtimeseriesinSouthAfrica.


Fig.29.DeHoopMPAlong‐termlinefishmonitoringstations;KoppieAlleenandLekkerwater.

Stellenbosch University Marine Lab Rocky Shore Monitoring Project

Dr.TammyRobinson, lecturer at StellenboschUniversity, initiated an annual rocky shoremonitoringproject in the Western Cape region in 2012. The rocky intertidal shore invertebrate and algalcommunitiesarerecordedat13sitesintheWesternCape,fromLambertsBaytoHermanus(Fig.30.).Organismsareidentifiedtospeciesandpercentcoverisrecordedin5quadratsinthehigh‐,mid‐andlow‐shoreateachsite.Theprimaryobjectiveofthismonitoringistodetectandmonitortheimpactofintertidalinvasivespecies,butthewholerockyshorecommunityisrecorded,enhancingthevalueofthedatainabroadercontext.

Fig.30.RockyintertidalsitesmonitoredbyStellenboschUniversityannuallysince2012.


Estuary Monitoring

Thescopeoftheworkshopintentionallyexcludedestuarinemonitoringasitwasfelt thatadedicatedworkshop and reportwas necessary to capture the vast extent of estuarinemonitoring underway inSouthAfrica.Nonetheless,someinformationaboutmonitoringestuarieswasprovidedandisreportedon.

It was indicated that a National Estuaries Monitoring Programme is being initiated, led by theDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs,JanulileNhleko(seeSection6ofthisreport).VashaChetty,fromEzemveloKZNWildlife,providedinformationonestuarymonitoringcurrentlybeingconductedinKZNthat forms the first tier of a three‐tier step in the National Estuaries Monitoring Programme. SinceJanuary2013, fourestuarieshavebeenmonitored,onaquarterlybasis inKZN forphysicalvariablesandbacteria.TheestuariescurrentlybeingmonitoredbyEKZNWareMtamvuna,Mpenjati,MhlangaandMlalazi.

LaravanNiekerk(CSIR),wholeadstheEstuarinecomponentoftheNationalBiodiversityAssessment,iscompiling detailed information about all estuary monitoring in South Africa. The current estuarydatabase recognises 293 estuaries in South Africa. As many as 70 % (206) of these estuaries arecurrently not monitored at any level and the majority (78 %) of estuaries receive no dedicatedbiodiversitymonitoring. Few estuaries havemonitoring programmes that have been in place longerthan two years. Birds and fish aremost frequentlymonitored in terms of biodiversity, whilemouthstate, flowandwaterqualityarethephysicalaspectsmostlymonitored.Overall,estuarinemonitoringwasidentifiedasanationalmonitoringgapatthisworkshop.ThedevelopmentandimplementationoftheNationalEstuariesMonitoringProgrammeaimstoaddressthisissue.

C) Marine Monitoring Gaps indentified Thefinalobjectiveoftheworkshopwastousetheopportunitytoidentify1)monitoringinitiativesthatareknowntobe invariousstagesof implementationbut thatwerenot representedat thisworkshopand2)gapsinmarinemonitoringinSouthAfrica.InformationcapturedontheseaspectsarepresentedbelowinTable1and2respectively.Table1:Marinemonitoringinitiativesnotrepresentedattheworkshop

Component Individual/Institute/DepartmentresponsibleWestcoastrocklobster harvestedresourcemonitoredextensivelybyDAFFSouthCoastrocklobster harvested resourcemonitoredextensivelybyDAFFSeaweeds–kelp&Gelidiumspp. harvested resourcemonitoredextensivelybyDAFFWhitemussels harvestedresourcemonitoredextensivelybyDAFFAbalone harvestedresourcemonitoredextensivelybyDAFFSouthernCapeoysters harvestedresourcemonitoredextensivelybyDAFFCetaceanmonitoringProgramme KenFindlay–previouslyatUniversityofPretoriaHumpbackwhalemonitoring DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairsMarinemammallisteningstations DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs–SteveKirkmanSharks KZNSharksBoard–speciescapturedinnets(alsowater

turbidity)DAFFlinefishsection

Prawns harvested resourcemonitoredextensivelybyDAFF/ORIand


Component Individual/Institute/DepartmentresponsibleZululandUniversity(LeonBouvellier)

Seagrasses DeenaPillay–UniversityofCapeTownFishlarvaeandeggs AlanConnell/NadineStrydomFishlarvae NadineStrydom‐NelsonMandelaMetropolitanUniversityMarineplasticsmonitoring PeterRyan–UniversityofCapeTownMarinenutrients DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairsMeasuresofoceanacidification CSIR–tosomeextent.DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs

partialmeasures.MooredADCP–Tsitsikamma&StFrancisBay

DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs

Real‐timebuoys–Durban&ElandsBay


Remotesensinginitiatives Wind‐drivensediment(remotesensing)

Atmosphericinteractions DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs&SouthAfricanWeatherService

Telemetrymonitoring PaulCowley–SouthAfricanInstituteforAquaticBiodiversityAnimal‐bornetelemetrye.g.seals,penguins


Tidegauges/Waveheight–Durban,RichardsBay&Saldanha

CouncilforScientificandIndustrialResearch

Physicalmarinedata/metadata SouthernAfricanDataCentreforOceanography(SADCO)Seabirds CoordinatedbySouthernAfricanBirdAtlasProject(SABAP)

AlgoaBaypengiunsatStCroixandBirdIslandsmonitoredbyDrLorienPichergru.AlgoaBaygannetpopulationonBirdIslandmonitoredbyPierrePistorius.

Barcoding,genetics&eDNA Artificialhabitatmonitoringe.g.piers,harboursetc.

StillBayMPA–fishspeciesfromBRUVfootage

CapeNature,JeanduPlessis

Table2:GapsidentifiedincurrentSouthAfricanmarinemonitoring

Component Area/RegionSpatialgaps WestcoastspecificallynorthofSaldanhaBay Transkeicoastspecificallysubtidalandoffshore Surf‐zone/shallowsubtidal(intertidalto5m)coastwide Eastcoastoffshore Entireoffshore(>200m)region Shallowhabitatsystems NationwidesandybeachmonitoringPhyoplanktontaxonomy

Nationallistsofphytoplanktonandcomprehensivemonitoringofphytoplankton(linkstoharmfulalgalblooms)


Maleturtlemonitoring Onlyfemalesaremonitoredintheshore‐basedprogramme.Maleturtlesrequiremonitoringbymeansoftelemetrytracking.

MarinePhenologyandchangestherein

Thetimingofnaturalmarineeventse.g.arrivalofwhales,upwelling,turtleegg‐layingseason,sardinerunetc.

Wholesystemmonitoring

Linksbetweensystemse.g.dams‐rivers‐estuaries‐nearshore‐offshore

Benthicecology Nationwide,especially>200m.Oceanacidification Nationwide

Appendix A: List of participants

Name Organisation

1 TammyMorris SAEON

2 ShaunDeyzel SAEON

3 NewiMakhado DEA

4 ToufiekSamaai DEA

5 HansVerheye DEA

6 KerrySink SANBI

7 AndrewSkowno SANBI

8 SteveLamberth DAFF

9 SvenKerwath DAFF

10 MbuleloDopolo SANParks

11 LaravanNiekerk CSIR‐ Stellenbosch

12 BrentNewman CSIR‐ Durban

13 SeanPorter ORI

14 AntBernard SAEON/SAIAB

15 LaraAtkinson SAEON

16 GrantPitcher DAFF

17 TamsynLivingston EKZN

18 Avril‐CastelleSubramoney SANBI

19 HeatherTerrapon SANBI

20 LaraAtkinson SAEON

21 SiyasangaMiza SANBI


Appendix B: Metadata template

SeaKeysMonitoringWorkshopTocapturetherelevantinformationaboutthefixedmonitoringinitiative(s)youundertake,pleasecanyouprovidethefollowingmetadata.Ifyoucoordinate/managemorethanonefixedmonitoringinitiative,pleasecompleteasmanyformsasnecessaryperprojectandemailtoLara@saeon.ac.zabyFriday6thNovember2015.

Name:

Institution:

Section/Unit:

Contactnumberoffice: cell:

Emailaddress:

Alternativestaffmembernameandcontactnumber:

Alternativestaffmemberemail:

Monitoringprojectname:

Monitoringprojectmanager:

Whatdoesthismonitoringprojectrecord?

[e.g.atataxonlevel–Linefish/seabirds/mussels/reefbiodiversity/physicalvariablesetc.]

Wheredoesthismonitoringprojecttakeplace?

Ifpossible,pleaseattachanexcelsheetofcoordinatesindecimaldegreesoraGISshapefile.

Howoftenisthismonitoringconducted?

[Continuous/hourly/weekly/monthly/quarterly/annuallyetc.]


Whendidthismonitoringinitiativefirststart?/Whenintendedtostart?

[Month/Year]

Isthemonitoringstillongoing?

Isthismonitoringprojectpartofalargerprogramme?Ifso,whatprogramme?

Pleaseprovideabriefdescriptionofthismonitoringinitiative,orprovideanyotherrelevantcomments:

Reference McClanahan TR, Ateweberhan M, Graham NAJ, Wilson SK, Ruiz Sebastián C, Guillaume MMM,Bruggemann JH (2007) Western Indian Ocean coral communities: bleaching responses andsusceptibilitytoextinction.MarineEcologyProgressSeriesSer337:1–1

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