The state of marine science in South Africa PW Froneman Rhodes University

Background Number reports exist on the state of marine research in South Africa. SANCOR estuaries programme South African Southern Ocean Research programme SANCOR occasional reports Many outdated/regionally/discipline biased and thus provide little support/indication of the current state of marine research in South Africa. Questions thus arise of where should SANCOR be focussing its future research and how it can address any perceived weaknesses within the marine science community. Current study was commissioned by NRF (covered the period 1994-2008). Study was conducted by Scherman Colloty and Associates cc.

15 Governmental/parastatal institutions Tertiary groups & affiliated institutes Albany Museum Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Oceanography) Nelson Mandel Metropolitan University Oceanographic Research Institute / South African Association for Marine Biological Research Rhodes University South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity University of Cape Town University of Fort Hare University of Johannesburg / ECON&UJ University of KwaZulu-Natal University of Pretoria - Mammal Research Institute & CWMS University of Stellenbosch (incl CREST) University of Zululand Walter Sisulu University Government & Parastatal Cape Nature Council for Geosciences - Marine Geosciences Database Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Department of Science & technology (NRF/RISA) Department of Water Affairs (RDM & RQS) Eastern Cape Parks Board Ezemvelo – KZN Wildlife MCM / Oceans & Coasts / DAFF Natal Museum Portnet (Transnet) River Health Programme - Provincial Technical Teams (Estuaries) South African Biodiversity Information Facility (SABIF) SANBI Marine Programme South African National Parks Board Water Research Commissions 15 Governmental/parastatal institutions 14 tertiary/research institutes

Programmes & Networks African Coelacanth Programme AfrOBIS (Ocean Biogeographic Information System) Agulhus / Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme Cape Action Plan for People & the Environment Consortium for Estuarine Research and Management (CERM) Eastern Cape Research Association for Marine Researchers (ECRAM) KwaZulu-Natal Marine and Coastal Management Research Group (KZN-MRG) Marine and Coastal Educators Network (MCEN) Marine Linefish Research Group (MLRG) River Health Programme - Provincial Technical Teams (Estuaries) South African Environmental Observation Network SANCOR SEAchange South African Marine Linefish Management Association (SAMLMA) Companies & NGO's Birdlife International EnviroFish Africa Ocean Planet Ocean Research Africa / Biotech Ocean Research Conservation Africa (ORCA) World Wildlife Fund

Data Total of 45914 citations /documents were reviewed during the study of which 9568 were marine and coastal related. During the study, the following data bases were populated: Total/type of publication Discipline Geographic variability Gender contribution Cohort contribution Transformation

Outputs 34% of publications appeared in peer reviewed journals 72% of the peer reviewed publications appeared in ISI accredited journals. Strong preference for local journals (e.g. South African Journal of Marine Science (African Journal of Marine Science), South African Journal of Science, African Journal of Aquatic Science, African Journal of Zoology). Book/book chapters contributed < 1% of the total number of publications per annum. Significant increase in production of “grey literature” Changes in environmental legislation Management reports Need to disseminate information in popular press.

Disciplines

Conclusions Findings of the current study are broadly in agreement with similar studies conducted in South Africa (e.g. Dieb & Gevers, 2009). Significant increase in total number of peer reviewed articles over period of study. Natural sciences still strongest discipline within marine research (54% of all publications). Strong regional differences in output/postgraduate students (dominance by Western Cape and KwaZulu- Natal). Little evidence in support of emergence of new generation of young researchers. Some progress with respect to transformation Increase in contribution of woman and HDI in outputs

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