Exploring SA's wet wealth

The scene, filmed mid-2011 within the Isimangaliso Wetland Park near Sodwana, was once unthinkable. Until 1938, when a flesh-and-bone specimen was found near East London, the prehistoric fish species was considered extinct. It was previously known only in fossil form, the youngest 70m years old. The 1938 discovery was described as the most important zoological event of the 20th century.

It was not until 1952 that a second coelacanth was found, this time off the Comoros Islands. It remains one of the planet's most elusive creatures - which is why last year's underwater filming, by the SA Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (Saiab), was such a coup.

Grahamstown-based Saiab, a division of the National Research Foundation, is arguably Africa's leading marine research body. Its expertise encompasses both oceans and fresh water and it is routinely consulted by sub-Saharan nations needing advice on their aquatic challenges.

It is also a respected member of the international research community. It is currently part of the Canadian-led ocean tracking network (OTN), which uses acoustic telemetry - a worldwide network of listening stations - to understand the effects on marine life of climate change, overfishing and changing migration patterns.

One of the regional phenomena to be investigated is the sardine run along SA's east coast. For this, Saiab MD Angus Paterson says "thousands" of sardines will need to be electronically tagged before the event begins. "We hope this research will give us more information about why sardines migrate," he says. "Exactly what triggers them? OTN will help unravel the mystery."

Saiab was formerly called the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, after the man whose research uncovered many of the coelacanth's secrets. And "old fourlegs", as the fish is also known, is still an important part of Saiab.

Its flagship activity, the African coelacanth ecosystem programme , provides world-class research into Southern Africa's largely unexplored marine environment. Saiab is equipped with a coastal research boat and remotely operated deep-sea vehicle (Rov) for underwater exploration. It was this Rov that filmed the coelacanth last year.

Rov, however, is part of a broader study into the deepwater environment. Paterson says: "We know very little of our deep water below 30m, which is scuba depth. Yet there is more of SA underwater than there is above water."

The institute's work is vital in understanding SA's marine environment. Current research includes an investigation into why stocks of kabeljou (kob) are down to 6% of what they should be.

It's an extraordinary scene. Just over 100m beneath the Indian Ocean surface off SA's east coast, a group of coelacanth are clearly visible in movie close-up, turning their backs on the prying spotlight. Otherwise they seem remarkably unperturbed by the intrusion.

The scene, filmed mid-2011 within the Isimangaliso Wetland Park near Sodwana, was once unthinkable. Until 1938, when a flesh-and-bone specimen was found near East London, the prehistoric fish species was considered extinct. It was previously known only in fossil form, the youngest 70m years old. The 1938 discovery was described as the most important zoological event of the 20th century.

It was not until 1952 that a second coelacanth was found, this time off the Comoros Islands. It remains one of the planet's most elusive creatures - which is why last year's underwater filming, by the SA Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (Saiab), was such a coup.

Grahamstown-based Saiab, a division of the National Research Foundation, is arguably Africa's leading marine research body. Its expertise encompasses both oceans and fresh water and it is routinely consulted by sub-Saharan nations needing advice on their aquatic challenges.

It is also a respected member of the international research community. It is currently part of the Canadian-led ocean tracking network (OTN), which uses acoustic telemetry - a worldwide network of listening stations - to understand the effects on marine life of climate change, overfishing and changing migration patterns.

One of the regional phenomena to be investigated is the sardine run along SA's east coast. For this, Saiab MD Angus Paterson says "thousands" of sardines will need to be electronically tagged before the event begins. "We hope this research will give us more information about why sardines migrate," he says. "Exactly what triggers them? OTN will help unravel the mystery."

Saiab was formerly called the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, after the man whose research uncovered many of the coelacanth's secrets. And "old fourlegs", as the fish is also known, is still an important part of Saiab.

Its flagship activity, the African coelacanth ecosystem programme, provides world-class research into Southern Africa's largely unexplored marine environment. Saiab is equipped with a coastal research boat and remotely operated deep-sea vehicle (Rov) for underwater exploration. It was this Rov that filmed the coelacanth last year.

Rov, however, is part of a broader study into the deepwater environment. Paterson says: "We know very little of our deep water below 30m, which is scuba depth. Yet there is more of SA underwater than there is above water."

The institute's work is vital in understanding SA's marine environment. Current research includes an investigation into fish movement between SA coastal estuaries; why stocks of kabeljou (kob) are down to 6% of what they should be; and whether the banning of 4x4s from SA's beaches has pushed fishermen to estuaries and depleted fish stocks there.

Besides its own researchers, Saiab supports and supervises students at several SA universities. It has helped produce about 50 postgraduates in the past four years. The adjacent Rhodes University is its main academic partner. Paterson says Saiab is also trying to build a relationship with formerly black universities.

Transformation at Saiab has been slow because so few black students have chosen to study in the relevant fields. That is changing. "This is a wonderful field to be in. SA has amazing biodiversity plus an amazing marine environment," says Patterson. "There are significant estuaries and freshwater systems. Fresh water is a major issue in the country."

The institute, which has nearly 800000 marine specimens in its laboratory, is also broadening its scope. Its research has been extended to frogs and marine invertebrates, as well as to diatoms. These are one of the most common types of phytoplankton, and can be found in oceans, fresh water and damp environments. Most are microscopic but some species grow to 2mm.

Source: Financial Mail