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Coastal areas provide important benefits to humans in terms of food resources and ecosystem services. At the same time, human activities here may have significant negative impacts on the health of ecosystems and the viability of resources. There is concern that coastal development will increasingly compromise the sustainability of coastal ecosystems in southern Africa and the broader West Indian Ocean area. The Coastal and marine pollution group conducts research to understand, predict and monitor the consequences of human activities on marine and estuarine ecosystems.
The research is aimed at providing a rational basis for conserving, and managing coastal and marine resources and supports a need to maintain a sustainable balance between social, economic and environmental drivers.
Capabilities that underpin the group's research are:
Marine water and sediment quality: Our research capability here is supported by fully equipped and accredited laboratories undertaking nutrient, metal and organic analyses of water, sediment and biological tissues. For more information, contact Gary Parsons.
Microbiology: Locally developed criteria are used to evaluate the microbial health of marine ecosystems in an accredited laboratory. For more information, contact Liz Simpson.
Ecotoxicology: Locally developed tests are used to evaluate the toxicity of whole effluents and their components. For more information, contact Brent Newman.
Ecology: Biotic assemblages from impacted and reference sites are analysed to delineate pollution impacts and refine our understanding their ecological consequences. For more information, contact Steven Weerts.
The pollution aspect of our research focus combines these four main capabilities to characterise effluents and pollutants in terms of their physico-chemical constituents and their ecological effects. Research is conducted on the fate of pollutants in coastal environments; their dispersion, distribution, persistence and breakdown. The effects of pollution and other anthropogenic influences on coastal resources are established by researching causal relationships between these pressures and ecological processes. Expertise in the design and implementation of chemical and biological monitoring programmes is developed for applied use by both the private and public sectors.
Assessing the impact of deep-sea marine outfalls and monitoring of these outfalls for compliance purposes. For more information, contact Tim McClurg.
Assessing dredging and dredge disposal activities and the impacts in nearshore and estuarine environments. For more information, contact Steven Weerts.
Understanding driving forces underpinning the estuarine character and the ecological function of port and harbours. For more information, contact Brent Newman.
Assessing land-based activities which might impact on the coastal zone of the Western Indian Ocean (a collaborative project with WIOLAB). For more information, contact Steven Weerts.
Assessing land-based activities in the South African coastal zone to identify pollution sources and levels of contaminants in water, sediments and biota. For more information, contact Gary Parsons.
The development and application of indices to assess the ecological health of South African estuaries.
The development and application of microbiological health indices for bathing beaches.
The measurement of water and sediment quality in Beira Harbour (Mozambique).
Diving surveys to determine the optimal ecological routing of offshore outfalls (Mauritius).
Content and technical information: Dr Steven Weerts
Tel: +27 31 242 2356
Communication and media: Wiida Basson
Tel: +27 12 841 4362/3412
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