SOUTH Africa is uniquely surrounded by three magnificent ocean spaces – the Atlantic, Indian, and Southern Oceans – offering a resource-rich and biologically diverse environment. Our oceans represent a significant asset for current and future generations. Beyond the well-known direct socio-economic benefits of the ocean, they offer less obvious, yet equally vital benefits through the provisioning of ecosystem services like climate regulation, carbon storage, and waste absorption. Furthermore, our oceans and coastal areas support a thriving tourism industry, as countless citizens and international visitors flock to our shores for recreational activities such as swimming, diving, and whale-watching.
One of the most pressing concerns we face is the impact of pollution on our marine and estuarine environments. Chronic pollution, stemming from domestic and industrial wastewater, stormwater runoff, and solid waste, is…