International institute praises Minister for successful Antarctica scientific cruise
A German Institute has expressed gratitude to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, for permitting two marine scientists from the department to participate in the international Antarctic cruise - ANTXXIX-7-WISKY to research krill.
The cruise, according to the Institute, " was a huge scientific success and the Professors contributed, due to their dedication and expertise, significantly to the success of the voyage". The scientific cruise was from the 14 to 16 August 2013.
Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is regarded as the animal species with the world’s largest total biomass, with stock estimates ranging from 60 and 155 million tons. Compared with the 100 million tons of the world-wide commercial fish resources, it is a new prospective source for the fishing industry.
In 2011, the German based Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) requested the participation of Professor Dr. L Auerswald and Professor Dr. S Kerthaw, from DAFF take part in a prestigious international research program. The cruise was part of an international research program to research Antarctic krill, one of the largest marine resources on the planet. Antarctic krill plays a huge role in the Southern Ocean ecosystem and fishery.
The aim of the program was to understand overwintering of krill and their larvae and consequences for recruitment, and, eventually, fishery recommendations for this resource and included an Antarctic research cruise in 2013.
Minister Joemat-Pettersson said “there is renewed interest of South African fisheries to look at this massive, under-utilised resource. With relative proximity of the area with highest stock densities – 70 percent of total stock in Southern Ocean - to South Africa, new technologies are now available to harvest krill more economically than in the past. South Africa already possesses a sophisticated fishing industry and industrial processing infrastructure so it could easily benefit from harvesting krill.”
“Worldwide, 70 percent of Antarctic krill is currently used as aquaculture feed. This could aid and stimulate, via cheap feed provision, the envisaged development of aquaculture in South Africa – a main focus of DAFF”, the Minister concluded.
Professor Kerwath said, “I am grateful that I got permission to take part in this prestigious research expedition and to apply my expertise in such an extreme and challenging environment. Although it was mentally and physically demanding to be on the ice at -56 ºC and to dive under the ice at -2 ºC, it was also a great experience.”
His counterpart, Prof. Auerswald said “I am proud that I was given the opportunity to contribute to the success of this challenging but exciting research expedition. After weeks of hard work, the results were very satisfying.”
The Institute said the two Professors played a major role in data gathering and analysis during the krill investigations under the sea ice, which will ensure high-quality research output for publication in high ranked international journals. "The resulting data will enhance understanding of the processed that will drive the abundance of this important resource".
Palesa Mokomele, Spokesperson for the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Telephone: 012 319 7876 (PTA)
Fax: 012 319 6681 (PTA)
Telephone: 021 467 4502 (CPT)
Fax: 021 465 6550 (CPT)
Cell: 082 904 1908
E-mail: PalesaM@daff.gov.za
