South Africa and Norway Science Week explore opportunities in the oceans economy
The Department of Environmental Affairs held the Antarctica and Southern Ocean Workshop yesterday, 3 November 2016, as part of the second leg of the week-long Norway-South Africa Science Week, at the Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town.
The science week focused on opportunities that the oceans economy presents for both South Africa and its international partners, such as, Norway, which has a wealth of experience in the oceans economy. South Africa and Norway are key partners with a wide variety of joint research programs and share a historical and common interest in Antarctica. Norway handed South Africa its first base on Antarctica in 1959.
Under the theme: Value Creation in Ocean Space - New Opportunities in the Blue Economy, Science Week brought together and forged new relationships from different stakeholders of national entities, infrastructure holders, key players from higher education, research, innovation and business in South Africa and Norway, who shared their perspectives and expertise.
Various sessions took place with the aim of identifying potential joint work areas and project concepts, as well as identifying the scope for enhancing South Africa as a Gateway to Antarctica. One of the key segments of the sessions was the focus on Marine Science Policy Support Objectives.
These objectives focus on balancing ecological, economic and social goals towards a sustainable development as well as an integrated approach applicable to all sectors, agencies and spheres of the South African Government. A need to understand and describe the environmental risk whilst ensuring that the stakeholders are actively involved in the process and an area based approach which focuses on Marine Spatial Plans & Conservation Areas.
Although progress has been made regarding research on Antarctica, there still remains vast opportunities for scientific research and innovation on which South Africa and Norway can collaborate on. The oceans around South Africa represents the largest wilderness space, however the country only derives about 4% of its GDP from this. South Africa has an opportunity to present itself as a gateway to Antarctica for many countries that have a presence on the icy continent.
There are however a number of budget constraints for the South Africa Region Science which requires finding new sources of funding that can be identified and ventured into. Some key economic reasons to allocate budget towards the Antarctic region are that South Africa has a global position, status and stewardship and there is public goods provision, Gateway income and support of sustainable development such as catching fish.
As part of the future strategies, South Africa plans to cooperate with Norway to see how it can service countries that leave for Antarctica through the country. Another key strategy is the proposal for Air Corridor Tourism, activities such as snow skiing and skating, snow kite boarding, marine, animal, scenic and bird viewing by hiking or snow riding in Antarctica could boost economic potential for South Africa.
Enquiries:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
Email: znqayi@environment.gov.za
