Key Challenges in Advancing an Ecosystem-Based Approach to Marine Spatial Planning Under Economic Growth Imperatives

Amanda T Lombard,Gwenith Susan Penry,Kerry J Sink,Jodie Romay Reed,Alistair M Mcinnes,Tayla Ginsburg,Rosemary A Dorrington,Estee Ann Vermeulen,Minke Witteveen,Kelly Ortega-Cisneros,Kaylee Pam Smit,Lorien Pichegru

doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00146

Abstract

In 2016, South Africa became the first African country to draft Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) legislation. The underlying legal framework supports the achievement of ecological, social and economic objectives, but a national policy to grow the oceans economy provides a challenge for ecosystem-based approaches to MSP. During the 2018 International Marine Conservation Congress in Borneo, we convened a special session to discuss particular challenges that will likely apply to any developing country seeking to increase profits from existing, or proposed, marine activities. Here we present six inter-disciplinary research projects that support ecosystem-based approaches to MSP in South Africa, by addressing the following key challenges: (1) measuring ecosystem condition; (2) modelling impacts of climate change on food webs and fisheries; (3) managing fisheries with an ecosystem approach; (4) using dynamic ocean management to resolve conflicts between fisheries and threatened species; (5) managing conflicting objectives in a growing marine tourism industry; and (6) developing scenarios for alternative management strategies in complex marine social-ecological systems.

Highlights

South Africa’s large exclusive economic zone includes the Indian, Atlantic, and Southern Oceans
An ecosystem-based approach to Marine spatial planning (MSP) is founded on ecosystem health, whereas an integrateduse approach to MSP is underpinned by economic growth (Qiu and Jones, 2013)
South Africa’s current plans to grow its oceans economy have created high expectations amongst many stakeholders, and in response to this socio-political context, we have developed a research agenda to address key challenges in the country’s emerging MSP process (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

South Africa’s large exclusive economic zone includes the Indian, Atlantic, and Southern Oceans. The consideration of the likely future impacts of ocean acidification and warming, and its combined effects with other anthropogenic stressors, is essential to better inform resource management and planning in South Africa, especially in the currently-emerging MSP processes that will need to remain adaptive to the spatial uncertainties resulting from climate change.

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Results

Conclusion