SOUTH AFRICA: Joining the SA Agulhas II for a trip from East London to Cape Town last weekend, members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee were given a first-hand glimpse of the vessel’s capabilities as well as its importance in sustaining global efforts to study the ocean’s role in climate change.
Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee were invited to join the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, on board the SA Agulhas II and used the opportunity to gain insight into the country’s asset as well as the department’s requirements to maintain its resources.
As part of the committee’s delegation, Dr Lillian Managa of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said that she had been surprised to see the level of sophistication of the laboratories on board and that she was “satisfied that it (the vessel) is of benefit to the country”.
“There were several things we wanted to achieve with this visit,” she told Maritime Review. “The department is supposed to provide reports on their assets on a three-monthly basis, but they seem to be struggling with asset management,” she said explaining that the trip had provided the committee with an opportunity to engage directly with one of these assets.
She expressed concern that government’s austerity measures may impact on the ability to maintain and manage the department’s fleet that extends to other research vessels as well as the patrol vessels under SAMSA Special Project’s management.
“We need to see the other vessels in the fleet,” she said noting that it was important to plan ahead to ensure that measures were put in place to replace or maintain the older vessels such as the Africana and Algoa.
As part of the oversight provided by the committee, Managa said that it was important to gain an understanding how assets such as the SA Agulhas II were benefitting the country and future generations.
“We rely on the findings of the Auditor General’s report to highlight issues that require attention or corrective measures,” she said adding that, despite representing different political parties, the members spoke with one voice on issues of governance.
Committee members also conduct their own research and use industry advisors to identify issues in more detail.
Welcoming the delegation of committee members as well as members of the media on board, Ashley Johnson, Director of Ocean Research at DFFE, highlighted the importance of South Africa’s geographic position in the Southern Ocean.
“Every country in the north wants to work with us,” he said describing the country’s coastline as the pulse for global ocean currents.
Johnson stressed the importance of collecting data over extended periods and motivated for continued investment in the country’s research bases as well as its fleet. “We need to track data over long periods of time to understand what is happening locally versus globally,” he said.
Noting the phenomenon of climate change, he urged the delegation to consider the need to understand the long-term impact that this could have on South Africa as a country – highlighting that global studies should not simply be transplanted into the local domain without an understanding of the particular elements that impact the region.
“If we don’t know what is happening in our own backyard, how will we adapt?” he asked as he emphasised the need to stay at the forefront of ocean research.
“We need to understand what is coming. It is pointless measuring it when it arrives,” he said as he urged the delegation to consider the need for resources and funding of the department’s efforts to maintain the country’s position as a leader in scientific research.
