SA Agulhas leaves Durban on last leg of mission to scan ocean

SOUTH AFRICAN ice-breaking polar supply and research vessel the SA Agulhas II left Durban yesterday for Cape Town on the last leg of its second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE2).

The IIOE2 is a multi-national programme of the UN Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) which emphasises the need to research the Indian Ocean and its influence on climate and its marine ecosystem.

The IOC recognised that there was a lack of basic longterm environmental information in the Indian Ocean, particularly for countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.

As a result, the IOC decided to declare the beginning of the IIOE2, 50 years after the first IIOE.

The data collection on the SA Agulhas II covers physics, chemistry, plankton, biodiversity, large animals including whales and seabirds as well as geology.

Department of Environmental Affairs director of oceans research Ashley Johnson said the first initiative to explore the Indian Ocean in the early 1960s did not include much input and involvement from the African continent.

“Back in the 60s, the contribution from Africa, or the east coast of Africa, to that Indian Ocean expedition was minimal.

“That first expedition gave rise to some of the biggest institutions in India, Australia and some of the Pacific rim areas. Institutions got started because of the participation of countries,” he said.

“Last year, South Africa became the chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association – the brainchild of Nelson Mandela. He is the one who initiated this formation of countries.

“It being his centenary, (and with us) taking the chair of this association, and the Indian Ocean Expedition anniversary… it all sort of culminated in us going to the cabinet and saying ‘let us take leadership in this second international expedition’, not only for ourselves and the region, but for Africa,” Johnson said.

“We said ‘let’s look at how we can capacitate the region in terms of making a meaningful contribution where science is concerned to this Indian Ocean expedition… Let’s… tackle this with (a) new perspective and new eyes so there is a legacy of Africa and South Africa’s contribution to this Indian Ocean expedition’,” Johnson added.

It is hoped that the gathering of basic long-term environmental information will place the developing countries of the Indian Ocean in a better position to conserve the integrity of its ocean, find ways to unlock their respective potential ocean economies to improve the lives of their citizens, and to better detect and adapt to ocean-related threats to coastal communities and infrastructure.