WSU launches rural coastal sustainability facility
Walter Sisulu University opened a new laboratory in Mthatha this week that will focus on climate change in the marine space, looking at how marine species are responding to the change.
This state-of-the-art Rural Coastal Sustainability Lab is located at WSU’s Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha.
The effects of climate change will be measured by running tests on species caught at sea, looking at how they were adapting to cold and warm temperatures, among other indicators.
“Once we get a species that adapts well, we will use it as an indicator species on how to respond to certain temperatures and climates,” WSU biological and environmental sciences department lecturer Dr Thembinkosi Dlaza said.
The lab also has seawater tanks for aquaculture purposes where tests will be run to see which species grows faster, which requires low maintenance and which are not sensitive to minor diseases.
Species grown in the lab would be returned to the sea as part of efforts to ensure food security, Dlaza said, adding that the researchers were working with fishing co-operatives along the Wild Coast.
The establishment of the facility was made possible through funding by the national department of science and innovation and the National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Joint Marine Laboratories (JML) programme.
The programme is a five-year initiative implemented through the NRF and the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB).
It is intended to bolster marine science research at four historically disadvantaged institutions WSU and the universities of Zululand, the Western Cape and Fort Hare.
The launches at the three other universities took place in 2022 and last year.
A few years ago, WSU also celebrated the official opening of its national pollution lab in Mthatha.
NRF chief executive Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo described the launch of the marine laboratory on Wednesday as another huge milestone achieved under the JML programme linked to the NRF-SAIAB African Coelacanth Ecosystem Phuhlisa Programme.
“In partnership with the [department of science and innovation], we have been supporting marine science research at the four historically disadvantaged institutions for over a decade through this bold programme,” Nelwamondo said.
“We have focused on providing funding to ensure infrastructure access at the institutions.
“The NRF trusts that these laboratories provided through the JML programme will advance marine research, and also increase the pool of researchers and technicians available to manage and protect SA’s marine resources.”
Dlaza, who doubles as the principal investigator for the marine lab, said a new single-engine boat and a Toyota Landcruiser had also been acquired for the facility.
“Whatever has to be tested in that lab will have to come from the sea,” he said.
The initiative would also ensure the transfer of skills and knowledge to the co-operative members, Dlaza said. People often fished unaware that some species were dwindling dramatically, he said.
He identified the East Coast rock lobster as among the sea species in high demand on the Wild Coast. Crayfish were viewed not only as a delicacy, but some people harvested their eggs to boost fertility in their livestock, leading to heightened demand.