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Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

Date: 2014-08-08
One of the key research objectives of the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence is to gain a better understanding of the movement and residency patterns of potentially dangerous sharks along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Of particular interest is how the movement patterns of sharks are related to environmental parameters such as water temperature. This information is crucial not only in minimizing the risk of shark attack at both netted and non-netted beaches, but also in enabling the Board to make informed decisions on the deployment and location of shark nets to reduce the catch of harmless animals.

To achieve this goal the Board is in the process of developing a project which will involve deploying a network of acoustic listening stations and temperature loggers at strategic locations along its area of operations between Richards Bay and Port Edward and fitting sharks with acoustic transmitters. The tags emit a unique coded signal, which can be detected by the listening stations up to 1 km away. Data downloaded from the stations can then be used to build a picture of when and where sharks are occurring.

To help ensure that this project realises it's full potential and links to other national research initiatives we are very proud today to be signing a MoU with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and the South African Environmental Observation Network. One of the key focus areas of both these National Research Foundation institutions is long-term research that contributes to our better understanding of coastal systems. For the past 8-years, their joint ventures have included establishing a variety of research platforms, which have included the Algoa Bay Sentinel Site, which is possibly now the most extensively monitored bay in Southern Africa. With their partnership we hope to replicate a similar achievement in KwaZulu-Natal.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding formalizes the collaborative research partnership, which already exists between the KZNSB, SAEON and SAIAB. It provides an ideal platform for the sharing of resources including equipment, funding, data, laboratory space, and students. The MoU signals a new and exciting chapter of marine research along the KZN coastline, which will contribute to the better management and conservation of this precious natural resource.