Regionalism in marine biology: The convergence of ecology, economics and politics in South Africa.

Abstract

The South African coast includes biogeographic provinces which are quite distinct in their abilities to sustain exploitation and in the types of exploitation they experience. As a result, no single region can act as a model for the management of living resources around the entire coast. Instead, appropriate management must rest on regionally based research. Past research in marine biology focused on the west coast with much less attention being given to the east and south coasts, where non-commercial, subsistence-level fisheries predominate. A partial decentralisation of research focus is essential. This requires commitment from national-level research bodies and some certainty about at least medium-term funding. This paper addresses the convergence of ecology, economics and politics in South Africa and illustrates the direct relevance that fundamental or basic research can have to socioeconomic problems. Recruitment of the resource; Geographical variation in biological processes; State of research policy; Promise of regulations.