Benguela Current LME
Introduction
The Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem borders the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of southern Africa, and is characterized by its temperate climate. It is a western boundary ecosystem, and the strongest wind-driven coastal upwelling system known. This upwelling system is globally unique because it is bounded at both northern and southern ends by warm water systems, the tropical/equatorial Eastern Atlantic Current and the easterly Agulhas Current flowing from the Indian Ocean. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is supporting an ecosystem-based project that was requested by the governments of Angola, Namibia and South Africa. It aims at integrated management, sustainable development and environmental protection.
Fishing boat in the Benguela Current. Photo: Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme
Fishing boat in the Benguela Current. Photo: Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme
Productivity, Fisheries and Ecosystem Health
The LME is a center of low marine biodiversity and is one of the most productive ocean areas in the world. It is considered a Class I, highly productive (>300 gC/m2-yr), ecosystem. This LME is extremely rich in fishery resources with a total catch of rock lobster, cods, hakes and haddock as well as small pelagics sometimes in excess of 1 million tons per annum. The confluence of warm and cooler waters provides a protected spawning area for the northern sardine and anchovy populations. The over exploitation of the commercial fish stocks and some unsustainable harvesting of the living resources continue to be a cause of concern. Global climate change could intensify coastal winds and disrupt the balance of upwelling, sheltered areas and mixing that is so favorable to the anchovy and sardine fisheries. Further long term scientific research is needed.
Health concerns in this LME focus on endangered, vulnerable and introduced species, altered food webs (changes in community composition, species and diversity), and the disruption of fish, bird and mammal migrations due to El Niño like events. Harmful algal blooms occur off the coasts of all three countries. There is habitat destruction and modification (wetlands, mangroves, lagoons), and loss or modification of ecotones. There is a high pollution risk associated with ongoing seabed mining and petroleum exploration and production.
Snoek in the Benguela Current. Photo: Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme
Health concerns in this LME focus on endangered, vulnerable and introduced species, altered food webs (changes in community composition, species and diversity), and the disruption of fish, bird and mammal migrations due to El Niño like events. Harmful algal blooms occur off the coasts of all three countries. There is habitat destruction and modification (wetlands, mangroves, lagoons), and loss or modification of ecotones. There is a high pollution risk associated with ongoing seabed mining and petroleum exploration and production.
Snoek in the Benguela Current. Photo: Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme
Socio-economic and Governance
The three countries bordering the LME are making efforts to develop a viable mariculture policy, and to solve conflicts between fisheries and coastal and offshore diamond, gold, oil and gas production. They are cooperatively analyzing the socioeconomic consequences of harvesting methods, in order to improve the sustainable use of the living resources. While there is limited human and infrastructure capacity to assess the health of the ecosystem as a whole, sophisticated management systems are available online in the form of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Strategic Action Programme. BENEFIT (The Benguela-Environment-Fisheries-Interaction & Training), launched in 1997, provides further information about capacity building.