Working together for our oceans: A marine spatial plan for Algoa Bay, South Africa

Southern Africa occupies a critical position within the southern hemisphere for the study of broadscale global change and the three oceans around South Africa (the Atlantic, Indian and Southern Oceans) play a vital role in determining local and regional climate and weather patterns. Oceans and coasts also provide various resources and services (e.g. food and carbon sequestration), but these services are threatened by human activities. Uncertainty of the impact and consequences of these anthropogenic activities makes it problematic to manage marine resources. Given the recent global emphasis on the development of ‘ocean economies’, the exploitation of living (fisheries, aquaculture and tourism) and non-living (oil and gas, minerals, energy) marine resources should be on a scale that is socially and economically justifiable and ecologically sustainable.