South African reefs mapped

Initiated in Spring 2009, the South African Reef Atlas project has been run by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), with funding from Nedbank’s Green Trust.

Divers have provided written reports and photographic records allied with GPS positions.

According to the West Cape News their work, carried out alongside other reef users such as research organisations and government scientists, has already shown up the detrimental effects of activities such as fishing and pollution on reef biodiversity.

The project will, said SANBI Marine Projects Officer Prideel Majiedt, “be a stepping stone to more detailed species mapping, which will be invaluable for the management of reef species, many of which are targeted by the fishing industry”.

SANBI was, she added, “exceptionally grateful” to individual divers, dive school groups, scientific research teams and others who have volunteered to help create “an incredibly useful resource”.