South Africa
Subject planner for Maritime Economics and Nautical Sciences.
I have been working in the field of Marine Water Quality and Estuarine Management for more than 30 years.
My key areas of expertise include:
Extensive experience in ocean governance and policy development with recent contribution in the development of the South African Marine Spatial Act and the coordination of the Marine Spatial Planning process.
He is the IUCN Regional Technical Coordinator (Interim). His roles include: Programme development, resource mobilisation, strategic planning and project implementation
Jennifer Olbers obtained her PhD degree from the University of Cape Town in taxonomy and marine biogeography. Jennifer worked at the Oceanographic Research Institute while completing her MSc degree and gained experience in benthic monitoring and aquaculture practices.
She joined Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, as a marine ecologist where she was involved in the implementation and coordination of various marine and coastal monitoring programmes. She also coordinated the KZN Marine Animal Stranding Network in which all marine stranded animals were managed along the KZN coastline.
- Air Quality and Climate Change
- Biodiversity & Conservation
I have a M.Sc Zoology with special skills in Marine Spatial Planning and a background in coastal ecology.
Currently, I function as a Science Communicator for the Sustainable Seas Trust. Sustainable Seas Trust (SST) is a science-based organisation that works to protect Africa’s marine resources for the benefit of all who live on the continent.
The Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) is a division of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) which strives to stimulate community awareness of the marine environment through education and promote wise, sustainable use of marine resources through scientific investigation. ORI is based at uShaka Marine World in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Much of the work of the institute is focused on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
The overall objective of the demonstration project is to contribute to the SAPPHIRE principal goal of achieving effective long-term marine and coastal ecosystem management in the Western Indian Ocean LMEs in line with the Strategic Action Programme as endorsed by the participating countries. Moreover, most of the countries in the WIO region have already developed national strategic approaches towards the green and blue economies which are consistent with and complement the LMEs SAP.
Marine litter—and its effects on marine life, beaches, and fisheries —has become a pressing issue for South Africa. The proponents underscore that the country has grown increasingly concerned about beach litter originating from river systems. The project will demonstrate how a 'Source to Sea' approach in five river systems in KwaZulu-Natal, can reduce litter generation and recover litter with river basin-wide interventions.