National / Science & Environment MARINE RESEARCH Scientists tackle coastal food security Climate change measurements show that the western Indian Ocean is warming faster than any other part of the world’s oceans BL PREMIUM

The western Indian Ocean region has the most serious food security problem on the planet. It extends up the eastern coast of Africa, including Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, SA and the island states of Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Réunion. In these countries, 60-million people depend on the ocean for their food and livelihood. Climate change measurements show that the western Indian Ocean is warming faster than any other part of the world’s oceans. The region is experiencing the rapid deterioration of the marine environment caused by overfishing and destructive forms of fishing. such as with the use of dynamite and high levels of pollution. Marine specialist scientist Prof Mike Roberts presented his inaugural lecture at Nelson Mandela University in October titled Big Thinking. Big science. Can Africa grow intellectual and research capacity to fix its development challenges? He is leading a new research chair, the UK-SA Bilateral Chair in Ocean Science and M...