Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

centenary of marine science in South Africa. The dive programme between
40 and 386 mbsl produced the first direct observation from a submersible
off the Cape Point nature reserve and at least one new species to science
was recorded together with many new and novel observations [44,45]. The
dive programme was used to increase marine environmental awareness
throughout the nation through the broadcast of a documentary on 50/50,
an environmental programme produced by the SABC. Many aspects
observed using Jago have also been broadcast throughout Europe, and
especially in Germany, through the documentary films produced by
Professor Hans Fricke. In particular, DBM contributed footage to his latest
film, which explores the fauna and flora of the west coast influenced by
the Benguela Fog – a phenomenon on which many endemic organisms
depend. The opportunity to dive in the Jago has also been made possible
for staff from the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
and the Ministry of Minerals and Energy and academic institutions.
The collaborative partnership that has developed between DBM
and the Jago team consisting of Professor Hans Fricke, and Drs Jurgen
Schauer and Karen Hissmann continues to be a particularly important one.
This interaction with world-class scientists is stimulating for all involved
and serves to increase environmental awareness throughout De Beers.
It is DBM’s hope that the Benguela Current Large Marine
Ecosystem Project funded by the United Nations will provide the financial
and scientific basis for an integrated assessment of mining (and other)
impacts to examine the cumulative impact of the offshore mining industry.
The industry has demonstrated environmental commitment and
interaction with other marine resource-based industries in order to qualify
for support. The project will cover the continental shelf of South Africa,
Namibia and Angola, and has potential to do much to build the scientific
capacity within those countries and contribute significantly to science
generally.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am indebted to Patti Wickens, the Environmental Manager of De
Beers Marine for her assistance in producing this paper. I wish to thank
the many colleagues who have contributed to the development of the De
Beers Marine environmental management programme. In particular, the
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 645