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The Benguela Current region is a large marine ecosystem (LME) located along the southwest coast of Africa, at the eastern edge of the South Atlantic Ocean. The current flows northward from Cape Agulhas, in the south, to the Cabinda province of Angola, in the north. The LME borders the coastal regions of South Africa, Namibia, and Angola, containing areas of upwelling along the Namibian and South African coasts.

Strong winds blow surface water away from the coast causing the deeper nutrient rich cold water to flow to the surface. These areas of upwelling create nutrient rich waters where fish populations thrive. The Benguela Current LME is an extremely productive ecosystem that supports immense biomass including zooplankton, fish, crustaceans, seabirds, and marine mammals. Below the current lies the continental shelf which contains some of the region's most valuable economic resources; diamonds, oil and gas.

Geographically, the LME borders three countries - Angola, Namibia, and South Africa - all of which are heavily dependant on the marine resources found in the region. This creates a completive dynamic and challenging set of issues for marine resource managers.

The Benguela Current LME is a highly variable and complex ecosystem rich in fisheries resources. Local and commercial fishermen harvest hake, herring, sardines, anchovies and various pelagic fishes. The confluence of warm and cooler waters provides a protected spawning area for the northern sardine and anchovy populations. This spawning congregation attracts other species, which feed on the sardines and anchovies. Increased fishing pressure and over exploitation of the commercial fish stocks and some unsustainable harvesting of the living resources continue to cause great concern.

Since the Benguela Current LME does not conform to political boundaries, management approaches have varied with the LME divided and managed in pieces by several different entities using various management systems. Uncontrolled foreign fishing, which severely impacted a number of the regional fisheries, and few regulations to control oil exploration and off shore mining, has had a strong impact on the ecosystem.

Political unrest in areas lying inland has forced many people to migrate to the coast, where weak and undeveloped infrastructure is unable to support the increase in population growth. This population growth continues to apply stress to an all ready fragile marine ecosystem.

The main threats include; over-fishing, pollution, and the destruction of habitats. Fish stocks are in danger due to unsustainable fishing and pollution from land-based activities, while the sea-floor habitat is being severely damaged by bottom trawling and mining.

Climate change is another threat to the region. Since the upwelling in the Benguela Current is strongly wind driven, a shift in wind currents could affect the nature of the upwelling, and the ecosystem as a whole. Although it is difficult to predict the result of such a change, there is a strong possibility it could have a severe effect on regional climate.

The Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem has been greatly influenced by human endeavors as well as natural fluctuations. An attempt is being made by Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, along with other stakeholders, to work together to manage and conserve this unique marine environment. Projects such as the Benguela Environment Fisheries Interaction and Training (BENEFIT) Programme and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) Programme are excellent examples of regional projects currently impacting the area.

Page 2 | Benguela: Conservation in Action