About us

The group around the South African Research Chair in Marine Ecology and Fisheries (SARCHI ME&F) is concerned with developing methodology for the implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) in the Benguela large marine ecosystem, and more generally, methodology for a systems approach to managing human interactions with the ocean. This includes coping with, and adapting to, climate change in marine social-ecological systems.

The interdisciplinary team is led Professors Lynne Shannon and Astrid Jarre.

We provide leadership to UCT's Marine and Antarctic Research centre on Innovation and Sustainability (MARIS) and are affiliated with UCT’s Centre for Statistics in Environment, Ecology and Conservation (SEEC). We are grateful for core funding by the DST/NRF South African Research Chair Initiative, and additional funding from the CEC, UCT, the NRF and UKRI/GCRF. Our professional network includes colleagues in South Africa, southern Africa and world-wide.

Picture of the conference logo

#ECCWO5: recognition and contribution

Our hard work over the past many years has been recognised by affording us the opportunity to run a scientific session at the high-profile Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World’s Ocean in Bergen at the end of April
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Gilchrist medal for Lynne

We finally managed to get a piccie of Lynne with her Gilchrist Medal, which she was awarded at the SAMSS conference this year. This is the highest honour for marine scientists in South Africa. Congratulations again, Lynne - so well deserved!
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Real conferences again, at last! 

Astrid and Lynne were invited to present prestigious plenary talks this year. At the 2022 Southern African Marine Science Symposium (SAMSS) in Durban, Astrid spoke about “A voyage to marine inter- and transdisciplinary fisheries research” a

Taking the MARIS Interactive Hub into use

Marine inter- and transdisciplinary research has finally got its own space at UCT, on the 4th floor of the John Day Biology Building, and the refurbishment is making good progress.