TOOLS
The National Oceans and Coastal Information Management System (OCIMS) provides information and decision support to key stakeholders for the day-to-day management of South Africa’s oceans and coasts. The following Decision Support Tools can be used to assist with informed decision making.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Decision Support Tool
The South African west and south coasts suffer from the frequent occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). These blooms can have considerable negative impacts on commercial marine concerns such as rock lobster and aquaculture operations, in addition to local marine ecosystems and communities.
Coastal Operations at Sea Decision Support Tool
South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompasses the coastal ocean and shelf sea waters. The region is characterised by one of the world’s most energetic and productive ocean systems, namely the Agulhas Current and Benguela Upwelling System. Both play fundamental roles in the marine environment, its resources and ecosystem and the regional weather and global climate.
Marine Spatial Planning Support Viewer
The National Oceans and Coastal Information Management System (OCIMS) Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Support Viewer Decision Support Tool (DeST) provides consolidated view of data sources that can inform MSP and the development of Marine Area Plans (MAPs).
Integrated Vessel Tracking Decision Support Tool
Regular surveillance of territorial sea areas is increasingly important for coastal nations. Signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) can establish a territorial sea out to 12 nautical miles from the coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of up to 200 nautical miles.
Water Quality Decision Support Tool
An increasingly high fraction of people live near the coast or in a community of coastal users. Increased impervious surfaces near the coast, discharges from waste-water treatment facilities, direct discharge from industrial pipelines, as well as intensive farming practices in inland areas, from which there is run-off during rainfall events, all affect the quality of the water flowing into the ocean at the coast.
Coastal Flood Hazard Decision Support Tool
In order to identify coastal areas at risk of flooding and to aid climate change adaptation, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) under the umbrella of Operation Phakisa Ocean Economy has commissioned the development of a Coastal Flood Hazard Decision Support Tool (DeST).
Marine Predators Decision Support Tool
Provides users with the capability to view marine predator (i.e. dolphins, whales, sharks, penguins, sea turtles, seals and otters) observation data along the South African coastline from iNaturalist, SEAFARI and also view boat-based whale watching data from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). Users will be able to see the date, time and location of an observation, as well as species information and photographs if available.
DEFF Coastal Viewer
Information regarding the Coastal Public Property (CPP) and Coastal Protection Zone (CPZ) can be found in this viewer.
The National OCIMS is the result of collaborative partnerships led by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries and managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The project has drawn from the expertise of government, labour, business, academia and other sectors. It serves under the premise of Operation Phakisa a national government project.
