Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since 1969.
Engaged in a diversity of marine resource-use and conservation
studies, especially those relating to management problems
in small-scale, recreational and artisanal fisheries,
including: Investigations into estuarine fish populations
and sustainable resource use. Stock assessment and biology of linefish, including
the development of management strategies and their applications. Development of long-term monitoring and assessment
strategies including the National Marine Linefish System
(NMLS) catch and effort programme and the nation-wide
fish tagging project, both of which involve thousands
of end-users. Studies have also included elasmobranch fishes
and large oceanic predators such as billfish, swordfish
and white sharks. Currently participating in a number of collaborative
programmes involving other countries of the West Indian
Ocean region. Provides decision support to conservation managers
and government officials and has assisted with environmental
and fisheries policy formulation for national and regional
government. Supervision of post-graduate students.
PROF. MICHAEL SCHLEYER DEPUTY DIRECTOR: ORI
PhD (University of Natal, 1981)
Employed
at the Oceanographic Research Institute since 1973.
Leader of the ORI Reef Biodiversity Programme and the
Invertebrate Fisheries Programme.
Research experience includes: Species
composition of corals, sponges and tunicates on KwaZulu-Natal
(KZN) reefs on the East Coast of Africa. Community
structure on representative reefs. Extent
of reproduction, larval dispersal and recruitment of
corals.
Environmental features that influence the distribution
of the major reef organisms, including the oceanographic
parameters that effect larval dispersal.
Interactions between the reef organisms and their production
of toxic secondary metabolites.
The condition of the reefs in terms of human and climatic
disturbances that result in reef damage and coral bleaching.
Development of effective management plans for the reefs.
Supervision of post-graduate students.
Provides decision support to conservation managers and
government agencies.
DR
SEAN FENNESSY SENIOR
SCIENTIST
PhD (University of Natal, 2001)
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since April
1989.
Leader of the ORI Offshore Fisheries Programme.
Research experience includes:
Investigation of non-target species (bycatch) of prawn trawlers
operating off the coast of KZN, a description of the biology of the
major fish species, and an assessment of the impact of trawlers on
other fishery sectors.
Investigating methods to reduce the bycatch caught by prawn trawlers on
the KZN coast.
Biological investigation and stock assessments of several species of
fin fish (Epinephelus
spp, Pomadasys commersonnii,
Polysteganus
coeruleopunctasus).
Surveys of the commercial and recreational hook and line fisheries in
the provinces of KZN and the Eastern Cape, involving interviews with
fishers and inspections of catches.
Co-ordinates the fisheries science module for MSc and BSc (Hons)
students.
Supervises post-graduate students.
Provides decision support to conservation managers and government
agencies.
DR JOHAN GROENEVELD SENIOR SCIENTIST
PhD (University of Cape Town, 2000)
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since June 2008.
Previous employment experience includes: Senior specialist scientist and head of crustacean
research division, Marine and Coastal Management (Cape
Town). Specialist scientist & fisheries advisor, Marine Science
& Fisheries Centre (Sultanate of Oman). Fisheries management consultant, Capricorn Fisheries
Monitoring (Cape Town).
Johan has supervised numerous
post-graduate projects and is widely published. His
most recent achievements and areas of expertise are:
Spatial and temporal availability in the multispecies
crustacean trawl fishery on the Tugela Bank and in deeper
waters. Initiating an observer programme targeted at the prawn
trawlers. An experimental fishery for deep-water lobster Palinurus
delagoae off KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique. Developing the science plan for the South
West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project.
MR BRUCE MANN SENIOR SCIENTIST
MSc (Rhodes University, 1992)
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since 1992.
Leader of ORI's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Programme and the
Linefish Programme.
Research experience includes:
Study of the biology of two reef fish species in the Tsitsikamma
National Park.
Investigation of the multiple usage of Lake St Lucia's fish resources
aiming to develop a management plan for this large estuarine lake
system to ensure sustainable utilisation of its fish resources.
Implementation of a subsistence gill-net fishery at St Lucia.
Surveys of the commercial and recreational line fisheries in the
provinces of KZN and the Eastern Cape, involving interviews with
fishers and inspections of catches, which formed part of the National
Linefish Survey.
Editor of a book on the status of 102 South African linefish species.
Investigations on the age and growth of a number of shore caught fish
species.
Marine biodiversity survey along the Pondoland coast with the intention
to establish a large MPA in this region.
Shore fish monitoring and tagging study being conducted in the St Lucia
Marine Reserve.
Chairman of the South African Marine Linefish Management Association
(SAMLMA).
Supervision of post-graduate students.
Provides decision support to conservation managers and government
agencies.
MS
FIONA MACKAY SENIOR SCIENTIST
MSc (University of Zululand, 1996)
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since March
2005.
Previous experience includes:
Collaborative studies integrating abiotic (water quality and habitat)
and biotic aspects (community structure and community metrics) for
selected estuarine types.
Investigation of current status, baseline surveys and biomonitoring of
estuaries, including comparison of succession trends in similar
estuaries and distinguishing anthropogenic from climatic effects as
manifested in zoobenthic fauna.
Description of the state of a river - coastal lake - estuarine linked
ecosystem, the effect of an intrabasin transfer on selected components
of the resident fauna and rapid assessment of Instream Flow
Requirements of the invertebrates.
Scenario-based biotic responses and implications to potential
freshwater deficits on macrobenthos, macrocrustacea and avifauna of
selected estuaries with decision support under different freshwater
yield scenarios to the estuarine/marine, coastal lake and river
environments.
Importance of northern KZN estuaries as conduits for mass recruitment
of Varuna Litterata
crab megalopae.
Port of Richards Bay environmental monitoring including development of
monitoring programmes and investigation of ballast water introduced
marine species (according to CRIMP protocols).
Ecological impacts of dredge spoil disposal on sandy beach, estuarine
and nearshore marine ecosystems.
Specialist ecological investigator for various projects (sewage and
paper mill effluents, solid structure developments in protected areas
etc.) to limit and mitigate negative impacts to coastal aquatic
environments.
MS. BERNADINE EVERETT SCIENTIST
MSc (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005)
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute
since 1998.
Research experience includes: Database development and programme coordination of
WIOFish - a large WIO
programme on small-scale fisheries involving most countries
of the East African coast, including training of users. National data component coordinator for the South
West Indian Ocean Fisheries Project. Surveys of recreational and commercial fisheries in
the Richards Bay region. Specialist input to the EIA process for the Point
small-craft harbour. Conducted the environmental impact assessment process
for the development of the proposed Victoria Embankment
Waterfront. Monitoring of fish and sand prawns in the Durban Harbour. Database design and management for various research
projects. Production and reproduction of graphics and maps. UKZN MSc on Richards Bay Fisheries.
MS. BRONWYN PALMER SCIENTIST
MSc (Rhodes University, 2009)
Employed
at the Oceanographic Research Institute since March
2009.
Research responsibilities include: Serving as the focal point and providing coordination
of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) research
at ORI, especially as a service to the KwaZulu-Natal
government. Undertaking research into ICZM issues relevant to
KZN with particular attention given to aspects of the
new ICZM Act. Assembly of key spatial data sets that define the
coast and its assets. Generating and disseminating scientific information
as a decision support tool in the ICZM. Providing support in the development of data management
systems and GIS-based tools to ensure ORI provides an
excellent service in ICZM issues.
MS
ERIKA STEYN ASSISTANT
SCIENTIST
MSc (University of Stellenbosch, 2002)
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since 2002.
Research experience includes: Invertebrate ecology. Food conditioning of sharks. Inshore/ offshore migration and larval recruitment
of East Coast rock lobster off the KwaZulu-Natal
coast. Small-scale artisanal rock
lobster fishery along the Eastern Cape (Transkei) coast.
MR. MUSA KHUMALO SENIOR SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN
BTech (Durban Institute of Technology, 2001)
Employed at the Oceanographic
Research Institute since 2004.
Responsibilities include: Maintenance of the Boat
Launch Site Monitoring System. Capture and preliminary
analysis of boat launch site data. Assistance with preparation
of reports from the boat launch site data. Provide ad hoc assistance
in other ORI projects.
MR JADE MAGGS
SENIOR SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN
BSc (University of South Africa, 2009)
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since May 2006.
Management of the recreational component of the National
Marine Linefish System (NMLS). Associated liaison with various stakeholders including
Marine and Coastal Management and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal
Wildlife. Compilation of biological data reports for external
and internal parties. Progress reporting to Marine and Coastal Management
and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife.
MS
ELINOR BULLEN SCIENTIFIC
TECHNICIAN
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since 1985.
Operator of the marine linefish tagging database. Extensive liaison with researchers, conservation managers
and other participants in the tagging project. Extensive liaison with anglers who voluntarily participate
in the project, including screening of potential participants
and providing feedback on recaptures.
MRS
RENUKA GOVENDER SCIENTIFIC
TECHNICIAN
Employed at the Oceanographic
Research Institute since 1992.
Responsible for accurate data capture on the National
Marine Linefish System (NMLS). Liaison with officials and programme operators at
Marine and Coastal Management (MCM). Training of students on operation of the NMLS.
MR
DESMOND HAYES SCIENTIFIC TECHNICIAN
Employed at the Oceanographic
Research Institute since 2007.
Heads the fisheries observer team. He has extensive experience in both project management
and maritime matters.
MR
JEFF MAULLIN
FIELD OFFICER
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since November
2008.
Responsibilities
include: Maintenance of boats, dive gear and sampling equipment. Planning and executing field activities in collaboration
with scientists. Assisting with taking and recording scientific measurements
including physical and biological data.
MR
CHRIS WILKINSON
FIELD OFFICER
BTech (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007)
Employed at the Oceanographic
Research Institute since October 2008.
Responsibilities
include: Maintenance of boats, dive gear and sampling equipment. Planning and executing field activities in collaboration
with scientists. Assisting with taking and recording scientific measurements
including physical and biological data.
MS
ANGELA GARNHAM
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
BSc
(Hons) (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005)
Employed
at the Oceanographic Research Institute since April
2009.
Responsibilities include: Assisting with estuarine research projects. Undertaking field trips and laboratory activities related
to estuarine biomonitoring and health studies. Maintenance of macrobenthic reference collections. Identification and enumeration of macrobenthic organisms.
MS
PAULA PATTRICK
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
MSc
(Rhodes University, 2008)
Employed
at the Oceanographic Research Institute since February
2008.
Research experience includes: Direction and velocity of ocean currents. Swimming ability of larval fishes. She will be spending a year assisting ORI researchers on
a number of projects in the fisheries and estuarine
programmes.
MS CATHERINE STOW
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
BSc (Hons) (University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007)
Employed
at the Oceanographic Research Institute since 2007.
Research experience includes: Studied macrobenthos of the Kosi Bay estuarine lake system.
Responsibilities include: Assisting with estuarine and near-shore research projects. Undertaking field trips and laboratory activities related
to estuarine biomonitoring and health studies. Maintenance of macrobenthic reference collections. Identification and enumeration of macrobenthic organisms.
MR DERICK YOUNG
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN
BSc (Hons) (University
of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007)
Employed
at the Oceanographic Research Institute since July 2008.
Responsibilities include: Model the effects of extreme wave run-up on the KwaZulu-Natal
coast using GIS. Develop a coastal vulnerability index for the KwaZulu-Natal
coast, using GIS. Maintain ORI's GeoNetwork. Perform spatial requests.
MR DENIS ROUILLARD
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN
MSc (Murdoch University,
2008)
Employed
at the Oceanographic Research Institute since
October 2009.
Responsibilities include: Spatial analysis of large and long-term environmental and
fishery data sets in order to maximise their
value and application of such data. Provide specialist skills to research staff in several
aspects of GIS.
MS GRACE SAMURIWO
LIBRARIAN
Higher National Diploma
in Library and Information Science (Harare Polytechnic
College, Zimbabwe)
Employed at the Oceanographic
Research Institute since June 2008.
Responsibilities include: Provide information needs of ORI Scientists and other
staff members from our library collection; Inter Library
Loan Services and from subscribed Scientific Journal Publishers
on internet. Subscribe to journals, order requested books; process
received requests and make them available for loan. Receive Scientists Publications and integrate them
into the Organization's system of Referencing. Involved in periodic user awareness of new journals
and other publications in the library.
MR MARIUS ELS
DATA CAPTURER
Employed at the Oceanographic Research Institute since 2007.
Responsible for data
capture on the BLSMS and the NMLS online system. Provides ad hoc assistance
to ORI staff.
MS
ALISON MOOR
PROJECT LIAISON OFFICER
Employed at the Oceanographic
Research Institute since 2005.
Responsible for co-ordination of
research projects. Liaison with funding agencies.
MRS RAMINI NAIDOO PERSONAL ASSISTANT
Employed at the Oceanographic
Research Institute since 2001.
Provides secretarial and administrative support to
ORI's team of scientists and support staff.
MRS. JESSICA PILLAY RECEPTIONIST
Switchboard operator and receptionist for SAAMBR since
2002.
Provides administrative assistance where required.
CURRENT POST-GRADUATE STUDENTS
Name
Degree
Project
Supervisor/s
University
Camilla
Floros
PhD
Indicators
of reef condition on the marginal high-latitude
coral reefs of KwaZulu-Natal.
Prof
M.H. Schleyer
UKZN
Phanor
Montoya-Maya
PhD
Coral
reef connectivity
Prof
M.H. Schleyer
UKZN
Stuart
Dunlop
MSc
KwaZulu-Natal
linefish survey
Prof
R.P. van der Elst Mr B.Q. Mann
UKZN
Ashley
Grimmer
MSc
Coral
reef processes
Prof
M.H. Schleyer
UKZN
Justin
Hart
MSc
Coral
reef processes
Prof
M.H. Schleyer
UKZN
Catherine
Stow
MSc
Structure
of macrobenthic feeding guilds as a function of
estuarine characteristics; a decadal study of
South African estuaries.
Ms
F. MacKay
UKZN
Candice
Untiedt
MSc
Structural
dynamics and changes in trophic communities of
infauna across the Natal Bight.
Ms
F. MacKay
UKZN
Liesel
Hein
MSc
Biodiversity
and community structure of the KwaZulu-Natal continental
shelf soft sediment infauna.
Rudy van der Elst - Director:
ORI
