5 the state of science in south africa
B I O L O G I C A L S C I E N C E S
The applied research being undertaken in Modern aquatic sciences in South Africa are
this country is, nonetheless, of consider- largely supported by the WRC, a parastatal
able value and some of it is at the cutting body, which in turn is funded by a small
edge of management-related science. An levy placed on the sale of water; this re-
example concerns the quantification of wa- markably innovative and successful model,
ter allocations for maintenance of aquatic which seems to be unique to South Africa,
environments. The idea of allocating wa- is the envy of aquatic scientists in the rest
ter for this purpose was first mentioned in of the world.
South Africa in the 1970s. By the mid-1980s,
scientists and engineers were working to-
5.3.2 Estuarine biosciences
gether to come up with methods for quan-
tifying ‘instream flow requirements’ for riv-
ers. Such co-operation was fruitful ground
for innovative ideas in water management
and South Africa’s new National Water Act,
S
outh Africa has a relatively low annual
rainfall by comparison with many ot-
her countries in the world. The eastern
promulgated in 1998, was the first in the
areas are better watered than the western
world to require that rivers, wetlands and
areas, but being steep, the relatively broken
groundwater would have priority of use of
topography has resulted in a great many
their water (except for a small amount to be
small estuaries. The situation in South Africa
set aside for basic human needs). Quantifi-
is similar in many ways to that of Australia
cation of the amounts and quality of water
and both countries follow the research re-
needed to maintain rivers in a sustainable
sults of the other very closely.
condition has been challenging, but South
African aquatic scientists and managers are
Estuaries have the characteristic of being
world leaders in the field.
open either permanently or occasionally to
the sea. When open, they have freshwater
Because of the need to monitor the condi-
flowing in to them from the land and sea-
tion (‘health’) of rivers and wetlands, and
water flowing in and out as the tides rise
more particularly because of the need for
and fall. If the flow of river water stops, the
methods to quantify water allocations,
mouth closes because the sea washes sand
South African aquatic scientists have de-
into the mouth. If the mouth is not flushed
veloped a number of bioassessment tech-
out by river water the estuary ceases to ex-
niques. One, using invertebrates to assess
ist as an ecosystem. Estuaries act as areas of
water quality, has been successfully applied
important activity with respect to breed-
for several years, while others are presently
ing of marine fishes, amongst other things,
being developed or tested. A River Health
which have a direct monetary impact on
Programme has been established and State
the country’s gross domestic product.
of the Rivers reports produced for various
parts of the country. The continued success As South Africa develops, and the popula-
of this programme, too, is threatened by is- tion rises, there is increasing pressure on riv-
sues of management and human capacity. er water supplies for human use and the en-
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