In September 2024, Stellenbosch hosted the 15th Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa (AASA) Conference, co-hosted by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 ASTRAL project. The event brought together leading researchers, industry experts and policymakers to discuss the latest advances in aquaculture, with a focus on sustainability, biotechnology and emerging technologies designed to advance the aquaculture sector in Africa.

Key sessions during the conference addressed a range of topics, including climate resilience in aquaculture, cutting-edge biotechnology, and practical solutions to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of aquaculture practices.

Innovative research

Among the innovative research presented at the conference was a poster by Aphiwe Mtetandaba titled “Harnessing Physical Indices for Predicting Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Coastal Zones”. Aphiwe is a scientist based at the Egagasini Node where she is part of the Sustainable Ocean Modelling Initiative: A South African Approach (SOMISANA). Her research focuses on developing predictive models for HABs, which have a significant impact on the aquaculture industry by disrupting ecosystems and leading to substantial economic losses.

Aphiwe’s presentation outlined how physical indices, including sea surface temperature anomalies and wind stress patterns, could be utilised to predict the onset of HABs. By harnessing these environmental indicators, the research aims to contribute to the development of sustainable aquaculture practices by improving the understanding and management of environmental factors that influence the occurrence of HABs in aquaculture zones and to integrate these physical indicators into a predictive model that can be used in real-time monitoring of HABs.

SOMISANA models 

In response to specific questions from attendees, Aphiwe elaborated on the versatility of SOMISANA models at large, noting that they can be adapted to address several key challenges in the aquaculture sector such as climate resilience, sustainable practices and biotechnological advancements. The SOMISANA models provide a powerful tool for both aquaculture managers and researchers, enhancing their ability to predict, monitor and respond to environmental challenges. By integrating advanced data analysis with real-time environmental monitoring, these models are instrumental in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices across South Africa.

As the meaning of SOMISANA is “to work together”, SOMISANA embodies the spirit of collaboration. The initiative seeks to foster cooperation among various institutions, generating crucial insights about the state of the ocean. This collaborative approach aims to support coastal resilience and the sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry, ensuring long-term viability in a changing climate (https://somisana.ac.za/).