Forecasting changes in Namibia's marine environment

Abstract

Abstract by author:

The impact of marine environmental change on Namibian fish stocks could be quite dramatic. Sea surface temperatures (SST) and wind changes have a definite influence on fish stocks and other marine organisms in Namibian waters. The National Marine Information Resource Centre (NatMIRC) in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource (MFMR) is tasked with monitoring of all environmental factors influencing the availability of fish in Namibian waters in order to advise management on the impact it has on the Namibian fisheries stock

The warming-up of the northern Benguela system is already seen, as an indication ofenvironmental changes, since it exceeds the normal oscillation and these are anomalousconditions. The recent decline in fishery stocks can probably be explained by some of these unusual conditions

The study is based on interpretation of SST and wind anomalies data. A Meteorological and Oceanology (METOCEAN) data can be analysed for trends in environmental/climate change and for further forecasting about the sustainability of coastal fisheries

The student analyses METOCEAN data for Namibia's [word or words missing here]. And try to make preliminary forecasting about the future of the fishery

Data obtained from NatMIRC shows changes in wind anomaly and increasing SSTs that may suggest gradual global warming along the Namibian coast

Sea surface temperature and wind anomaly data are used to help us predict weather patterns, to track ocean currents, and to monitor El Niño and La Niña. Therefore this research will provide valuable and useful information, which aims at helping the management to determine the environmental impact on fish resources