SeaKeys Project
Unlocking Foundational Marine Biodiversity Knowledge
Project Period: 2013-2016
PROJECT OVERVIEW AND AIMS
The SeaKeys Project is a large collaboration that aims to collate and increase marine biodiversity information and translate this information into products to support decision making and the development of new benefits for South African society. SeaKeys was the first large collaborative project funded through the Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme.
The project is three year collaboration, co-ordinated through SANBI, and involves more than 30 team members with representatives from more than 17 different organisations including multiple government departments, research institutes, universities, citizen scientists and industry.
Project Abstract
South Africa lacks comprehensive marine biodiversity databases and the description, assessment and understanding of marine biodiversity lags behind that of other environments. These shortfalls hamper monitoring of marine biodiversity, global change understanding, provision of evidence-based policy and management advice, marine spatial planning and the ability of South Africans to derive sustainable benefits from our rich marine biological diversity.
This 3 year national project aims to unlock knowledge to remedy this situation. The large team from 15 institutions will provide for the collation, consolidation, generation and dissemination of foundational information to support sustainable resource use, spatial planning and development in South Africa’s marine and coastal environment. Large existing marine data sets will be made available and citizen scientists will be empowered to add to this, providing at least 193 000 new records and first inventories for seaweeds and 14 new animal groups.
Read more here
Targeted genetic research will provide a minimum of 250 barcodes and unlock key information for management.The diverse project team will address research gaps with a focus on habitat forming, resource, indicator and biosecurity species and ecosystems that deliver key services or are sensitive to impact. The knowledge will be applied in the assessment of stocks and species conservation status; ecosystem description, mapping and assessment; monitoring; invasive and disease species research; environmental impact assessment and marine spatial planning.
This is important for management relevant to fisheries, mining, energy, trade, aquaculture and global change. Data will be disseminated through online databases, species pages, guides and maps along with publications and sector-specific guidance to ensure products support sustainable use and development. This project will unlock new capacity in terms of post graduate students, citizen scientists, EIA practitioners and decision makers.
Lead Organisations & Partners
Project Leader: Dr Kerry Sink, SANBI
All Collaborative Partners
Dr Lara Atkinson, South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON);
Dr Wayne Florence, Iziko Museums of Cape Town;
Dr Charles Griffiths, University of Cape Town;
Dr Samaai Toufiek, Department of Environmental Affairs (Oceans and Coast);
Prof. Colin Attwood, University of Cape Town;
Dr Sophie von der Heyden, Stellenbosch University;
Prof. Mark Gibbons, University of the Western Cape;
Dr Monica Mwale, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB);
Dr Robert Anderson, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
Dr Angus Macdonald, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus);
Dr Tamara Robinson, Stellenbosch University;
Prof. John Bolton, University of Cape Town;
Dr Carl van der Lingen, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
Ms Georgina Jones, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
Dr Gavin Gouws, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB);
Dr Linda Harris, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University;
Dr Shirley Parker-Nance, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University;
Dr Deon Durholtz, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries;
Ms Phumla, Petroleum Agency SA;
Mr Lindelani Mudau, Department of Environmental Affairs (Oceans and Coast);
Mr Xola Mkefe, Department of Environmental Affairs (Oceans and Coast);
Dr Eleanor Yeld-Hutchings, WORLD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION (SA);
Mr Sean Fennessy, Oceanographic Research Institute (SAAMBR);
Dr Jean Harris, Ezemvelo Kwazulu-Natal Wildlife;
Dr Kevin Christison, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Data Sets
Data sets can be downloaded below:
Data set 1:
SAEON: Historical Research Survey Database (1897-1949)
Data set 2:
Marine Species Pages
View SeaKeys 2013 Data sets
| Grantholder | Grant Type | Taxonomic Group | Title of Project (click to view abstract) | Download Data Sets from FBIP (Excel) | Download Data Sets from GBIF (Text) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | IZIKO Marine Bony Fish (1884-2013) | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Iziko_Cartilaginous_Fish (seakeys project) | Download FBIP Data | |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | IZIKO-UCT:Historical Survey (1930-1980) | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Iziko_UCT_Historical Fish (seakeys project) | Download FBIP Data | |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | IZIKO-UCT:Historical Invertebrates (1930-1980) | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | SAEON: Historical Research Survey Database (1897-1949) | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii occurrence record throughout South Africa | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii Occurrence record from estuary survey (seakeys project) | Download FBIP Data | |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Digitised records of trawl survey by Hatanaka et al (1983) (seakeys project) | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Offshore Benthic Macrofauna Data | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Digitised records of trawl survey by Wallace et al (1984) (seakeys project) | Download FBIP Data | |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Atlas of African Echinoderma | Download FBIP Data | Download GBIF Data |
| Dr K Sink | Large Grant | Marine Organism | Marine images from citizen science uploaded to iSpot for identification | Download FBIP Data |
SeaKeys Project Articles
Coralline algae: three ecologically important species uncovered
Researchers have uncovered three new ecologically important South African coralline algae species passing under a Japanese name.
Landmark marine field guide to strengthen SA’s ‘Blue Economy’
South Africa’s Blue Economy vision for a stronger and sustainable ocean economy depends on the strength of its scientific foundation…
From Dust to Data: Iziko ‘unlocks’ 60 000 marine species occurrence records for SeaKeys
As with most of the approximately 55 000 museums across the world, Iziko Museums of South Africa in Cape Town is the epitome of structure and organisation. Its displays are neat and orderly and the exhibition halls are characteristically dim, as its mounted specimens bear testimony to organisms and environments long departed. If ever there was a façade…
SA coralline algae diversity ‘pops’ following FBIP-SeaKeys study
A fun scramble on any rocky intertidal shore will often draw attention to many, common and fascinating creatures like seastars, anemones, mussels and barnacles. However, it takes a special kind of ‘observer’ to zone in on crusty patches of paint-like seaweeds dotted all over the intertidal rocks.
Partners
