Stellies student awarded research grant

Funding research supports fisheries conservation

SOUTH AFRICA: A Stellenbosch University student is amongst 32 new recipients of research grants awarded by the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) through their Ocean Stewardship Fund (OSF).

Lindiwe Makapela will research the South Africa hake longline fishery’s interactions with orca and Cape fur seals and propose operational techniques to minimise any risk to these marine mammals. Research outputs will also improve the accuracy of stock assessments, and management measures will be shared with other fisheries in the region to help drive best practice.

Since the OSF was established in 2018, it has issued over 140 grants totalling US$6.6 to support a wide range of projects which aim to improve the health of stocks, manage harvesting levels carefully, and protect the marine environment.

The 2024 funding includes student research grants aligned with the MSC’s goal to protect biodiversity in the ocean, which will help non MSC certified fisheries to make environmental improvements including minimising harm to wildlife and ecosystems.

The non-profit commits 5% of annual royalties from sales of MSC ecolabel products certified as meeting its sustainability standard into the OSF. Increasingly, third-party philanthropic donations and funds from businesses are also contributing to support the fund in accelerating progress in sustainable fishing globally.

The OSF funding in 2024 also includes 9 grants totalling £445,000 to non-certified fisheries working on improvement projects, with the aim of becoming environmentally sustainable. In addition, up to £5,000 per grant to student researchers supplement individuals’ costs and support their research projects with fisheries.

“Student research projects can provide invaluable insights for fisheries that are not already certified to improve the way they fish by producing data and analyses that can inform actions to reduce bycatch and fishers’ interactions with vulnerable species and birds,” says Dr Beth Polidoro, Research Director, of the MSC.

“Scientists and fishers can learn a lot from each other. The Ocean Stewardship Fund facilitates this collaboration to drive the innovation and progress needed to conserve our ocean’s precious resources.

“The Ocean Stewardship Fund is an excellent vehicle to support scientists early in their careers to test hypotheses and make new discoveries. The marine environment is significantly changing around the globe, and fisheries will have to continue to adapt. Supporting initiatives for improved data and solutions informed by science are imperative to navigating these challenges.