institutions and laboratories. The principle of equal, open but competitive access is a strategic fundamental for such research to take place. Agreements are needed between government departments as well as the key institutions to ensure this interdependence is upheld and facilitated. National Research Infrastructure Required national strategic infrastructure for marine research is as follows: Sentinel sites & LTER network Representative sentinel sites and LTER sites need to be set up in all major bio-regions and habitat types (Estuaries, bays, beaches, pelagic, deepwater etc.). These sites need to be managed in the long term and be appropriately equipped with research infrastructure. Data from these sites need to be made accessible to researchers. Biodiversity collections and associated labs South Africa’s biodiversity collections (wet, dry and frozen) need to be properly resourced, curated and databased. The collections must be linked to well-equipped genetic (including metagenomic and biotechnology), isotope, fatty acid and x-ray laboratories. Operational Oceanography An end-to-end operational oceanography system (in-situ instrumentation, data assimilation, modeling, data products, hind casting and forecasting) needs to be established. This will embody a centralised operational oceanographic ‘agency’ to provide operational and in situ infrastructure and services. For example, operational oceanographic modeling is currently an academic pursuit with very limited technical support. Estuarine & Coastal research platforms National estuarine and coastal research infrastructure which is beyond the technical or operating capability of HEIs, NGOs and state institutions needs to be made available on a competitive bases to researchers within the NSI. Examples include: Specialised in-situ instrumentation and moorings (e.g. ADCPs, CTDs, sediment traps, tide gauges, flow gauging stations, coastal radar, passive acoustic monitoring etc.); Coastal craft (<9m and >9m) with associated instrumentation; National acoustic telemetry curtains;
institutions and laboratories. The principle of equal, open but competitive access is a strategic fundamental for such research to take place. Agreements are needed between government departments as well as the key institutions to ensure this interdependence is upheld and facilitated. National Research Infrastructure Required national strategic infrastructure for marine research is as follows: Sentinel sites & LTER network Representative sentinel sites and LTER sites need to be set up in all major bio-regions and habitat types (Estuaries, bays, beaches, pelagic, deepwater etc.). These sites need to be managed in the long term and be appropriately equipped with research infrastructure. Data from these sites need to be made accessible to researchers. Biodiversity collections and associated labs South Africa’s biodiversity collections (wet, dry and frozen) need to be properly resourced, curated and databased. The collections must be linked to well-equipped genetic (including metagenomic and biotechnology), isotope, fatty acid and x-ray laboratories. Operational Oceanography An end-to-end operational oceanography system (in-situ instrumentation, data assimilation, modeling, data products, hind casting and forecasting) needs to be established. This will embody a centralised operational oceanographic ‘agency’ to provide operational and in situ infrastructure and services. For example, operational oceanographic modeling is currently an academic pursuit with very limited technical support. Estuarine & Coastal research platforms National estuarine and coastal research infrastructure which is beyond the technical or operating capability of HEIs, NGOs and state institutions needs to be made available on a competitive bases to researchers within the NSI. Examples include: Specialised in-situ instrumentation and moorings (e.g. ADCPs, CTDs, sediment traps, tide gauges, flow gauging stations, coastal radar, passive acoustic monitoring etc.); Coastal craft (<9m and >9m) with associated instrumentation; National acoustic telemetry curtains;