UKZN Marine Biologists Visit Norwegian Research Vessel, Dr Fridtjof Nansen

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Marine Biology staff and postgraduate students from the School of Life Sciences were invited to visit the Norwegian research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen at the Durban Harbour on Thursday, 28 February.

The event marked the 50th anniversary of the EAF-Nansen programme and was jointly hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) South Africa, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), and the Norwegian government.

After welcome remarks by Ms Marisa Kashorte (DFFE, SA), attendees were addressed by Dr Babagana Ahmadu (FAO, SA), Ms Hilde Dahl (representing Mr Gjermund Saether, the Norwegian ambassador to SA), and Mr Wickness Rooifontein (representing Ms Sue Middleton, DDG, Fisheries Management Branch, DFFE, SA).

The participants then attended several presentations in the ship’s auditorium before embarking on a guided tour to research stations on the vessel led by the crew and marine scientists of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR).

They observed trawling and sample sorting on the deck, followed by visits to various labs, including those for marine sample identification, fish sampling, plankton analysis, water quality, chemical and nutrient analysis, and acoustic, seafloor mapping, and sediment sampling.

The final part of the tour, conducted by both the captain and first officer, was a visit to the bridge, the primary control centre for navigation and steering the vessel, from where the captain usually oversees operations.

Besides the impressive view from the top of the ship, the level of sophistication of the instruments and computers on the bridge, like those in the specialist labs on the ship, was appreciated by all.

After the tour, the attendees were invited to refreshments on the ship’s deck and the opportunity to network with scientists, politicians, and members of other organisations.

Mr Gan Moodley, an honorary research associate, and Mr Liam Ferguson, a marine technician, both from the School of Life Sciences, accompanied the students on the visit

‘This was a fantastic opportunity for our postgraduates to experience science in action. The guided tour through the various stations, with experts' explanations and the level of sophistication of the scientific equipment on board, exposed the students to how offshore marine samples are collected, identified, processed, and analysed. They were also able to see that the data not only serves as a species inventory of the regions sampled but could also be used in studies involving food-webs, fisheries, climate change, pollution studies, marine conservation and legislation, among others.’

‘Our sincere thanks go to the FAO, DFFE and the Norwegian Government for arranging this visit, and we wish the Nansen Programme all the best in their research endeavours,’ Moodley added.

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied