PHOCIS workshop 25 – 29 August 2025
Pelagic High Seas Ocean Ecoregionalisation of the Indian Subantarctic (PHOCIS) will be holding a workshop in Cape Town, South Africa, 25 – 29 August 2025. The main objectives for the Cape Town workshop will be for participants to present and discuss progress on all PHOCIS work packages, but in particular to advance WP4 on Integrated Ocean Management (this study), and WP5 on Research and Monitoring.
The PHOCIS project, “Pelagic High Seas Ocean Ecoregionalisation of the Indian Subantarctic,” is
a scientific initiative focused on dividing the open ocean waters around the Indian subantarctic
region into distinct ecological zones based on their unique marine life and environmental
conditions, with the primary goal of identifying and protecting critical conservation areas within
the subantarctic high seas. The integrated ocean management process will encompass the high
seas within 20°E to 150°E and from 40°S to 60°S. Most of the western area falls within the
CCAMLR boundary whereas the eastern area is outside the CCAMLR boundary.
The main objectives for the Cape Town workshop will be for participants to present and discuss
progress on all PHOCIS work packages, but in particular to advance WP4 on Integrated Ocean
Management, and WP5 on Research and Monitoring. Reports generated will be presented to
CCAMLR via the Scientific Committee and its Working Groups.
PHOCIS is structured into 6 WPs (Work Packages), which are further subdivided into sub-WPs:
WP1 Pelagic ecoregionalisation
WP1.1 Geography
WP1.2 Pelagic oceanographic regions
WP1.3 Plankton and pelagic fish spatial distributions
WP1.4 Seabird and marine mammal distributions
WP1.5 Pelagic ecoregionalisation synthesis
WP2 Connectivity between ecoregions
WP3 Historical and forecasting trends
WP4 Integrated Ocean Management
WP4.1 List of conservation objectives
WP4.2 Human impacts
WP4.3 Systematic Conservation Planning
WP4.4 Legal framework
WP5 Research and Monitoring
WP6 Education and knowledge dissemination
Since its inception meeting in 2019 in Cape Town, PHOCIS has been holding workshops on an
annual basis, either online, in-person, or hybrid.
For more info, contact:
Azwianewi Makhado (amakhado@dffe.gov.za) or
Philippe Koubbi (philippe.koubbi@sorbonne-universite.fr)
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Understanding Mouse Impacts on Sub-Antarctic Marion Island at Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria. (image: Otto Whitehead)
Every year on 11 August, 
South Africa’s pioneering floating university, SEAmester – Class Afloat, is preparing for its eighth voyage aboard the S.A. Agulhas II, setting sail from Cape Town on 17 June 2025 and returning on 27 June 2025. This unique and dynamic marine science programme continues to connect theoretical classroom learning with applied research, all within the working environment of a world-class research vessel.
The voyage is led by Principal Investigator Prof Isabelle Ansorge (left) from the University of Cape Town, whose leadership has been instrumental in shaping SEAmester into one of the most impactful marine science initiatives in South Africa. The logistical and academic coordination of the voyage is managed by Tahlia Henry, whose dedication ensures a seamless blend of teaching, research, and exploration at sea.
Every year on April 25th, we celebrate International Penguin Day—a global reminder of the unique role penguins plays in our planet’s ecosystems. These birds are not just symbols of the icy South—they are indicators of ocean health and climate change. From the sub-Antarctic islands to the Antarctic continent itself, penguins serve as sentinels of the sea, helping scientists track environmental shifts that affect us all.
South Africa plays a vital role in this mission through its National Antarctic Programme (SANAP), which supports long-term ecological research at key sites such as Gough Island, Marion Island, and Antarctica. These research stations are crucial hubs for studying penguin populations like the Northern Rockhopper on Gough Island and the Macaroni penguins on Marion Island. Scientists monitor breeding patterns, foraging behaviour, and survival rates—data that provide early warnings about oceanic changes. In Antarctica, SANAP researchers study Adélie and Emperor penguins, whose survival is intimately tied to the health of sea ice and krill populations.
By investing in these research efforts, South Africa not only contributes to global conservation science but also highlights the importance of protecting our shared polar heritage. This International Penguin Day let’s celebrate the science that keeps these beloved birds waddling into the future.
On 
The work conducted through SANAP not only enhances our understanding of Earth’s most vulnerable environments but also strengthens global collaboration on environmental sustainability. Long-term monitoring of weather patterns, sea temperatures, and wildlife populations across these islands contributes directly to international climate assessments and helps predict future planetary changes. As we mark Earth Day, let us celebrate the dedication of researchers who brave the extremes to ensure a liveable Earth for generations to come. Their efforts remind us that the answers to many of our environmental challenges lie in the farthest corners of our world—and that the time to act on them is now.
