Benguela (Southern) - Environment

The southern Benguela sub-system is unique because it includes the upwelling region along the south-western coast of Africa, but also extends over the Agulhas Bank and along the south coast. For this reason, the demersal and benthic components of the southern Benguela ecosystem are more abundant and play a more important role than in most other upwelling systems. The complex life cycles of many marine species off South Africa, which have spawning, nursery and feeding grounds in both the upwelling area off the west coast and on the Agulhas Bank or south coast, at different times of the year, make it difficult to separate biological indicators and management strategies in the upwelling and bank areas, and thus the whole ecosystem off South Africa is considered as the Southern Benguela.