South Africa is globally recognised as one of the world’s megadiverse countries, with extraordinary biodiversity across terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine and marine environments. Among its many natural assets is a remarkably rich marine realm, home to unique ecosystems, high levels of endemism and species found nowhere else on Earth. The upcoming seventh webinar in the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) 2025 webinar series will explore the current status of South Africa’s marine biodiversity and the pressures shaping its future. The webinar, titled “South Africa has exceptional marine biodiversity – what is its status?”, will take place on 29 May 2026 from 13:00 to 13:45 as part of the ongoing NBA 2025 webinar series led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.
South Africa’s marine biodiversity is internationally significant. According to the NBA 2025 Summary of Findings and Key Messages, the country ranks third globally for marine species endemism and supports 163 distinct marine ecosystem types. The marine environment includes offshore reefs, kelp forests, seamounts, deep-sea ecosystems and productive coastal habitats that sustain fisheries, tourism, livelihoods and climate resilience.
The National Biodiversity Assessment 2025 describes South Africa’s biodiversity as a national asset that underpins economic development, food security and human wellbeing. Healthy marine ecosystems contribute to fisheries, tourism and coastal protection, while also supporting adaptation to climate change.
However, marine biodiversity is increasingly under pressure. The NBA identifies unsustainable use of biological resources, particularly overfishing, as a major threat in marine and coastal environments. Pollution, climate change, habitat degradation and broader ecosystem modification are also placing significant strain on marine species and ecosystems.
The assessment further highlights that 36% of assessed marine taxa are threatened, while many marine species remain data deficient because of gaps in taxonomic knowledge and long-term monitoring data. Sharks, rays and chimaeras are among the most threatened groups globally and nationally, emphasising the urgent need for improved management and conservation action.
This webinar will provide insights into the findings emerging from the marine component of NBA 2025 and will unpack what these findings mean for conservation, sustainable development and the future management of South Africa’s oceans.
The National Biodiversity Assessment is a collaborative scientific assessment coordinated by SANBI under its mandate to monitor and report on the status of South Africa’s biodiversity. NBA 2025 is the fourth iteration of the assessment and brings together contributions from more than 490 experts across over 110 institutions.
The NBA 2025 webinar series aims to make the findings of the assessment accessible to a wider audience by highlighting key themes across South Africa’s biodiversity sectors.
Webinar Details
Title: South Africa has exceptional marine biodiversity – what is its status?
Date: 29 May 2026
Time: 13:00 – 13:45
Join the webinar:
Microsoft Teams Webinar Link
To learn more about the National Biodiversity Assessment 2025, visit:
NBA 2025 Website