Local scientists fear that Namibia's ability to understand its changing marine ecosystems is being threatened by a lack of funding for scientific research.

Understanding changes in Namibia's marine ecosystems requires years of research, monitoring and data collection.

Scientists have warned that Namibia's marine ecosystems are changing, and they have gathered in Henties Bay to find out whether these changes are natural fluctuations or signs of a deeper transition.

Hundreds of people in Walvis Bay have petitioned the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to reconsider the environmental approval for marine phosphate mining.

Namibia has approved environmental clearance for marine phosphate mining about 120 kilometres southwest of Walvis Bay.