The Funder
The Chair has been established through the Benjamin Raymond Oppenheimer (BRO) Trust facilitated by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation (OGRC). Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation (OGRC) is an organization based in South Africa working to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research into nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crisis and practical implementation on the ground to drive social, economic, and environmental prosperity across the continent. They are committed to convening the best minds in African conservation to drive science for impact and are focused on supporting applied research linked to biodiversity loss, landscape ecology, climate change, and wildlife economies. They explore all these themes at their own four research sites as well as third-party sites that receive their support.
The Chair
Professor Warren Potts has been appointed the Oppenheimer Chair in Environmental Justice for Africa’s Coastal and Inland Fisheries. Professor Potts is well-positioned to take on this role with over two decades of experience in aquatic systems from fieldwork in post-war Angola to pioneering citizen science in South Africa’s angling communities. During his fieldwork, Professor Potts recognised how “unless we address human behaviour, we’re not going to solve issues of conservation”, concluding that we need a “system that incorporates the human dimension right from the start.” This mindset is reflected in the parameters of the Chair as it will focus on balancing ecological conservation with the socio-economic needs of vulnerable communities.
The Host
The Chair is hosted at Rhodes University in the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science and is underpinned by a R9million investment over six years. The new Oppenheimer Chair is a transformative opportunity for the university and reflects the institutions historical strength in aquatic sciences from freshwater to marine, and enables it to move beyond traditional conservation models, recognising that rivers, lakes and fisheries are social, cultural, and economic lifelines along with being ecological systems.
Our Vision and Mission
Newly established in 2025, the mission of the chair is to promote resilient inland and coastal fishery ecosystems that can withstand environmental stressors and remain productive and healthy, while simultaneously ensuring that these systems and their resources can be accessed fairly and equitably so that the cultural, recreational, and economic opportunities are maximised to the benefit of all. ​​
Aim and Key Objectives
The primary aim is to create a hub of excellence in research, capacity building, and advocacy to promote environmental sustainability and maximize social benefit and equity in the governance of Africa's coastal and inland fisheries.
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Key objectives:
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Advancing environmental justice research in fisheries, including enhancing our understanding of aquatic ecosystems, incorporating stakeholders in data collection and decision-making, and identifying livelihood diversification opportunities;
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Reforming governance structures by evaluating national and global policies to develop best practices;
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Building leadership capacity by training scientists and managers to promote environmental justice;
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Co-developing knowledge with fishers, including using novel technologies for data collection and supporting co-management processes;
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Fostering relationships with local, regional, continental, and international organizations and aligned research chairs, nationally and throughout the continent.
Our Approach
Inland and coastal fisheries represent incredibly complex socio-ecological systems. Promoting environmental justice for inland and coastal fisheries requires a collaborative, integrated research approach to provide actionable insights to achieve this goal
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Transdisciplinarity
A strong focus on participatory research that engages communities and stakeholders in the co-creation of knowledge and solutions
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Traditional ecological and socio-economic research
Fundamental research is critical to understand the biological, ecological and social dimensions of fisheries resource use.
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Governance-oriented research
Science for policy, but with research co-designed and co-created to ensure real applicability