The South African Journal of Science is a multidisciplinary science journal published bimonthly by the Academy of Science of South Africa. Our mandate is to publish original research with an interdisciplinary or regional focus and to provide a forum for discussion of news and developments in research and higher education. About the cover: Ocean sustainable development, sustainability, and inclusivity are features of the Operation Phakisa ‘Unlocking the Ocean Economy’ Programme which strongly align it to a blue economy model. How marine geophysics provides new insights into a Marine Protected Area and metabarcoding of zooplankton to indicate marine ecosystem status are the subjects of other articles on ocean health in this issue which focuses on climate change, and planetary and human health. Other articles in this issue include: SA doctoral qualification | Bamboo for drug delivery | Metabarcoding zooplankton | Anniversary of thelytoky discovery