The Olifants River mouth enters the Atlantic Ocean roughly 250km north of Cape Town, as the crow flies. At the mouth, the emerald waters are flanked by the cliffs of De Punt farm on the northern bank, while on the southern bank is the largest floodplain salt marsh in South Africa. The estuary is ranked third in the country in terms of conservation importance, and is a … [Read more...]
Stop the imminent seismic survey off the Western Cape coast
Civil society movement We Are South Africans has begun the process to seek an interdict to stop Australian company Seismic Searcher from its 2D/3D seismic survey, planned to commence off the Western Cape coast on 15 January. A Reconnaissance Permit in terms of Section 74 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (No. 28 of 2002) was granted by the Petroleum … [Read more...]
New clothing line aims to support ocean protection
Did you know every second breath we take comes from the ocean? Healthy oceans sequester carbon dioxide, mitigate climate change, give us food, regulate our weather, create jobs, and support eco-tourism. The ocean is the world’s greatest unifier, and now outdoor apparel and ocean protection come together in an exciting partnership. WILDOCEANS, a programme of the WILDTRUST, … [Read more...]
African Youth Summit: Our Africa, Our Ocean, Our Future
The Youth for Marine Protected Areas (Youth4MPAs) held the first-ever virtual African Youth Summit in August 2021, an opportunity for over 500 youth from across the African Continent to come together over two days and unpack ocean protection from an African perspective. The summit was conceived by the youth, for the youth, with the objective of designing an inclusive … [Read more...]
Resource hubs aim to strengthen marine biodiversity
The 30th of September and 1st of October saw the celebration and grand opening of two community resource hubs in northern KwaZulu-Natal, namely Mabibi and KwaDapha. The hub construction and establishment forms part of the Oceans Alive iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area (MPA) Project driven by WILDOCEANS, a programme of the WILDTRUST, in partnership with iSimangaliso Wetland … [Read more...]
Science guides smart decisions about ocean protection
A new peer-reviewed study published in Science provides a novel scientific framework to consistently understand, plan, establish, evaluate and monitor ocean protection in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Authored by 42 marine and social scientists from 38 institutions across six continents, The MPA Guide: A Framework to Achieve Global Goals for the Ocean enables the global … [Read more...]
EU commission plans green reset for agriculture
Yesterday, the European Commission published their roadmap for EU policy action on biodiversity and food for the coming decade. In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak that has brought our relationship with the natural world into sharp focus, the strategies have never been more timely. The EU Farm to Fork and 2030 Biodiversity Strategies launched today are potential game … [Read more...]
Calling on Azores government to protect threatened sharks
Last year WILDOCEANS, a programme of the WILDTRUST, joined a global movement led by ‘Sharkproject International’ in a bid to put an end to shark finning. A letter was drafted and endorsed by 57 signatory parties from academia, retail, fisheries, the NPO sector and environmental government departments from all over the world. The letter was written to spread awareness about the … [Read more...]
82% of marine ecosystems not well managed
Oceans cover 70% of the Earth's surface, yet less than 1% of these critical systems are under any form of legal protection. The Convention on Biological Diversity's Global Biodiversity Outlook indicates that the world's marine ecosystems are in peril. Along southern Africa's east coast, the dugong is one marine mammal in urgent need of protection. If we do not act … [Read more...]
