The Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) recently released the official report on the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA-Sharks) in South Africa. In May 2020, following public concern about shark populations along the South African coast, the Minister of (DEFF), Ms Barbara Creecy, appointed an Expert Panel to … [Read more...]
Plastic ocean waste NPO receives two global awards
Former Ballito resident, Clare Swithenbank-Bowman (main picture, on the left), founder of the non-profit organisation (NPO), Litter4Tokens, received two international Stevie Awards for Women in Business via a virtual awards’ ceremony held on Wednesday, 9 December 2020. The Stevie Awards, considered the world's premier business awards, were introduced in 2002 to honour and … [Read more...]
Eliminating marine pollution with innovative design
Finalists in the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLIP) STOMP Awards have been announced. The STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastic Pollution) Awards made a call out in October for South Africans to enter ideas and solutions that could reduce, or eliminate plastic pollution, which ultimately ends up in the ocean destroying habitats, and endangering marine species. Over 60 entries … [Read more...]
IPCC report shows critical need for accelerated climate action
The launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere today, highlights the need for governments to urgently scale up and accelerate efforts to address the climate emergency and protect the world’s oceans. Drawn from almost 7,000 papers by over 100 leading climate scientists, the IPCC report represents the most … [Read more...]
Shailene Woodley sails to the Sargasso Sea with Greenpeace
Greenpeace has launched an expedition to the Sargasso Sea, a unique region in the North Atlantic Ocean, to study the impact of plastics and microplastics on marine life, and to document the importance of this unique ecosystem for protection under a new Global Ocean Treaty that is being negotiated at the UN. The Greenpeace ship Esperanza departs from Penno’s Wharf in Bermuda and … [Read more...]
Octopus traps a threat to whales in False Bay
For many years now permits for trapping of octopus in the False Bay area have been issued to a local fishing company and during this period there have been numerous entanglements and deaths and it is now time to put an end to the suffering and deaths. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (which has recently been incorporated into Environmental Affairs) … [Read more...]
Wild Oceans to investigate critical shark habitat and movements
Recently the Wild Oceans Research Vessel, RV Angra Pequena, carrying a team of researchers and marine students, set sail to Protea Banks on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in order to retrieve telemetry receivers previously deployed in the area. The retrieval of these receivers will give us the ability to investigate the movements of tagged sharks and highlight the importance … [Read more...]
Youth-focused project strives for ocean protection
Climate change and pollution is a global issue and has a significant impact on the ocean. Conserving marine and coastal ecosystems is essential. Global issues tend to bring together like-minded projects spanning across continents. One such project is the Bremen-Durban Marine Environmental Education Network also known as Ocean Champs. This project is jointly implemented by … [Read more...]
Join thousands around the world for the Great Nurdle Hunt
Wild Oceans is excited to be taking part in what will see more than a thousand people spanning 6 continents joining in on a worldwide search for tiny plastic pellets (nurdles) in the first Great Nurdle Hunt taking place from the 8th till the 17th of February. The hunt is taking place on 6 continents in over 16 countries, with more than 60 organisations and 170 individual … [Read more...]
Shining a light on South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas
The youth shone a light on the importance of Marine Protected Areas with an evening of original poetry, inspiration and a spotlight performance at the WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ Dinner on the Dock event held at Trawlers Wharf, Durban earlier this week, launching a week of mentorship and career guidance. With the launch of the annual four-day WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ … [Read more...]
Seismic surveying of the ocean floor poses serious risk to whales
Whale populations around the world have been spouting their thanks to the dedication of conservationists who brought them back from the brink of extinction. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) have recognized that through the deployment of the Revised Management Procedure (RMP), some whale populations have actually begun the process of recovery. This new found … [Read more...]
Television adverts highlight growing marine debris problem
Plastics|SA will be releasing a series of new radio and television adverts this week in which it addresses the issue of plastics litter found in the marine environment. “Never before has the issue of plastics in our oceans received so much attention on a global scale. Plastics|SA, the umbrella organisation representing the entire South African plastics value chain signed the … [Read more...]
Coral gardening initiative launched at Fiji resort
An iconic reort in Fiji recently launched a marine conservation initiative called 'Our Ocean Guardians.' With an increased focus on coral health and coral resilience, the Reef Safari team at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa worked with resort guests to successfully plant over 50 corals in four months under the ‘Our Ocean Guardians Project’. This initiative … [Read more...]
