On Sunday, November 17, 2024, Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics and Founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, gathered close friends, colleagues, and family to honor Dr. Leonard Joseph Victor Compagno (1943–2024), a true pioneer in the field of shark, ray, and ghost shark research. Wilfred expressed that he felt deeply honored to know that Dr. Len’s final resting place [...]
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust Marine Month competition has become an eagerly anticipated event for Overstrand schoolchildren aged 7 to 14. They enter not only for a chance to win a Marine Dynamics Marine Safari but also to let their creativity shine, inspired by the beauty of our oceans! This was the 8th year the schools competition took place, raising awareness [...]
The Ambitious Mission of the Mouse-Free Marion Project Our recent Marine Evening welcomed guest speaker, Dr Anton Wolfaardt, Project Manager of the Mouse-Free Marion Project, who presented a powerful vision for Marion Island—a South African sub-Antarctic treasure—united by a common goal: to restore its ecosystem by eradicating invasive house mice. This ambitious conservation initiative aims to address the devastating impact of [...]
Artificial nests can increase breeding rates of endangered African penguins, a Nelson Mandela University-led study has found. The international team of researchers from South Africa and the UK found that artificial nests outperformed natural nests and increased breeding output by 16.5%. Did you know that these artificial penguin nests, was invented right here in Gansbaai by CEO of Marine Dynamics and the [...]
On Thursday 10 October 2024, the Marine Dynamics team received a report of a stranded dolphin at the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, just before the iconic Klipgat Caves. The team, consisting of biologists and guides, Amy Webber, Sandra Hörbst, Sonja Fleck and Marine Dynamics Academy scientific intern Erika, drove to the site before descending to the beach where the dolphin could [...]
Internationally, October 12 is recognized as African Penguin Awareness Day. South Africans are painfully aware that our beloved "tuxedoed locals" might face extinction in the wild within the next few years. That’s why we are celebrating another milestone at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS). Vuka Lou, an African Penguin, returns to her home colony on Dyer Island after 153 [...]
On 17 August, our marine wildlife rehabilitator, Xolani Lawu, received an urgent call from Arniston about a special visitor—a Subantarctic fur seal—found weak along the coast. Knowing that this young seal had traveled an extraordinary distance and needed immediate care, Xolani drove the 100 kilometers to Arniston. By 20:00 that evening, they arrived safely back at the African Penguin and Seabird [...]
On Heritage Day, the Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Conservation Trust teams had the honor of releasing two adult African Penguins and seven penguin chicks back onto Dyer Island. The Trust works closely with our conservation partners at CapeNature, who manage the Dyer Island Nature Reserve. Colleagues joined us for a special trip to the island to share in this memorable [...]
Through the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and Marine Dynamics Academy, baited remote underwater videos, otherwise known as BRUVs are deployed within the wider Dyer Island ecosystem on board research vessel, Lwazi. The deployment rigs consist of a metal structure, on which bait canisters are attached. These bait canisters are made utilising PVC pipe, with drilled holes allowing the scent of the [...]
On Friday 13th of September, a Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) was retrieved by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and Marine Dynamics Academy team from Die Dam. Local residents alerted the team of the stranding the evening of 12 September, where the Mako could be seen in good condition. Operations manager, Hennie Otto, marine biologist, Amy Webber and Marine Dynamics Academy [...]
