APSS

Celebrating World Penguin Day with Purpose: Beach Clean-Up at Hermanus New Harbour

In celebration of World Penguin Day, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust proudly joined hands with Marine Coastal Conservation for a collaborative beach clean-up at Hermanus New Harbour. With the theme “Celebrating and Safeguarding South Africa’s Penguins”, the event focused on raising awareness and taking action to protect the endangered African Penguin and its marine environment. The clean-up, which aimed to reduce [...]

Safeguarding our oceans with Minister Dion George

The Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Conservation Trust team had the honour of hosting our third meeting with Minister Dion George, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, since his appointment in July 2024. In just 10 months as minister, Minister George has demonstrated a strong interest in the work being done in our region. During his recent visit, he enjoyed the [...]

Meet Rocky – A True Little Adventurer!

This Rockhopper Penguin, typically found on remote Southern Ocean islands, made an unexpected stop on a beach in Arniston, South Africa – thousands of kilometers from home! Found injured and underweight (likely from a dog bite), Rocky was brought to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) on 1 February. Thanks to the expert care of our team, led by penguin [...]

Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust Welcome DARWIN200 to Gansbaai

The Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Conservation Trust teams were thrilled to host three teams from the DARWIN200 planetary conservation initiative, a project aiming to change the world for the better by reconnecting people with nature and building a more sustainable future. DARWIN200 centres around the 2023–2025 Global Voyage, retracing Charles Darwin’s historic journey aboard HMS Beagle. The initiative focuses on [...]

Darwin200 visits Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust were excited to welcome our second DARWIN200 group to Kleinbaai, Gansbaai. DARWIN200 is a planetary conservation initiative that aims to change the world for the better. They are sailing a historic tall ship around the world, retracing Charles Darwin’s voyage aboard HMS Beagle two centuries ago. “Using our ship as a floating laboratory [...]

Social Workers for Sharks!

The month of March has been internationally declared a time to celebrate the vital work that social workers do every day, throughout the year. Social Workers having fun! On Friday, 28 March 2025, the Marine Dynamics team welcomed Minister Jaco Londt and the Western Cape Government Department of Social Development to the Great White House restaurant, giving them an [...]

KruShan Foundation: A Lifeline for African Penguins and Seabirds in Gansbaai

The KruShan Foundation, led by Kruger and Shannon du Plessis, has been a crucial partner for the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and its African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, in the fight to save the critically endangered African Penguin and support marine conservation efforts in the Overstrand region. From funding a Seabird Ranger on Dyer Island to supporting medical care at the [...]

To Infinity and Beyond: Birds, the Big Blue, and a Rockhopper’s Journey

On Wednesday, December 4th, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, powered by Marine Dynamics, undertook an extraordinary six-hour, 180-kilometer expedition to release a Rockhopper penguin back into the Agulhas Current. Earlier this year, the penguin had stranded on our shores, underweight and bearing a few wounds. It was admitted to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary (APSS) for treatment, rest, and recovery. [...]

Overstrand Learners showcase creativity during Marine Month.

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 [...]

What was first, the nest or the egg?

Artificial nests can increase breeding rates of critically 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 [...]