Sandra Hörbst - Conservation biologist Back in 2016 the SouSA consortium was formed to facilitate and share data on the humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) which should to contribute towards its conservation and research. The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin is listed as 'Endangered' on the Red List. The first publication of the consortium suggests that there are likely less than 500 individuals [...]
On Monday the 21st of June, marine biologist Alison Towner of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s (DICT found an Eagle Ray (Myliobatis aquila) on Franskraal beach, Gansbaai, South Africa. The ray was notable as it had multiple stab wounds in its body, and was missing both its pectoral fins (wings). Later in the week a necropsy was performed under the guidance [...]
On the morning of Sunday 27 June 2021, a dead white shark was reported in from Die Dam near Gansbaai, by Cape Town anglers Donovan Cole and John Pretorius. Both men had arrived on the beach to find the dead shark washed up at the surf zone. The animal was then reported into Stephan Swanson and Dr Alison Kock (SANParks) and [...]
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) has worked in partnership for many years with Grootbos Foundation offering two marine lessons to the students on their educational programme. The Earth Rangers combines the content of their original Dibanisa programme and Food4Sport. The students, between the ages of 9 to 13, met Trust educator Pinkey Ngewu who gave a first lesson introducing the [...]
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust is proud to be part of the alliance working on creating the first Marine Protected Areas Day. As such, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been incorporated into the curriculum for the environmental education work this year. The Trust’s Environmental Education Programme, known as DEEP, is learning to present on the value of marine protected areas for [...]
World Oceans Day on June 8 is the United Nations Day for celebrating the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainable use of marine resources. World Ocean’s Day creates a great opportunity for the Dyer Island Conservation Trust to raise awareness of the importance of our ocean and the vital role oceans play [...]
The Overstrand Municipality is working in partnership with Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust to minimise waste from reaching the ocean through implementing storm drain catchment nets. Inspired by a project in Australia, Wilfred Chivell of Marine Dynamics Tours and founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, realised the need for a net system over the storm water drain [...]
© Alison Towner, Dyer Island Conservation Trust/Marine Dynamics After hearing the news of a 5m female white shark at Marine Dynamics shark cage diving vessel in the Kleinbaai area, I grabbed the tagging kit and we set out to sea to take over the anchor position on the Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s research boat. While preparing the acoustic tag I looked [...]
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust, in partnership with Marine Dynamics, is proud, and excited, to be hosting the 2021 6th Southern African Shark & Ray Symposium from 17-19 November. The theme of the symposium for 2021 is “Catalyst for Change: Post-pandemic research on Southern African Chondrichthyans.” As we emerge from the pandemic the 6th SASRS will offer the chance for the [...]
On Friday the Dyer Island Conservation Trust received a call of a whale stranding in Pearly Beach. They quickly dispatched marine biologist Ralph Watson with two interns from the Marine Dynamics Academy to investigate the deceased animal. Once on site they joined African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary’s Senior Bird Rehabilitator Xolani Lawo who was already on site. While in contact with the Whale [...]
