MS OLIVA RUNS AGROUND ON NIGHTINGALE ISLANDMay 12, 2011 by dyertrustMS Oliva ran aground on Nightingale Island on 16th March 2011 and is leaking oilAs perTristan da Cunha Conservation DepartmentDirector, Trevor Glass - Nightingale has the second largest sea bird population in the world, including the largest concentration of Great Shearwaters in the world - three million pairs in the island [...]
Welcome to our Volunteer/Intern blogMarch 07, 2011 by dyertrustWe have had and excellent group of volunteers and interns for the month of January stretching from all around the world. We can actually say it was the United Nations in Kleinbaai for this month. There was Noelle -USA, Blair and BenAustralia, UrielNetherlands, MaireadIreland, DavidUK, NicoleUSA and IngoGermany.The sharks for this month was [...]
RESCUE ATTEMPT OF CAPE FUR SEALFebruary 28, 2011 by dyertrustWilfred Chivell of the Trust attended to a sick Cape Fur Seal. A call was received from Nico Opperman to let us know of the seals plight. On the recommendation of Mike Meyer of Oceans & Coasts, the seal was attended by a local veterinarian Dr Liesel Trollope. Special medication was delivered [...]
SHARK & RAY RESEARCH MEETINGFebruary 27, 2011 by dyertrustAlison Towner and I attended the Southern African Shark and Ray Meeting hosted by the KZN Sharks Board in mid February. The first meeting of its kind, it offered the opportunity for scientists from across the country and Mozambique the chance to present their research and share ideas.The conference also provided networking opportunities [...]
ELEPHANT SEAL SIGHTINGFebruary 26, 2011 by dyertrustThis February we have had yet another rare visitor herea juvenile femaleelephant seal. The condition of the animal was good with a slight injury visible around its neck, possible caused by fishing line. Pictures were taken forphotogrammetry.Marine biologist,Katja Vinding Petersen(2 Febuary)I went back at 20.15 and it was still there. At first it looked dead [...]
RARE CRABEATER SEAL FOUNDFebruary 25, 2011 by dyertrustThe Trust received a call from Jason Stonehewer about the sighting of an unusual seal on Pearly Beach. It turned out to be a rare visitor to these shores, aCrabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus). These seals are very common in Antarctica. They have specialized teeth to filtrate the water and contrary to their name, feed [...]
SHARK CONSERVATION SOCIETY VISITFebruary 24, 2011 by dyertrustOn the 7th of January our eco-tourism partner,Marine Dynamicshad the pleasure of hostingRichard Pierceontheir new cage diving vessel Slashfin, together with his grandson Oliver.Richard is the founder and Chairman of theShark Conservation Society SCS- a UKbased non-profit shark research organisation. He is also the author ofSharks of the British Seasand Jaws Britain, and has [...]
STRANDED WHALE SHARKDecember 23, 2010 by dyertrustOnce again, our team was called into action on the 23rdDecember 2010, to attend a strandingthis time for a particularly unique animal. Was it a whale? Was it a shark? Both!A 6.0-6.5 meter maleWhale sharkwashed ashore nearPearly Beach. Whale sharks do not normally occur in these waters because they prefer warm tropical waters such as [...]
BRONZIE COMPETITION HELPS WITH VALUABLE RESEARCHDecember 11, 2010 by dyertrustSaturday 11th December 2010 marked the first annual Bronzie Competition, with theTwo Oceans Angling Clubholding a day long catch and release event in False Bay. Determined anglers battled a strong South Easterly to catch themselves a Bronze Whaler Shark.Bronze Whalersor Bronzies as they are known locally are a species of requiem shark [...]
JUDY & BRUCE MANN VISIT GANSBAAI December 10, 2010 by dyertrust Marine Dynamicsand Dyer Island Conservation Trust were pleased to have Judy and Bruce Mann visit on the 11th December. Judy is the Director of Sea World and Bruce, senior scientist at the Oceanographic Research Institute (South African Association for Marine Biological Research) It was a perfect day for shark cage [...]