Stranded white shark on the shore of Dyer Island On Wednesday 20 June 2012, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (old.dict.org.za) in Gansbaai was alerted to a stranded white shark on the shore of Dyer Island by commercial cage dive operator White Shark Projects. The first attempt at recovery late Thursday afternoon was halted by strong winds and large swells. The second [...]
Interns help tag a great white shark November 26, 2012 by dyertrust One of the most exciting events that an intern here gets to participate in is the tagging of a great white shark. On the morning of 3 November, we were asked to perform this task. Oliver Jewell is the manages our intern group and is also one of the [...]
Gigantic calves and thinner mothers! November 26, 2012 by dyertrust Gradually as the calves are getting larger (both longer and thicker)their mothers are getting thinner! The mothers do not feed while they are here off the South African coast, but sustain themselves from their thick layer of blubber, which they build up while they are feeding in the Sub-Antarctic waters from [...]
DICT was recently awarded a grant by NLDTF November 29, 2011 by dyertrust The European Commission presented draft legislation forbidding shark finning by all vessels fishing in EU waters, and all EU-registered vessels operating anywhere in the world. DICT was recently awarded a grant of R562 500 (Five hundred and sixty two thousand five hundred rand) from the National Lottery Distribution [...]
Blue Flag Beach Programme in partnership with DICT November 15, 2011 by dyertrust The Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) in association with Overstrand Municipality, Gansbaai Administration established the Fishing Line Recovery Program (FLRP) in 2010 along the Gansbaai shoreline, with specially designed disposal bins. This innovative project aims to reduce the severe environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line on our [...]
2011 International Coastal Cleanup November 15, 2011 by dyertrust Here are the results of the South African 2011 International Coastal Cleanup (click on picture to download results). We have seen growth in numbers and our impact and it is only thanks to people wanting to make a difference. Marine debris serves as the scream of a social problem of littering and [...]
Marine biologist, Alison Towner visits the U.K November 15, 2011 by dyertrust During the last two weeks of October, I was lucky enough to visit the UK, courtesy of Marine Dynamics and The Dyer Island Conservation Trust. My aim, as with previous years, was to promote shark diving and South Africa as a destination to the British diving community at the [...]
Volunteer update November 29, 2011 by dyertrust As this year is almost to a close, we were very fortunate to have such wonderful volunteers and interns this year. From 18 year old gape year to 68 year old retired war veteran as well as soldiers and marines from the USA and Afghanistan to some that accidently stumbled onto our programme. Some [...]
PENGUINS RELEASED ON DYER ISLAND August 28, 2009 by dyertrust On 11 December 2008, after being hand reared at SANCCOB's seabird rehabilitation centre in Cape Town, a group of juvenile African penguins were released back into their home colony on Dyer Island after three months of intensive hand rearing and care. These penguins were rescued off the island by CapeNature officials [...]
ANIMALS IN NEED December 20, 2009 by dyertrust Whenever an animal in need, whether bird or mammal, is found in the greater Dyer Island area at sea or on land, Wilfred Chivell of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust is called in. Animals are collected and are cared for, where after expert help is sought if needed. Over time, we have established [...]