July 17, 2019 Dyer Island Conservation Trust
Cresta Shopping Centre has brought the Dyer Island Conservation Trust on board to help drive education about marine conservation.
Our Trust Manager and educator, Pinky Ngewu, attended the opening event and had the opportunity to tell guests about the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, “We work in the protection of all marine species. Our founder’s main passion was taking care of the Dyer Island penguins in Gansbaai in the Western Cape. Our African penguins are facing extinction and are only left with seven years to survive in the wild. We are working on protecting this species so that future generations can enjoy them too.”
One of the trust’s main goals is to discourage the use of single-use plastic and the encouragement of plastic recycling. A large wave sculpture using recycled plastic was erected near the CrestAquarium to symbolise plastic polluting in our oceans. “One day, if we don’t realise what we are doing, we may be swimming in waves of plastic,” said Ngewu.
Edited Press Release from Cresta Aquarium:
Cresta Shopping Centre has officially opened the first of its kind, in-centre Aquarium with the new CrestAquarium – a modest exploration and showcase of life under the sea. The vision of the new instalment is to provide shoppers with the unusual opportunity to see, learn and appreciate this unique environment. Come nose-to-nose with some of the ocean’s most iridescent little creatures, corals and underwater plants. Introducing over 30 species, shoppers will be able to enjoy the tranquillity of underwater moments – right here in the middle of bustling Jo’burg.
“The CrestAquarium was envisioned to entertain, educate and inspire behaviour change by showing families that live inland the magic of life under water and how we can work to protect it,” said Virginia Bester, General Manager of Cresta Shopping Centre. “Our vision was to give the community the opportunity to form a connection with an otherwise distant world, so they can benefit from its beauty and learn how to help protect it,” added Bester. The interactive and educational displays around the tank will allow children and families to touch, discover, explore and learn.
The iconic Centre partnered with the best in the business in aquarium construction and with expert marine consultants to ensure the project and construction was a detailed and flawless success – as well as ensuring the safety and happiness of the ocean life introduced. The certified and regulated aquaria specialists ensure the selected ocean fish are cared for 24/7. Each fish was hand-selected according to compatibility and natural distribution.
A key vision is to educate shoppers and especially the youth on how they can act now to protect the future of the oceans – such as recycling and being conscious of the sustainable fish list. As part of this vision Cresta Shopping Centre has brought the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) onboard to help drive education about marine conservation and to provide a way for shoppers to ‘act’ in support for the protection of our oceans. The DICT Wave of Change will be a feature at the CrestAquarium to drive the educational message to consumers about plastic recycling and to provide them an opportunity to donate to the Trust via Snapscan to support their conservation efforts.
http://www.crestashoppingcentre.co.za/
