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 in sustaining a healthy planet. The ocean covers over 70% of the planet and is our life source supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth. World Oceans Day 2021 highlights the theme of The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods.
To celebrate this day the Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s Environmental Education Programme (DEEP) Marine Club were joined by the Gansbaai Academia Marine Sciences Teacher, Lizelle Carolus. The DEEP Marine Club presented on protecting our ocean by understanding the importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) around the Western Cape and the Marine Sciences Teacher presented on the environmental factors of oceans and the importance for the marine life. The field trip and practical experience was held at the Walker Bay Nature Reserve where the acidity and alkalinity of water was measured, and the day made complete with an educational trip at the Klipgat Caves.
Educator Pinkey Ngewu had this to say about this day “It’s so inspiring to see so many youth change-makers from Gansbaai share the same passions and ideas that I do, and more importantly, a burning and unquenchable desire for improvement. Together we can protect and restore our ocean.”
To learn more about the importance of marine protected areas, see https://dict.org.za/blog/get-ready-for-mpa-day-coming-1-august-2021/
Explaining the MPA’S
MPA’s are underwater parks
Marine Sciences teacher – Lizelle Carolus explaining the importance of managing MPA’s
DEEP Blue Ambassador measuring the pH level of the Ocean Water
