by Rabia Mathakutha | Jun 8, 2023 | Announcement, Antarctica, Commemorative Days, Current Event, Discover, Environment, Important Dates, International Days, Marine Protected Area, Oceanography, SA Agulhas II
Preserving our precious marine ecosystems
Every year on the 8th of June, the world comes together to celebrate World Oceans Day, a global event dedicated to honouring and protecting our vast marine environments. This special day serves as a reminder of the significant role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth and the urgent need to conserve and restore their health. With over 70% of our planet covered by oceans, it is crucial to recognise the immense value they hold and take action to safeguard their future.
World Oceans Day is a day to appreciate the abundant biodiversity that thrives in these waters and reflect on the numerous benefits oceans provide, such as climate regulation, food security, and economic resources.
Event of interest on 8 June 2023
Significance of World Oceans Day
The delicate marine ecosystems face numerous threats, including pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change. World Oceans Day emphasises the need to protect and restore these ecosystems through sustainable practices.
Promoting conservation efforts
What can you do?
Individuals can participate by organising or joining local beach cleanups, where they can help remove litter and prevent it from reaching the oceans. By minimising the use of single-use plastics and making environmentally conscious choices, individuals can also contribute to reducing pollution in our oceans.
Recreational diving with a purpose. Cleaning the ocean one dive at a time. Image credit: Thando Mazomba.
Take-home message
World Oceans Day is an annual celebration that reminds us of the vital role oceans play in sustaining life on Earth. It urges us to recognise the urgent need to protect and restore marine ecosystems through sustainable practices, education, and policy changes. By coming together on this special day, we can create a collective voice for ocean conservation and work towards a future where our oceans thrive, benefiting both present and future generations. Let us celebrate World Oceans Day and commit to preserving the precious wonders of the deep blue.
On social media
Rabia Mathakutha & Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI DPS Node), 08 June 2023
by Ria Olivier | May 24, 2023 | Announcement, Antarctica, Jobs, Marine Protected Area, Oceanography, Research, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SANAP, SAPolarRI, SAPRI, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
As per job advertisement:
The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is a research platform funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
SAEON is mandated to establish and manage long-term environmental observatories; maintain reliable long-term environmental data sets; promote access to data for research and/or informed decision making; and contribute to capacity building.
The SAEON Egagasini Node, based in Cape Town, Western Cape, requires the services of a:
Ocean and Polar Coordinator for day-to-day scientific, operational and logistical coordination.
Application Closing Date: 05 June 2023
Click on the link below:
Position: Ocean and Polar Coordinator
Read more about SAPRI – click on the link below!
South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI): Feedback and start of the Preparatory Phase
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI DPS Node), 24 May 2023
by Ria Olivier | Feb 2, 2023 | Commemorative Days, Current Event, Environment, International Days, Marine Protected Area, Marion Island, Mice Eradication, News, Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Islands, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
World Wetlands Day, is celebrated every year on 02 February. On this day, in 1971, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) was signed in Ramsar, Iran.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated to to “raise awareness and understanding of what wetlands are and how we can contribute towards restoring them through making conscious choices, becoming persuasive voices and taking bold actions” (read more here).
What is a wetland?
A wetland is defined as the land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the
surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil (1).
Why is wetland restoration so important? Listed below are a few benefits of wetland restoration:
- Enhanced biodiversity
- Improve water supply
- Store carbon
- Reduced impacts from flooding
- Improve livelihoods
- Enhance well–being
- Protection of agricultural resources (1; 2)
Is your role in wetland restoration important?
Yes! Our individual and collective actions have an impact (1).
What can you as individual do to help protect and preserve wetlands?
- Participate in programs that help protect and restore wetlands.
- Report illegal actions such as unauthorized wetland fill or dredging activities to government authorities
- Pick up litter and dispose in appropriate trash containers. Keep surface areas that wash into storm drains clean from pet waste, toxic chemicals, fertilizers and motor oil, which can eventually reach and impair our wetlands.
- Use native species when planting trees, shrubs and flowers to preserve the ecological balance of local wetlands.
- Avoid wetland when you are expanding your house.
- Use phosphate-free laundry and dishwasher detergents. Phosphates encourage algae growth, which can suffocate aquatic life.
- Use non-toxic products for household cleaning and lawn and garden care. Never spray lawn and garden chemicals outside on a windy day or on a day that it might rain and wash the chemicals into waterways.
- Enjoy the scenic and recreational opportunities wetlands offer, while preserving their integrity for future generations by minimizing the use of heavy equipment and staying in designated visitor areas where available (3).
Did you know that the South African Prince Edward Islands (Prince Edward Island and Marion Island) is declared as Wetland of International Importance?
The Prince Edward Islands was declared Wetland of International Importance: Ramsar Site No.1688, on 22 May 2007. The conservation and management of this site falls within the responsibility of the Directorate: Southern Oceans and Antarctic Support of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Want to know about wetlands in South Africa?
Click on the posters to enlarge.
What’s been happening on Social Media
Sources:
1- https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/
2- https://www.dffe.gov.za/event/international/wetlandsday2013
3- https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/what-you-can-do-protect-coastal-wetlands
4- https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1688
5- https://alp.lib.sun.ac.za/handle/123456789/15327
6- https://blogs.sun.ac.za/antarcticlegacy/event/world-wetlands-day/
Anche Louw, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 02 February 2023.
by Ria Olivier | Aug 27, 2021 | Environment, Marine Protected Area, Marion Island, Mice Eradication, Research, SANAP, Science
Ecosystem processes are changing worldwide, especially with the impacts of invasive species being exacerbated by climate change. 
This is particularly obvious in the Southern Ocean where a warmer and dryer environment allows the proliferation of species once limited by the cold climate. South African Special Nature Reserve, Marion Island is no exception. A recent proliferation of invasive House Mouse attacks on endangered breeding seabirds suggests a profound alteration of the natural ecosystem. This has led to the planned eradication of mice at Marion Island in winter 2023.
For the next three years, the new SANAP project co-led by Dr Maëlle Connan (Research Fellow in the Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University) and Prof. Peter Ryan (director of the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology – University of Cape Town) will focus on three data deficient species of avian scavengers: Black-faced Sheathbill, Kelp Gull and Brown Skua.
By focusing on these three species and some of their prey, the project intends first to fill identified scientific gaps that are crucial for best planning of the mouse eradication. Second, these three scavengers will be used as indicators of recovery of the terrestrial ecosystem post-eradication by establishing baselines for the scavenger guild and their prey against which the impact of a successful mouse eradication can be measured in years to come. (Above: Left – Maelle Connan, Right – Peter Ryan)
(Above l-r: Sub-Antarctic Skua, Black-Faced Sheathbill)
(Above: Eleanor Weideman on Marion Island)
An important aspect of the project will entail conducting regular censuses and seasonal round island counts in addition to behavioural observations of the focal scavenger species. Indeed, the three species to be studied are at the top of the terrestrial food chain, and thus can be used as indicators of recovery of the island biota post-eradication.
On one hand, Black-faced Sheathbills and Kelp Gulls used to predate on terrestrial invertebrates, at least seasonally, but this behaviour has decreased in sheathbills as invertebrate populations have collapsed through mouse predation. There are no recent data for Kelp Gulls. On the other hand, many pairs of Brown Skuas predate mainly on burrowing petrels, thus will inform on the recovery of these nocturnal species from mouse predation. The skua data will be complemented by the implementation of an automated acoustic monitoring to detect the presence and coarse distribution of the most elusive and cryptic nocturnal species which are notoriously difficult to study. (Left – Eleanor Weideman in the field on Marion Island.)
Data obtained during the project will be swiftly shared to the Mouse-Free Marion programme manager Dr Anton Wolfaardt, to ensure updated information is available for the best planning of the mouse eradication.
Cover Image: Sub-Antarctic Skua – photo credit: Maelle Connan
Text supplied by Maelle Connan.
Photo Credits: Maelle Connan, Yinhla Shihlomuhe, Isabel Micklem.
by Ria Olivier | Jul 31, 2021 | International Days, Marine Protected Area, Marion Island, Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Islands
The 1st of August 2021 represents Africa’s first ever Marine Protected Area Day. “A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is an area of coastline or ocean that is specially protected for the benefit of people and nature The rich diversity of coastal and ocean ecosystems in South Africa are protected through a network of MPAs. Prior to 2019, there were 25 formally declared MPAs including 23 permanent coastal MPAs, including the large Prince Edward Islands (PEIs) MPA in the Southern Ocean. Thirty percent of South Africa’s territory in the Southern Ocean is protected by Prince Edward Islands MPA- https://www.marineprotectedareas.org.za
MARINE LIVING RESOURCES ACT 18 OF 1998 = – REGULATIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDS MARINE PROTECTED AREA – Published under Government Notice R422 in Government Gazette 36572, dated 21 June 2013. Gazette No. 18930, Notice No. 747. Commencement date: 1 September 1998 [Proc. No. 80, Gazette No. 19148]
Prince Edward Islands Marine protected Area is a “A volcanic sub-Antarctic wilderness teeming with hundreds of thousands of penguins, albatrosses, petrels and seals. The Prince Edward Islands are the jewels in South Africa’s island crown. They comprise of the larger Marion Island and the smaller Prince Edward Island, which were annexed by the South African navy in 1948. A permanent weather station has been in operation ever since that provides vital information needed to monitor weather and climate change in the Southern Ocean. The islands are home to unique plants and animals not found near the South African mainland. There are millions of penguins, albatrosses, petrels, seals and a transient group of killer whales. The MPA was proclaimed in 2013 and covers 30% of South Africa’s Southern Ocean territory, representing 80% of its ecosystem diversity. It protects the productive waters surrounding the islands, as well as important features such as seamounts. This ensures that the krill and fish stocks that top predators depend on are not overexploited. Historically, there was intense fishing for Patagonion toothfish, but this collapsed and has been restricted to two vessels to allow for their recovery. The terrestrial ecosystems are under threat from invasive house mice that were accidentally introduced in the 1800s. The Mouse Free Marion project plans to eradicate the mice in 2021 to allow for the ecological recovery of the island’s plant, insect and seabird communities.” –https://www.marineprotectedareas.org.za/prince-edward-islands-mpa
Prince Edward Island
Marion Island
Images, videos and documents available on the Antarctic Legacy of South Africa’s Archive:
