Ocean Watch
Starlight express: night adventures among the turtles of Bhanga Nek
Climate change may be shifting turtle sex ratios. But you’ve got to go the distance to prove it. Natalie dos Santos on the hard yards and sweet pleasures of research in a little piece of paradise. First published by Daily Maverick Watching a turtle dig her nest is always my favourite part of the evening. I sneak up behind one, nestle into the sand to get comfortable, and then watch mesmerized as the prehistoric animal prepares to lay her eggs.
Nurdle hunt maps pollution
A worldwide nurdle search spanning six continents is underway, write Jared Sumar and Fred Kockott
Green plan to turn dirty waste into walkways
Unrecyclable plastic waste collected from the Umgeni River could soon become part of paving networks, walkways and eco-landscapes in and around Durban, write Jared Sumar and Fred Kockott. This is one of several innovations from Green Corridors – a non-profit social-purpose organisation and incubator of various environmental initiatives. Green Corridors already has in place effective waste collecting litter booms along various tributaries of the Umgeni River, stretching from just above the Blue Lagoon area and into various informal settlement areas.
Headless sharks, scarce great whites and the danger of fish and chips Down Under
It was a bizarre and disturbing sight. About 100 sharks – beheaded, finned and gutted – dumped on Strandfontein beach along the False Bay coast. Why were they there? What was their intended destination before being illegally abandoned? Who was responsible? asks Donn Pinnock of the Conservation Action Trust First published by Daily Maverick The pile of dismembered bodies were mostly soupfin sharks. Word has it they were from either Gansbaai or Struisbaai, destined for a fish processing plant in
Authorities pooh-pooh claims of faecal contamination at an Umhlanga beach as hundreds hit by gastro
Scores of holidaymakers have reported that they contracted a gastro bug after swimming at Umhlanga’s Bronze Beach. But authorities say the lurgy wasn’t in the seawater, writes Fatima Khan. First published by Daily Maverick Holidays and runny tummies go together like New Year’s Eve and hangovers. But after hundreds of fun-seekers fell ill in Umhlanga Rocks, Durban, over the festive season, many began suspecting it may be something in the water. They are blaming sewage leaks near the town’s Bronze
Go-ahead for controversial oil project off KZN coast
Environmental groups’ objections over-ruled Marches, protests and objections to drill for gas and oil along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline over the past few years have come to naught, writes Fred Kockott First published by GroundUp The Department of Mineral Resources has granted environmental authorisation (EA) to the Italian energy group, Eni, and Sasol Africa (Pty) Ltd to conduct exploratory drilling in the Durban and Zululand basins, covering a total offshore area of more than 4,600 km2. The operations arise from the
Sensational Shark Week
focus irks young scientist
Keen to teach people about misconceptions about sharks, Ocean Steward Natalie dos Santos, reflects on a recent free-diving experience with the apex predators – and lessons learned elsewhere. As freedivers, we are lucky enough to often spend time underwater with many blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus) and ragged-tooth sharks (Carcharias taurus) at Aliwal Shoal, one of South Africa’s recently expanded Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and top diving spots in KwaZulu-Natal. Observing these graceful and curious animals in their natural environments, one can learn
Sea Shepherd skipper on film fest bill
Mlu Mdletshe A KwaZulu-Natal based skipper with the controversial marine conservation organisation, Sea Shepherd, will be among an engaging lineup of speakers at a special Durban International Film Festival event on Thursday night.
‘Wild Coast Wallflower’ pitch wins award
Marine Protected Areas are excluding coastal communities from accessing natural resources they had traditionally relied on, says a WildOcean’s intern who has just won an award to produce a documentary titled Wild Coast Wallflower.
Green fashion: the slowdown
Our fashion choices are killing the oceans. Diony Lalieu explains why… and what’s being done to roll back the plastic tide.
