Oceans Research and Conservation in South Africa

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Could Cape Town’s incredible natural spectacle of supergroups of humpback whales occurring in summer also be destined (or already destined) to disappear? The increase in humpback whales around the Cape in recent years might indicate that more areas are becoming "dead zones"; thus, the only suitable areas are those with strong upwelling. A recently published study by CSIR shows worrying projections (see the last figures in the article), leaving little room for objections from climate deniers and oil & gas industry supporters. Even those upwelling areas around the Cape appear to be doomed.

The concept of "we can keep doing what we do if we create more MPAs" is a myopic view (greenwashing). MPAs are important but do not bring about positive change at the same rate as the negative impacts are accelerating—especially in the forecasted future.

IT’S SIMPLE: we cannot continue polluting, extracting, and destroying our planet at the current rate. ONE WAY FORWARD: drastically reduce our reliance on oil and gas and massively decrease commercial fish extraction, especially when unsustainable. We have ONE ocean, ONE planet!

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🔬 Ever seen a mermaid’s purse? 🧐

This isn’t just a piece of ocean treasure—it’s an elasmobranch egg case! Some sharks (like Pyjama and Leopard Catsharks), skates (like Twineyed Skates and Brown Skates), and rays (like Lesser Guitarfish and Bull Rays) lay these protective pouches to safeguard and nourish their developing embryos. The curly tendrils of shark egg cases help anchor the egg case to the seafloor or structures like kelp. 🌿✨

At Oceans Research Institute, our students don’t just find and collect these egg cases—we also analyse them to uncover valuable insights into elasmobranch diversity.

📊 What do we look for?

✅ Morphological metrics – Measuring size, shape, and structure to determine species.

✅ Signs of predation – Clues about natural threats, such as boreholes from predators like whelks.

✅ Attachment points – Some species prefer sandy or muddy sea beds and have no tendrils with no way to attach to any substrates, while others anchor their egg cases using tendrils to kelp/seagrass or crevices.

✅ Hatching success – We look for hatching success by checking if the pouch opened where the pup would come out to quantify the successful contribution of those embryos to the newly recruited generations into those populations.

These findings help add to the limited but growing body of information about species occurrence and spatial variation of elasmobranchs in Mossel Bay. 🌊✨

oceansresearch

🦈 More and more voices add up against the anachronistic unsustainability of the shark cull in KwaZulu-Natal. It`s time to rethink outdated practices and move toward real, responsible solutions. The ocean depends on it, and we depend on the ocean. 🌊 #EndSharkCull #Sustainability #sharksboardkzn

Read More in the @dailymaverick

oceansresearch

How to Outsmart Seasickness Like a Marine Scientist

🐡 Keep Your Brain Busy—Motion sickness happens when your inner ear senses movement, but your eyes don’t match up. Staying busy—like tagging and releasing a Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)—helps override this mismatch.

🦈 Stay Social & Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon—Chatting with your research team while scanning the water for Great White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) helps your brain stay distracted. Plus, standing on deck gives your body a better chance to adjust.

🐋 Watch the Wildlife—Your best distraction? Breaching whales, seabirds, and dolphins racing alongside the boat. Fixing your gaze on moving objects outside the boat reduces sensory confusion.

Science-Backed Ways to Combat Seasickness

✅ Ginger Works (Seriously!)—Studies show ginger can ease nausea by regulating stomach activity. Try ginger gummies, cookies, or even ginger tea before heading out.

✅ Take Meds Before You Need Them—Motion sickness tablets (like meclizine or dimenhydrinate) work best when taken the night before and again in the morning for the first couple of times. Don’t wait until you feel sick—it’ll be too late.

✅ Hydrate & Get Fresh Air—Dehydration makes nausea worse, so drink small sips of water

✅Avoid heavy meals before boarding. Eat something small for breakfast, like dry toast with jam or peanut butter. Avoid drinking a lot of fluids in the morning, such as coffee, tea and water.

And if none of this works? Stay calm and lie down... You will not win.

#Seasickness #MarineScience #SharkTagging #CetaceanResearch #LifeAtSea