MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following up on its last Marine Month event, the Bartolomeu Dias Museum in Mossel Bay will host yet another to bring ocean awareness and science to the community.

The previous event, hosted on 30 October, featured Stephanie Nicolaides, a PhD candidate in Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), who presented her research on plastic pollution and its impact on Mossel Bay's marine ecosystems.

Nicolaides will do another, longer and more intensive presentation covering the theme 'Invisible Plastics, Visible Impacts' at the museum's educational centre in the Granary at 14:00 on Wednesday 5 November.

Entrance is free, but those interested in attending should RSVP to amanda.human@westerncape.gov.za or 044 691 1067 by Tuesday 4 November.

Nicolaides' research focuses on understanding how microplastics, tiny frag-ments that come from everyday items like packaging, clothing fibres and fishing gear, are entering local waters and affecting marine life.

Her study investigates the presence of these plastics in the bay's beaches, sediment and marine species, aiming to shed light on how they move through the food web and what this means for both the environment and local livelihoods.

"Mossel Bay is not just a place of beauty; it's a living system that supports livelihoods, traditions and food security. By understanding how pollution moves through this environment, we can better protect the resources that sustain our coastal communities."

Having spent months collecting data in the region, Nicolaides' work connects science with the community, encouraging greater awareness of the ocean's health and the importance of reducing plastic waste.

The museum's Marine Month celebration is a chance for locals and visitors alike to explore how small actions can make a big difference in protecting our coastline. 

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