LITTLE BRAK RIVER NEWS - It was an exciting morning of ocean exploration for the attendees of Midbrak Conservancy’s What’s in Our Ocean event held on Reebok Beach on Sunday 23 August.
Several conservancy members and some families met near the Reebok tidal pool with the Ocean Research Institute’s head field specialist Kristina Loosen and seasonal field specialist Anna Halilaj, as well as student Lisa Bruel, who would go on to lead the morning’s exploration of the rock pools and their residents along the beach.
Loosen first spoke to the group about the current state of our ocean, particularly along South Africa’s coastline, and the effects of overfishing and illegal and undocumented fishing on marine life and their predators, such as the white shark. She also mentioned the shark nets in place in KwaZulu-Natal, which catch and kill sharks annually.
Loosen also spoke about the Ocean Research Institute’s work to study, preserve and protect the ocean.
The next to speak was Halilaj, who explained how they had conducted some of their studies of marine animals. She brought tools to conduct a transect, which is a predetermined, standardised area of scientific monitoring in which the areas or distances are marked and can therefore be applied consistently with every sampling/survey.
It was a morning for exploring our ocean and rock pools. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse
In this instance, she ran a straight line from the ocean to a portion of rock or beach, using a square frame. The creatures within the square are identified, counted and recorded.
Flip files with various marine species typically found on or near Mossel Bay’s rock pools were handed out, and then everyone got to work identifying and counting.
As the tide was coming in quite quickly, only two portions were completed. Lots of tooth barnacles (Chthamalus dentatus), green limpets (a type of aquatic snail), some peanut worms (Sipuncula) and one black lip top shell (also a type of aquatic snail) were identified.
Liyah Engelbrecht counts barnacles. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse
A big starfish was also found outside of the water, but was safely returned by one of the young ocean explorers.
Midbrak Conservancy chairperson Melville Munro said he hoped to hold similar events in the near future, especially during the holidays when more children can attend and learn about marine conservation.
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