Marine Life
latest news & developments
Sardine fishery faces possible restrictions as PHV mortality spreads
South Africa’s sardine fishery may face precautionary catch limits as the government investigates widespread sardine deaths linked to pilchard herpesvirus across 2,600km of…
A sea of uncertainty
A spreading sardine mortality event linked to pilchard herpesvirus has hit South Africa and Namibia, raising alarms over total biomass loss, fishery limits, and the survival of…
Sardine deaths along Cape coast: PHV detected as Koeberg Unit 1 cuts power
Pilchard herpesvirus is emerging as the prime suspect in the mass mortality of sardines along the Cape coast, an incident that prompted beach clean-ups and forced Eskom's Koeberg…
Sardine deaths: high levels of pilchard herpesvirus found in South African fish
High levels of pilchard herpesvirus have been found in sardines involved in South Africa’s extensive mortality event, with the virus detected in all 15 fish in an initial…
Courts temporarily halted Shell’s exploration but fracking in Karoo gets Mantashe’s nod
The mineral and petroleum resources minister has commissioned a seismic survey for oil and gas in the Karoo Basin
Craig Foster on nature’s wisdom and an ancestral connection to the ocean
An edited extract from Craig Foster’s memoir, Amphibious Soul
Consumers are choosing to buy sustainably sourced fish
Retailers and suppliers are heeding the call for sustainable seafood products
Traditional African wisdom: A modern answer to protect coastal marine life?
Population growth and increased activity in coastal areas will negatively impact marine ecosystems unless we find sustainable solutions
Why a just energy transition requires seismic surveying
Careful balancing of the pros and cons of seismic surveys show the harm is not worth the lost income that could alleviate hunger and poverty
Ropeless fishing reduces whale entanglements, UCT study finds
Bryde’s whales are particularly vulnerable to entanglements in trap fishing ropes because of their ability to dive deep and fast to catch their food, but a new technology could…
Carbon offset is greenwashing, critics say
A marine conservation funding facility wants carbon trading to finance restoration and protection of the oceans and marine biodiversity
Having fun while saving the oceans
Activists have pointed out interesting ways that people can learn something new and have an adventure while doing their bit to save the ocean.
A Gauteng firm is using bioplastics to limit microplastics
Humans eat, drink and breathe in tens of thousands of micro- and nanoplastics, but research into the effects on health is limited
Creecy okays drilling off KwaZulu-Natal coast
Despite dozens of appeals, the South African government is determined to give Sasol and its partners the go-ahead. But activists will not stop the fight
Robben Island joins list of 20 new protected marine sites in South Africa
A new network of 20 sites have been declared as marine protected areas in South Africa