SOSF Shark Centre, South Africa
Kalk Bay, South Africa
Key Objective:
The SOSF Shark Centre was established in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2008 to encourage the conservation and awareness of sharks and marine life in the False Bay area. The Shark Centre is a non-governmental organization offering public educational programmes to provide information and challenge myths and misconceptions about these important creatures. The Shark Centre is also committed to supporting local and SOSF funded scientists.
Why this is important:
Sharks are vital to the health of our oceans. They play an important role in the ocean by regulating the quantity and health of other species of fish and invertebrates, keeping the ecosystem in balance.
What we do
Education: We offer educational outings to school groups focusing on a range of marine topics. Because our programmes are presented by qualified, experienced teachers who are knowledgeable and passionate about their subject, you can expect lessons and activities that are hands-on, age-appropriate and linked to the school curriculum. We also understand that outings need to provide fun and excitement without compromising on the safety of your children.
Our lessons on sharks and our studies of the inter-tidal zone continue to be popular, while other activities include educational visits to Cape Point, coastal walks, shell studies, lessons on food webs and many other marine topics. Learners that have previously visited the centre can expect to learn new information with each visit. In addition to the educational activities listed on this page, the Save Our Seas Shark Centre also encourages educators to approach us with requests to integrate our activities with work from any of the learning areas being covered at school, and is happy to assist in developing follow-up activities.
Our premises are ideally situated across the road from Dalebrook beach, two minutes walk from Kalk Bay train station. For more information and bookings, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Awareness & Events: We aim to promote the awareness of who we are and what we do, through high-profile local and international media campaigns, and by engaging with the public in ways where they can get involved and help to make a difference. Coastal clean-ups, public lectures, networking groups, conferences and exhibitions, are just some of the ways we do this, encouraging lively debate on the many issues relating to shark and marine conservation. Follow us on Facebook to keep updated on when these events will occur.
Scientific Research Facilities: We support the development, production and expansion of new research avenues for sharks and other endangered marine species and habitats. We offer use of the Shark Centre free of charge as a hub for disseminating world-class conservation research. Our in-house research and film-editing facilities are also available to other N.G.O.‘s and for student training.
Visit Us: As of 1 April 2013, The Save Our Seas Shark Centre in Kalk Bay will be closed to the public while undergoing refurbishments and plans to re-open in November 2013. During this period of closure, the Shark Centre will continue to welcome school visits and other group bookings which can be arranged by contacting Paul Millar.
Other South African supported projects
In addition to the Shark Centre, the Save Our Seas Foundation supports the following four local grantee projects for the year 2012-13:
Baited Remote Underwater Video assessment of all False Bay sharks and fishes
Project leader: Lauren DeVos
Shark Spotters: Finding the balance between recreational water user safety and white shark conservation
Project leader: Sarah Titley
South Africa’s recreational shark fishery: understanding impacts and importance
Project leader: Tamzyn Zweig
Defining the role of a large predatory shark, Carcharhinus leucas, in an estuarine environment through the examination of inter- and intra-specific interactions
Project leader: Meaghan McCord
Shark Centre visits Langa
— .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 07 May, 2013
Last week we spent a day at Moshesh Primary School, in Langa, Cape Town. It’s not an area we’ve worked in before, but being a township relatively far from the sea, our guess was that most of the grade sixes…
Playful Seal Pups
— .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 24 April, 2013
Have you ever been face-to-face with a Cape Fur seal pup? Those black goggly eyes and their playful curiosity make for an extraordinary experience! As the last few days of summer tease us with bouts of warm weather, it seemed…
UCT Underwater Club presents: The Bottom Line
— .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 09 April, 2013
A speaker series on the state of our oceans Presenting world-class speakers who have come together to tackle some of the world’s most complex environmental problems taking place right off our own coastline. Speakers will be discussing issues of sustainability,…
Shark Centre facilitates scientific research and hosts international researcher
— .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 26 March, 2013
The Save Our Seas Shark Centre welcomed Sevengill shark researcher, Adam Barnett, during a 2-week visit in March while he and Alison Kock made headway on their new shark project in False Bay. A little more about Adam… Adam has…
Shark Centre educators will attend CEI/Island School to expand education programme
— .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 26 March, 2013
The Island School was founded in 1999 by Chris and Pam Maxey with support from The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. Chris Maxey taught at the school and in 1996, he received the Joukowsky Fellowship allowing him to work towards…