Success at Save Our Seas Centre’s First Marine Conservation Talk of the Season

Weekly speaker series will run until the end of July, informing the public on shark and marine conservation

The Marine Conservation Speaker Series kicked off yesterday, Thursday 28 June, at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre in Kalk Bay with a full house and roaring success!
Meaghen McCord and Tamzyn Zweig, two Save Our Seas supported researchers who are currently working with SASC (South African Shark Conservancy http://www.sharkconservancy.org/), were the first of ten speakers in the series, to shed light on their projects and inform the public of the importance of the conservation work they have undertaken.

Time to mingle and enjoy refreshments

Viewing the info and aquarium on display

Meaghen’s project looks specifically at the ecology and behaviour of the iconic marine predator, the Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas), whereas Tamzyn tackles impacts and importance of the South African Recreational Shark Fishery.

Meaghen McCord talking on Bull Sharks

Tamzyn Zweig’s talk on SA Recreational Fisheries

The talks were friendly and interactive with many questions and discussions, and were well received all round. Members of the public were also treated to refreshments while they mingled at the centre and gained more insight as to what the Shark Centre offers to the public in terms of their free educational programmes targeted at children.

Justin Berry, winner of the lucky prize draw, and Kim von Brandis of the Shark Centre

Justin Berry was the lucky winner of a coffee table book and Save Our Seas branded shirt, in the evening’s lucky prize draw.

Next week’s line up of talks on 5 July from 18h30 to 20h30, includes Lauren de Vos and Colin Attwood, both of UCT and SAEON (South African Environmental Observation Network http://www.saeon.ac.za/).

Colin will delve into the effectiveness of marine protected areas in South Africa, while Lauren, another of the local Save Our Seas supported researchers, will introduce us to her new project on underwater video monitoring of fish and sharks in False Bay. This new, low-impact technique will address sustainable South African fish conservation and marine protected area monitoring. Bringing research and amazing underwater video footage to the South African public, Lauren will explain why this year’s project in False Bay is set to change the way we protect our underwater world. For more information and field updates on her project, visit her blog here .

The talks are free to the public and there are still spaces available to attend the remaining talks in the series, which will run weekly until the end of July 2012. Contact Kim von Brandis to reserve a seat and visit our website and Facebook page for more information.

Speaker series talks for July 2012

The aim of the Shark Centre is to encourage the conservation and awareness of sharks and marine life in the False Bay area through public educational programmes and activities, and by supporting scientific research.