Conserve Eden

26/08/2026

Check out some snapshots from an article Kelly and Mark wrote for the BirdLife Plettenberg Bay newsletter recently, highlighting important work done by the Plett Stranding Network on our beaches in Plett. The article focuses on bird rings recovered from dead seabirds over the last year, highlighting the value of bird ringing, how long seabirds live, and how far they travel to visit us in Plett! Read the full article below.

https://birdlife-plett.co.za/2026/07/16/2026-july-birdlife-plettenberg-bay-newsletter-winter-edition/

18/08/2026

Please come support this amazing presentation and help us raise funds for the Plett Stranding Network!

🌊 VOICES OF THE BAY IS BACK! 🐟

Join us for our second Voices of the Bay evening, where we’ll be diving into the fascinating world of one of South Africa’s most iconic — and threatened — linefish: the White Steenbras.

🎤 Jessica Seath from the Knysna Estuary Research Foundation (KERF) will present:

White Steenbras: Following the Fish to Protect Their Future

Much of the early life of White Steenbras remains a mystery. Jessica’s research follows juvenile fish through the Knysna Estuary, using monthly fish surveys, acoustic telemetry and feeding ecology to uncover where they go, what habitats they depend on, and what they need to survive their most vulnerable years.

We’ll also explore how this research can inform conservation and fisheries management, and why responsible catch-and-release practices are so important for giving these young fish the chance to become the breeding adults of the future. 🎣🌱

📅 25 August 2026
⏰ 18:00 sharp
📍 66 Maplin Drive, Plettenberg Bay
🎟️ R50 per person

All proceeds from the evening will go towards the Plett Stranding Network.

Come along for an evening of local science, conservation and conversation about the incredible marine life of our bay. 🌊

12/08/2026

If you looked out over Plett’s beaches today, you may have noticed something unusual: the ocean close to shore has turned a dark, muddy brown.

It might look alarming, but there’s a very natural explanation.

After a long period without much rain, the recent rainfall sent a large volume of freshwater rushing through our rivers and estuaries and out towards the sea. That water carries suspended sediment, organic matter and other material from the land with it, giving the coastal water its darker colour.

Today also happens to be a spring tide, when the difference between high and low tide is greater and tidal currents are stronger. This helps move that river water further along the coastline.

So while the colour may look dramatic, brown water after significant rainfall is a natural part of the connection between our land, rivers, estuaries and ocean.

And after the drought we’ve experienced, seeing water flowing through our catchments is something worth appreciating.

The ocean doesn’t exist separately from the land. What happens upstream eventually makes its way to the sea.

12/08/2026

Dear locals and visitors! We are excited to be partnering with MSc student Steph Behr to collect important data on how people use and perceive the Keurbooms Estuary and its biodiversity. Please can we ask you to take just 5 minutes to complete this survey, which is part of Steph's Master's Project:

https://arcg.is/0DC55L

08/08/2026

A fantastic first few days for interns Morph and James this week. A fish tagging trip for Morph, a stranding network patrol, a cetacean monitoring trip with Ocean Safaris and a visit to Raptor Rescue Plett!

06/08/2026

A warm welcome to Morph and James who have joined as our new interns! Morph hails from the UK and visited us two years ago go when doing a Discover Eden course with his School, while James is from Ireland and did a Discover Eden Big 5 course last year. Glad to have you both back and on the team!

05/08/2026

A massive thanks to Emily for being so amazing! She completed her internship with us today and is heading home to Canada. Watch this space - this young biologist is going places!

02/08/2026

Our research team have loved getting back into the Keurbooms Estuary every week again! Post flood, we are finding good eelgrass beds in Poortjies with good numbers of Knysna Seahorses, pipefish, Seahares and some cool pufferfish!

📸 Emily and Mark

01/08/2026