Strandloper Project

Strandloper Project The Strandloper Project is a citizen science marine research organization based in Sedgefield.
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Core research includes ghost fishing, reef condition, plastic pollution, estuarine monitoring and marine mammal behaviour studies.

Another great lineup forest the Plett Ocean Festival symposium
19/06/2026

Another great lineup forest the Plett Ocean Festival symposium

Celebrating our Ocean Heritage on Youth DayA full program of Ocean Heritage and environmental awareness, with dance, art...
17/06/2026

Celebrating our Ocean Heritage on Youth Day

A full program of Ocean Heritage and environmental awareness, with dance, art and choral activities made up a wonderful Youth Day celebration arranged by Ubumamma at the Scarab Village.
Marine and terrestrial presentations and exhibits from Sedgefield Island Conservancy, Strandloper Project and NVT provided both marine education and environmental entertainment for over 200 Youth and their parents from the Garden Route.
Thank you to for logistical support.

08/06/2026

🌊 World Oceans Day | 8 June 💙

Today we celebrate the ocean that shapes our coastline, sustains our communities, and inspires generations.

Knysna and Sedgefield are fortunate to be home to passionate organisations and individuals working tirelessly to protect our marine and estuarine ecosystems. From the dedicated teams at SANParks, CapeNature, the Knysna Estuary Research Foundation, the Strandloper Project, Oceans Alive Conservation Trust, Ocean Odyssey, local environmental groups, schools, volunteers, and community members, to every person who chooses to care for our beaches and waterways—thank you for making a difference.

Together, through conservation, research, education, and responsible stewardship, we can ensure that our oceans remain healthy and thriving for future generations.

This World Oceans Day, let's all do our part: reduce plastic pollution, respect marine life, and leave our beaches cleaner than we found them.

Healthy Oceans. Healthy Communities. A Sustainable Future. 🌍💙



The Greater Knysna Business Chamber Garden Route & Klein Karoo Tourism

World Oceans Day.The true nature of the oceans occurs beneath the surface. From the deepest sea trench to just beneath t...
08/06/2026

World Oceans Day.
The true nature of the oceans occurs beneath the surface. From the deepest sea trench to just beneath the waves, life abounds. The diversity ranges from single cell dinoflagellates that bioluminesce to the largest animal that has ever lived on the planet, the Blue Whales.
Covering 70% of the planet, Oceans are vital for our survival, our recreation and our spiritual well-being. 40% of the global population derives their main source of food from the ocean and 100% of all living animals get 50% of their oxygen from the ocean. If the Oceans are degraded or polluted, the impact is universal.
Today, inhale deeply, hold your breath and reflect on how the ocean has supported your well being. Then as you exhale, consider what you can do to nurture the well being of the ocean, and how you can modify your life to accomplish it.

Celebrate Youth Day with a glimpse at our ocean heritage.Presentations include talks on : * whales, * marine birds, * lo...
05/06/2026

Celebrate Youth Day with a glimpse at our ocean heritage.
Presentations include talks on :
* whales,
* marine birds,
* local ocean research,
* sharks,
* fynbos pollination,
* forest ecology,
* as well as a play on ocean biodiversity.

The program is between 10h00 and 16h00.
Event details :
* Entrance is free.
* Date : 16th June
* Venue : Scarab Market
* Opening: 10h00
* If you would like to articiotae or organize for a group of learners to attend, contact Sarah on +27 82 477 4070.

The event is being organized by Ubumamma.

Happy World Environment Day!The Oceans cover over 70% of the earth's surface, provide nutrition for 40% of the human pop...
05/06/2026

Happy World Environment Day!
The Oceans cover over 70% of the earth's surface, provide nutrition for 40% of the human population, and produces 50% of atmospheric oxygen.
One of the largest current threats to Oceans is plastic waste.
Each person, whether they live inland or along the coastal regions, contributes to the ocean plastic waste threat.
Five things to reduce plastic waste
* Seperate plastic and send it to a recycling depot.
* Limit or avoid buying items and food with excessive plastic wrapping.
* Don't buy water and beverages in small volume plastic bottles. Buy 5l water bottles and decant into a multi use bottle for daily use and when traveling.
* Support organizations that recycle and repurpose plastic items.
* Pressure municipalities to improve plastic waste management.

Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin surveyData of sightings of Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins at Gericke's Point for Jan to Ma...
26/05/2026

Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin survey

Data of sightings of Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins at Gericke's Point for Jan to May 2026 show their usual distribution within the bay.
We had a total of 15 sightings, though interestingly, we had no records in February. This latter lack of sightings may be due to the large bait baitballs that had formed further out to sea at the time.

The pods sizes ranged between 1 and 14 dolphins per sighting. Humpback Dolphins do not breach very high out of the water when they surface to breathe, and as such are notoriously difficult to see. Experience in surveying for this species has shown that for every one dolphin seen surfacing, there can still be one or two beneath the surface.

In the second half of May, the Humpback Dolphins were wide spread throughout the bay and not in a tight group. This may have been a response to the flood and storm event in the second week of May.
One entertaining repeated sighting in January was of a young calf that would surface vertically to breathe before slapping down horizontally and diving below the surface.
While it is considered that Humpback Dolphins hunt exclusively over rocky seabeds, new research in Natal has recorded the species hunting in open waters, a possible modification of hunting strategy due to declining inshore fish stocks. We have also observed Humpback Dolphins exploring/hunting the sandy seabed, which may also be a new hunting strategy.

Third image from Buffalo Bay : In contrast to the Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins, there have been large pods of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins frequenting the bay, either in pods of 20 to 50 Dolphins, and at times as many as 500 cruising past. In April and May, there have been nursery pods of 15 to 30 Bottlenose Dolphins milling around in the bay, usually for between 40 and 60 minutes before heading out of the bay at speed.

Thank you to everyone that sent in sightings of Humpback Dolphins to compliment our database.


It was great to meet the Crowther family at Swartvlei Beach yesterday. They had gone for a beach walk and swim (the wate...
25/05/2026

It was great to meet the Crowther family at Swartvlei Beach yesterday. They had gone for a beach walk and swim (the water was warm as a tropical island to quote Jake).
In the wake of the recent floods, they could not resist collecting washed up plastic pollution on their beach walk. Unprepared for collecting plastic, they had to ask another beachgoer for a bag to carry what they had collected.
As owners of Oakhurst Farm Cottages they were interested in the cycle that results in plastic waste washing up on beaches and how simple tweaks to the management of the disposal of plastic items by businesses and induviduals can greatly reduce the loss of plastic into the ocean.
It was inspiring to hear the enthusiasm on how they plan to modify the collection and separation of recyclable trash generated from their accommodation and farming activities.
Oakhurst Farm Cottages has supported on logistics of our annual coastal research expeditions, and we have always been impressed with the numerous innovations on the farm relating to environmental practices, water management and wildlife corridors.
It is inspiring to discuss their commitment to improve waste management, not only by cleaning trash off the beach, but as a business, fine tuning the recycle and reuse of items from their property, and incorporating their staff in the process.
With the waste management challenges facing the Garden Route, it is vital that businesses and residents make every efforts to reduce the amount of recyclable items being sent to landfills. Done correctly, not will the amount of waste sent to landfills be reduced, but, done correctly, it can even generate a small income stream as an incentive to staff and family members. In some instances, high value plastic items have a higher price than some glass items.

20/05/2026

When the tide goes out.

60 minutes after the tide changed, a tidal wedge of river water pushed through the outgoing tide in the Goukamma River. Inherently, fresh and marine water don't mix in stable water, and the leading river water heading downstream can clearly be seen cutting through the clear ocean water. It is this dynamic transition of water in estuaries that make them such productive aquatic ecosystems.

Ocean plastic waste washout.19th May 2026.A survey hike through the Goukamma MPA by Strandloper Project volunteers has i...
19/05/2026

Ocean plastic waste washout.

19th May 2026.

A survey hike through the Goukamma MPA by Strandloper Project volunteers has identified a category 7 washout of ocean plastic waste.
The predominant identifiable items are plastic lids, sucker sticks and earbud shafts. Integrated with the plastic pollution is organic material (twigs and small sticks), an indication that the source of this is from inland.
Possible culprit rivers include the Muel, Skaapkop and Gwaing Rivers.

If the tide is suitable this weekend, we will be conducting a beach cleanup at this site.

Address

Sedgefield
6573

Telephone

+27822135931

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