Marine Research - Education - Conservation South Africa | Oceans Research
Oceans ResearchOceans Research Institute investigates the biology and ecology of mega-fauna, including sharks, marine mammals, and terrestrial carnivores; we advise governmental and non-governmental bodies on relevant conservation issues. We also offer multi-disciplinary practical and theoretical training for aspiring researchers from internship to postgraduate levels in conjunction with partner schools, technical colleges, and universities.
Our Motto
Oceans Research provides and facilitates innovative and dynamic research relevant to the management and conservation of Southern Africa’s wildlife.
We strive to divulge research discoveries to the scientific community and also to the general public, through our website, media releases, scientific and popular articles, and documentaries.
We fulfill our responsibilities towards the next generation of South Africa by educating young school pupils and students through our marine volunteer and internship programs, exposing them to species such as the White Shark, Cape fur seal, bottlenose, and humpback dolphins.
One of our primary goals is to ensure South Africa's white sharks conservation through novel research, innovative awareness approaches, and aimed conservation projects.
Latest research news
Written by on October 02, 2025
Follow the live tracks of the white sharks tagged by the Oceans Research Institute..
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Ever wondered why we actually film great whites with our GoPros? 🦈📹
It’s not just for epic social content — it’s a key part of our scientific methods!
How? By helping us determine each shark’s sex.
Out in the field, we can’t exactly ask a great white to roll over so we can check for claspers or a cloaca. So we get creative. Using a long metal pole with a GoPro attached, we safely film underneath the shark while keeping both our crew and the animal protected.
And why is this fundamental piece of information so important?
Knowing the sex helps us build a clearer picture of the population: whether an area is male- or female-dominated, how different sexes use habitats, and whether there are shifts in breeding or migration patterns.
It also strengthens our individual ID work — when we know a shark’s sex, we can match sightings more accurately and track individuals over time.
All from a single underwater glimpse. 📹✨
Dec 10
A very special visitor returned to our boat today! 🌊🤍
We re-sighted a humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) with a distinctive, wonky mouth — a feature that has made this individual stand out in the South African catalogue for over a decade. Using dorsal fin photo-ID, we confirmed it’s SA0089, an animal documented as far back as 2014.
These coastal dolphins are Near Threatened, and long-term re-sightings like this help researchers understand survival, site fidelity, and how individuals navigate life with unique injuries or deformities. Despite its unusual jaw shape, SA0089 continues to thrive, offering valuable insight into dolphin resilience.
Every encounter adds another chapter to its story and contributes to broader conservation efforts across our coastline.
Always a privilege to see you, SA0089. 🐬✨
#HumpbackDolphin #SA0089 #MarineScience #CetaceanResearch #PhotoID #OceansResearchInstitute #MosselBay #ConservationInAction #MarineBiology #FieldWork #DolphinDiscovery 🌊🐬
Dec 8
The best way to learn marine science? Experience it.
At Oceans Research Institute, our students gain real field skills — from vessel-based training to hands-on data collection — all guided by marine scientists in an active research environment.
Study with us and build the skills, confidence, and memories that shape your career. 🌊💡
#OceansResearchInstitute #MarineScience #Fieldwork #MarineBiology #StudentExperience #HandsOnLearning #MarineResearch #StudyAbroad #ExperientialLearning #OceanEducation #FutureScientists #STEMEducation #SouthAfrica #ResearchPrograms
Dec 6
Here at Oceans we LOVE sharks, but with our ethical fish biodiversity assessments we often bring up one of their neighbours instead. 🐟
We fish scientifically, not recreationally. Each catch helps us collect valuable data on local fish communities: species ID, size, condition, and presence across different habitats in Mossel Bay. This information helps us understand ecosystem health and the prey base available to the sharks we study.
Every fish is handled with care, measured quickly, and released safely — because responsible science always puts the ocean first. 💛🌊
#OceansResearchInstitute #MarineScience #Fieldwork #EcosystemMonitoring #SharkResearch #ConservationScience #StudentTraining #ResearchDiscoverConserve
Dec 4
This week, some of our @flindersuniversity students have the chance to discover the heart of South Africa at Scotia—guided by none other than Dr Enrico Gennari, whose passion brings every moment to life.
From breathtaking scenery to unforgettable cultural experiences, this journey has left a mark on all of us.
Here’s to learning beyond boundaries and memories that will last a lifetime. 🌍💛
Dec 2
Halfway through our programme with @flindersuniversity, and the learning curve has been as exciting as the fieldwork itself. From shark population assessments to intertidal surveys, drone training, night fishing, and even a few seal releases — these students have thrown themselves into every shift with energy and curiosity.
It’s inspiring watching them adapt to South African waters and see the realities of hands-on marine science unfold in real time. Here’s to an incredible second half of their placement with us.
#OceansResearchInstitute #FlindersUniversity #MarineScience #FieldResearch #StudentExperience #SouthAfrica #SharkScience #MarineBiology #HandsOnLearning 🌊🦈📚
Nov 30
Seems like this month is all about smoothhounds for our team! Even though we encounter them regularly in Mossel Bay, our @flindersuniversity students were shocked to learn that smoothhounds are exported to Australia and sold as “flake.”
It’s one thing to hear about it — and a completely different experience to handle the animal yourself, tag it with an ORI conventional tag, and release it back into its natural habitat.
A memorable moment that definitely sparked some big conversations on board.
#OceansResearchInstitute #FlindersUniversity #Smoothhound #SharkScience #TagAndRelease #MarineResearch #StudentFieldwork #SouthAfrica #SharkConservation 🦈🌊✨
Nov 28
There’s something undeniably magical about being out on the water after dark — and this week our students got to experience the science behind it with @saltlifemosselbay 🌙✨
Night fishing isn’t just a change in atmosphere; it reveals a completely different side of the ecosystem. Many species become more active after sunset, moving closer to the surface to feed or taking advantage of cooler temperatures and low light to hunt. Others rest or retreat, meaning the species you encounter at night can differ dramatically from what you see during the day.
By comparing day vs. night sampling, our students learned how diel patterns influence fish behaviour, movement, and catch rates — an important skill for understanding marine biodiversity and designing effective research methods. 🌊🎣
It’s hands-on science, a bit of adventure, and a reminder of how dynamic our oceans really are.
#MarineScience #NightSampling #Fieldwork #OceansResearch #FisheriesEcology #StudentResearch #HandsOnLearning #MarineBiology #ScienceEducation #SouthAfrica #LoveTheOcean
Nov 26
A moment of pure awe for our students — meeting one of the ocean’s most iconic animals just beneath the surface. There’s something powerful in seeing how quietly and gracefully a shark moves when it’s simply passing by. It’s a memory that stays with you and a reminder of the privilege of working in these waters. 🦈🌊✨
#OceansResearchInstitute #MarineScience #SharkResearch #Fieldwork #MarineBiology #StudentExperience #SouthAfrica #OceanConservation #GreatWhiteShark
Nov 24
Our first week with Flinders University has been nothing short of electric ⚡️
From sunrise intertidal studies to late-afternoon seal releases, this team powered through every single shift we run at Oceans Research Institute. Intertidal surveys, great white shark population assessments, bioacoustics, data entry — they threw themselves into all of it with the kind of enthusiasm that makes the whole place feel alive.
It’s been a week of learning, discovery, teamwork, and those magical moments that remind us why we do what we do. Having them here has brought an incredible energy to the field and the office alike.
Here’s to an unforgettable start — and we’re only just getting warmed up. 🤘🌊
#FlindersUniversity #OceansResearchInstitute #MarineScience #Fieldwork #StudentExperience #GreatWhiteSharks #SealRelease #ConservationInAction #SouthAfrica #MarineBiology #FieldCourse
Nov 21
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