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 Maria Geoly on March 31, 2026
A brief overview of how marine life is affected by plastic pollution...
Connect with Oceans Research
At the Oceans Research Institute, we develop practical skills in responsible fishing techniques used for research 🎣🌊
This includes learning how to correctly tie hooks and sinkers, and how to prepare and deploy bait effectively.
A strong emphasis is placed on ethical handling practices. We modify hooks by flattening the barbs to reduce injury and facilitate safer release 🐟 We also prioritise the use of circle hooks over traditional J-hooks, as they are more likely to hook fish in the mouth rather than being swallowed, significantly reducing internal injury and post-release mortality.
These techniques are essential for conducting fish biodiversity assessments while minimising harm and ensuring the integrity of the data collected 📊✨
#MarineResearch #CatchAndRelease #OceanConservation #EthicalFishing
Apr 11
After being landlocked all week, it felt incredible to finally get back on the water doing what we do best 🌊
Today we were visited by two Great white sharks around the boat 🦈 While sightings are still below what we would historically expect, every encounter is meaningful and reminds us just how important these animals are to the health of our oceans.
Each shark sighting adds to our understanding of their presence in the area and reinforces why protecting this species remains so critical. Some days it’s not about big numbers—it’s about recognizing the value of every individual we still get to see 💙
Apr 9
Big swells this week mean no launches for now.
It might feel like a pause for us, but for the ocean this is all part of the process that keeps things functioning.
Wave energy is mixing the water column, redistributing nutrients, and reshaping nearshore habitats—often increasing turbidity and influencing where prey and predators move.
So while we’re stuck on land, the system is anything but still.
We’ll wait it out… eyes on the horizon for dolphins 🌊
Apr 7
Your home above the bay. 🌅🌊
Welcome to Twin Palms, where your Oceans Research journey begins. Perched on The Hill at 74 Montagu Street, this historic sandstone house has overlooked Mossel Bay since 1902—but today, it’s filled with something new: curious minds, early morning coffees, and future marine professionals.
Those iconic palms? They’ve guided people home for over a century. Now, they’ll guide you too.
From sunrise views before fieldwork to evenings spent sharing data, stories, and laughs—this is more than just where you stay. It’s where you grow, connect, and become part of something bigger than yourself.
We can’t wait to welcome you. 🦈✨
#OceansResearch #FutureMarineBiologists #StudentLife #TwinPalms #MosselBay
Apr 5
Fieldwork isn’t always perfectly framed—it’s often a mosaic of movement, teamwork, and controlled chaos 🌊
Somewhere in here: data collection, species identification, and at least one person trying not to slip on a rock.
Between shifting tides, unpredictable weather, and constantly moving organisms, no two sampling events ever look the same—and that variability is exactly what makes this work meaningful. Real research happens in these in-between moments, where observation, adaptability, and consistency are just as important as the data itself.
Apr 3
Tiny, striking, and surprisingly powerful — this is the blue dragon, Glaucus atlanticus 🌊🐉
During a shoreline exploration in Infanta, our students encountered this pelagic nudibranch after it was washed ashore. Unlike most sea slugs that live on the seafloor, Glaucus atlanticus spends its life drifting at the ocean’s surface, floating upside down and travelling with wind-driven currents.
This species is a specialised predator that feeds on venomous pleustonic animals such as the Portuguese man o’ war. It is able to ingest and store their unfired stinging cells (nematocysts) in structures at the tips of its cerata — a process known as kleptocnidae. These retained nematocysts remain functional, allowing the blue dragon to deliver a defensive sting if handled.
Mass strandings of blue dragons along the South African south coast are typically associated with strong onshore winds and surface current shifts that push entire neustonic communities toward the shoreline.
Although small and delicate in appearance, these animals should never be touched, as their sting can be painful and medically significant.
Apr 1
This week, our students get to experience a place that is incredibly close to our hearts — Infanta.
Tucked between the Breede River, the Indian Ocean, and rolling fynbos hills, Infanta holds a quiet kind of magic. It’s a place where wildlife, coastline, and community come together in a way that feels untouched and deeply connected to nature — one of those rare corners of South Africa that stays with you long after you leave.
While the weekend gave our students time to explore, settle in, and take in their surroundings, they’re not just here on holiday. Over the next two days, they’ll be stepping into full shifts, exploring this newly unlocked location, and experiencing a completely different coastal system from what they may be used to.
We’ll be sharing moments from their time here — from the scenery and shoreline explorations to the discoveries they make along the way. Stay tuned to see this special place through their eyes. 🌊📍🐚
Mar 30
This week, the Oceans Research Institute had the privilege of supporting one of our former students, @pierveller , during a workshop with learners from Erika Primary School — a full-circle moment that meant a lot to our team.
The workshop centred around the concept of Ubuntu — “I am because we are.” Learners explored how this idea of connection and shared responsibility extends beyond people to the natural world, showing that when we respect and care for nature, it in turn supports and sustains us.
The day began with a lively warm-up before heading out on a slow, mindful hike along the coast, taking time to appreciate nature in its fullest. It wrapped up with a fun intertidal scavenger hunt in the rock pools, where curiosity and teamwork took over as learners discovered the incredible life hidden between the tides. 🌊🐚
Mar 28
🍩🦈 The Shark Doughnut: Pyjama & Leopard Sharks’ Secret Move
When danger approaches, some pyjama sharks and leopard sharks don’t swim away—they curl up into a tight circle, tail to head, forming the ultimate shark doughnut.
This posture:
Protects their head and vital organs
Makes them harder for predators to swallow
Lets them blend into crevices and the reef
Nature’s way of saying: “Not today, predator.” 😎
#MarineLife #SharkDefence #PyjamaShark #LeopardShark #SharkDoughnut OceanSecrets
Mar 26
We’re proud to share that research led by our director, Dr. Enrico Gennari, has been included in the White Sharks Global: Proceedings and Recent Advances in White Shark Ecology and Conservation, a special collection in Wildlife Research following the 2023 White Sharks Global Symposium in Port Lincoln, Australia.
This international symposium brought together experts from across the globe to present new findings on white shark ecology, movement patterns, and conservation challenges. The resulting peer-reviewed collection now serves as a consolidated reference for the latest scientific advances on this iconic apex predator.
Oceans Research has been involved in long-term field studies on white sharks for over a decade, and it is rewarding to see this work contributing to the growing global body of knowledge supporting their conservation.
Read the collection here:
https://connectsci.au/wr/collection/423/White-Sharks-Global-proceedings-and-recent
Mar 24
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