These are the South African organisations working to protect our ocean and marine animals as well as the beaches and coastal spaces.
South Africa (07 June 2024) – 2024’s World Ocean Day – marked on 8 June – sees the launch of a new multi-year action theme: ‘Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean & Climate’. By growing the movement through transformative collaboration, the aim is to create not only a healthy earth but also a more just, equitable and sustainable society.
With South Africa’s coastline stretching more than 3,000 km from the border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast, southwards around the tip of Africa and then north to the border of Mozambique on the Indian Ocean, our country is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
CSIR research shows that sea levels are expected to be about 0.35 m – 1.0 m higher by 2100 and increased storm frequency and intensity will lead to flooding of low-lying coastal areas if no protective structures are in place. About 40% of South Africans live within 60 km of the coast and approximately 60% of the South African economy depends on coastal natural resources and trade infrastructure. These figures highlight the enormous importance of coastal environments and resources but also indicate the potential risk and vulnerability to which coastal populations and assets in South Africa are exposed.
The WWF in South Africa says that changes in ocean environments are forcing marine species to move out of their traditional habitats to more favourable areas as water temperature changes. Experiments have shown warmer and more acidic water disrupting fishes’ ability to find food, find a home, and preventing beneficial relationships with other creatures. The report shows that rising sea levels have been recorded all along South Africa’s coastline, but the good news is that everyone can help in the fight to save our oceans.
The report says:
“The most important thing you can do is to buy sustainable, SASSI green-listed fish. Sustainably managed fish stocks will cope better with the changing environment. Healthy stocks and sustainable fisheries governance means fishing has a reduced footprint on the ecosystem: this leads to more resilient ocean populations and habitats. Healthy stocks mean less fuel and other resources needed to harvest them. Other lifestyle behaviour changes to reduce your carbon footprint include auditing your consumption, which includes your clothing, means and frequency of travel, plastic use (made from fossil fuels), reducing food and other waste, buying locally and being energy smart. There is no Planet B, and this is our shared home. With climate change effects being seen and greater impacts looming, we can all be part of the solution if we take small yet meaningful actions now.”
Many dedicated organisations are working hard to protect our oceans and our marine life – and MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet customers can add some of them as Beneficiaries. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB)’s primary objective is to conserve seabirds, the African penguin being the flagship species of focus, and, upon identification thereof, other complementary marine species. SANCCOB works closely with colony managers to identify birds in need of care in the wild and bring them to one of their two seabird hospitals in South Africa: Cape Town and Gqeberha.
The Sea Search group is a collective of scientists and students with a strong academic background in the area of marine mammal science. Their primary focus is the production of peer-reviewed scientific research and student training and they provide specialist consultancy services and work with industry and government to promote conservation through effective management.
Sustainable Seas Trust (SST) is a science-based organisation working to protect Africa’s seas and communities for the benefit of all who live on the continent. They’re working towards uplifting and sustaining fellow African communities by fostering and providing solutions that will enable the blue economy. Through education, research and targeted action, as well as partnerships, they hope to curb the risk of marine pollution through integrating waste management principles into value chains.
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Each time they swipe their MySchool card or linked Woolworths card when they shop, having selected the organisations as Beneficiaries, Woolworths donates a portion of the sale proceeds to them.
“Rising sea and air temperatures are a massive threat to all of us,” explains Naeema Alexander, who looks after CSI Implementation at MySchool/Woolworths. “We’re proud to support organisations doing amazing work to save our seas, seals – and more!”
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