Marine Month 2020 - creating opportunities for young people through conservation
International Marine Month is celebrated every October worldwide. In South Africa, the month is used to create awareness of our marine and coastal environment and the benefits that our oceans bring to our nation. This year’s theme, “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”, encourages a fresh approach to the conservation of this important resource. The Hermanus Internship Programme is an innovative project that not only creates practical learning opportunities for youth, but ensures that our marine resources are better protected.
In 2015, CapeNature and partners embarked on a career-based job creation concept. As part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Marine Working Group, specific marine-oriented careers were identified and creative study opportunities were sourced or developed to focus on these. In many instances, study opportunities for the young people living in the Overstrand Municipality are limited to tertiary institutions “on the other side of the mountains” with the associated prohibitive costs.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) has moved towards providing modular courses and specifically developed off-campus lecture options. The NMU Centre for Law developed the FISHFORCE short learning course which is accredited and thus contributes credits towards a Diploma. This was identified as an opportunity to provide a platform for local youth to enter the field of compliance monitoring, enforcement and conservation. The added incentive was that the lectures could be provided where the students are located.
As plans were being developed to create this opportunity, the Hermanus Varsity Trust (HVT) came into being with very similar goals, e.g. bringing accredited education opportunities to the youth in the Overstrand Municipality. The HVT was launched in March 2019 and the FISHFORCE course in partnership with NMU and CapeNature was one of the short courses offered. According to Pierre de Villiers, Senior Manager: Marine and Coasts Operations, “While the course has a legal and enforcement orientated background, the work integrated learning opportunities in partnership with CapeNature provides the learner with practical coastal ecosystem monitoring experience. The package will not only prepare the learner for further studies in the field, but will also provide the learner with practical experience in the field of conservation.”
The first FISHFORCE course was offered by HVT in 2020 and 31 students were enrolled. “It has been wonderful to witness how the students have improved academically and grown in confidence”, says Dr Kirsten Neke, Programme Coordinator: Environment at the Hermanus Varsity Trust.
After the students completed the five short-term learning modules, a field learning programme was developed, where the coastal range from Vermont to De Kelders (Walker Bay) was divided into sectors to accommodate five teams from five communities. CapeNature staff provided in-field mentorship and guided the students on how to complete record observations and species and locality identification. Students also learned how prevalent species contribute to and sustain diverse and healthy eco-systems. Zuziphiwe Jonase (27), one of the students shared his excitement, “The internship is great and I enjoy everything about it. I have learnt so many things ranging from birds to fish, even their names. I am getting to know nature and how important it is in our lives.”
Dr Razeena Omar, CEO of CapeNature says, “The entity believes in innovative partnerships that provide for job creation opportunities for the youth and thus provide them with a sense of dignity. Projects such as this one shows our commitment to youth development and is a highlight of our Marine month celebrations, this year.”
Persons that are interested in Marine Law Enforcement and would like to enquire about this programme can email kirsten@hermanusvarsity.co.za for more information.
Related News
Boost for freshwater biodiversity as Wilderness Nature Reserve declared
A new nature reserve has been declared in the Western Cape, marking another significant milestone for the province’s environment. The Wilderness Nature Reserve, spanning over 643 hectares, has been declared a Provincial Nature Reserve in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003).
Rocherpan clean-up kicks off MPA Day 2025 celebrations
CapeNature kicked off Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day celebrations with a community-driven beach clean-up at Rocherpan Nature Reserve on 31 July 2025. With school learners, volunteers, and the ever-popular Cubs Club mascot, Kai, lending a hand, all to highlight the link between marine and ocean protection and a public responsibility for conservation.
Winning hearts and minds through Marine Protected Areas
Our marine areas are teeming with life and a variety of protection measures are used to protect the ocean, such as precautionary fishery management principles (bag limits, size limits, catch limits and closed seasons) and shipping and pollution regulations. But at the heart of the protection efforts, are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are demarcated areas to conserve this incredible biodiversity. MPAs can form critical refugia for some more resident species, which may become extinct without protection. All species and ecosystems form part of the overall functioning marine ecosystem and its ability to sustain direct and indirect use. The need to conserve MPAs is based on scientific evidence as well as frequent public engagement and participation in active protection of these areas.
New nature reserve secures rare Cape Vernal Pools habitat
The Franco Three Fountains Nature Reserve is declared a protected area, marking a significant conservation turning point as the first and only reserve dedicated to safeguarding the rare and ecologically important Cape Vernal Pools (a rare and endangered type of seasonal wetland ecosystem found within the Greater Cape Floristic Region). This unique vegetation type, previously unrepresented across our conservation areas, now finds its largest protected expanse within the boundaries of this reserve.
Biodiversity crime often overlooked but its impact is devastating
Biodiversity crime is a growing and often overlooked threat that directly harms South Africa’s unique ecosystems. From the illegal plant trade in the Western Cape to poaching and even picking wildflowers in protected areas without a permit, these acts all contribute to the degradation of biodiversity and the loss of crucial natural resources.
New EPWP intake launches careers in conservation and eco-tourism in the Western Cape
CapeNature has welcomed 475 new participants into a three-year Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) cycle, emphasising its commitment to skills development, conservation, and community upliftment across the province.
A small cohort of these participants, based at Kogelberg and Stony Point Nature Reserves, were officially welcomed at an event hosted at Kogelberg and led by Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell.
How can I assist you today?
How can I assist you today?