Sponsorship by the AVI Community Trust enables WCC to implement an enhanced Youth Environment Programme in three Gansbaai schools. They had the privilege of receiving Marine Week-related lessons at I&J’s farm at Danger Point. This is a restricted access area and not many people are fortunate enough to go there.
Gansbaai Primêr Grade 7s learnt about the WCC shark egg case project from Sheraine van Wyk, Eco-Learning Manager. They then had the opportunity to collect their own egg cases.
Under the guidance of WCC’s Shirley Volkwyn they also did a beach clean-up, analysed the debris and then profiled the litter at the protected Tiergat. Evidence of poaching activity was unfortunately top of the list of litter items collected.
The Marine Science students from Gansbaai Academia High School were privileged to join Deidre du Toit of I&J on a guided tour through the abalone farm. They were amazed by the complexity of the industry.
Gansbaai Laerskool hiked into the protected area to do a debris profile of another protected beach. They were astonished by the many discarded and broken abalone shells left behind by poachers. Also interesting was the abundance and behaviour of the many birds. They seemed much more at ease close to humans than in other places. There were also many more snakes.
Municipal intern, Sandiso Magaqa, impressed on the learners the importance of Marine Protected Areas.
An edutaining addition was the Jungle Theatre Whale Show, performed at both the Gansbaai primary schools.
We are grateful for the transport provided by I&J and Dyer Island Conservation Trust and to the Department of Environmental Affairs for food parcels for the high school learners who attended after school.