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MPA Day 2025: A Celebration of Connection, Community & Conservation in Knysna

Jessica Seath
| August 5, 2025
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| Educate

This year’s MPA Day theme — “Ocean connection needs human protection” — couldn’t have been more fitting for the Knysna Estuary. Although our estuary isn’t currently an MPA, it is a Mission Blue Hope Spot and home to an incredible variety of life, from juvenile fish nurseries to birdlife, seagrass beds, salt marshes, and more. It’s also deeply woven into the daily lives of people here — a place of food, fun, tradition, livelihoods, and learning. That’s why the Knysna Estuary Research Foundation (KERF) chose to celebrate MPA Day 2025 with a full weekend of free, public activities — designed to bring people closer to this special ecosystem, and each other. Walking the Estuary Edge We kicked things off with...

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PRESS RELEASE 

Jessica Seath
| July 31, 2025
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| Educate

For Immediate Attention 24 July 2025 Find Your Way Around South Africa’s MPAs With the Launch of the MPA Maps! In the build-up to the 5th annual Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Day on 1 August, easy-to-read maps of South Africa’s MPAs have been released to help anglers and the public navigate these precious ‘nature reserves of the sea’. This innovative idea was brought to life by Dr Bruce Mann and Dr Ryan Daly, both of whom work at the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban. “Despite recent interest in our MPAs – particularly as we build up to the celebration of MPA Day - many anglers, divers, skippers, and interested members of the public are still unsure of their exact locations...

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Tagged Fish Research Shows How Our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are Saving the Species

Jessica Seath
| June 21, 2025
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| Collaborate

With marine life in rapid decline, urgent action is needed to protect ocean creatures and their habitats to ensure a healthy ecosystem and ocean survival. The establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is one way that this can be achieved, with research of fish species showing notable improvement. In the build-up to MPA Day celebrations on 1 August, a passionate South African scientist has shared his findings that show the value of these ‘nature reserves of the sea’. “MPAs provide many benefits for both ocean health and human activities,” explained Dr Bruce Mann, a Research Associate with the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban. “One benefit is that they enable fish stocks to increase in abundance and biomass and, over time, these...

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Join the unified global call to save the ocean by supporting MPA Day this August 

Jessica Seath
| June 21, 2025
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| Collaborate, Conserve

“After living for nearly 100 years on this planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.” – Sir David Attenborough The ocean is the heart and lungs of the planet, supporting all life on Earth, but the health of the ocean is at risk. Across the world, scientists, governments, and citizens are calling for urgent intervention to limit unsustainable fishing practices, regulate the climate, and save the ocean. In South Africa, this global movement is supported by MPA Day on 1 August – a co-ordinated effort to support Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and save these ‘nature reserves of the sea’. “This year, we’ve noted a major increase in the global call for improved...

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How do you connect to the Knysna Estuary?

Jessica Seath
| June 13, 2025
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| Conserve

Creative Competition Call-Out How do you connect to the Knysna Estuary? Is it the stillness of the water at dawn? The rustle of saltmarsh reeds in the wind? The flash of silver as fish dart below the surface? Is it a source of food, a place of work, of worship, of childhood memory — or a lifeline passed down through generations? We want to feel that connection through your eyes, your hands, your words. We’re launching a Creative Competition to celebrate the Knysna Estuary — our home, our heritage, our Hope Spot. Whether you're an artist, photographer, or poet, we want to see, read, and experience how you connect to this incredible blue space. Our connection to nature shapes our...

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World Oceans Day: Why the Future of Fishing Starts in the Estuary

Jessica Seath
| June 7, 2025
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| Conserve, Educate

June 8 marks World Oceans Day – a time to celebrate the ocean’s beauty and commit to protecting its future. The 2025 theme, “Sustainable Fishing Means More,” reminds us that healthy fisheries start with healthy ecosystems. At the Knysna Estuary Research Foundation (KERF), we work within the Knysna Estuary—a vital nursery for coastal species like the endangered white steenbras. Estuaries like this are the starting point for many marine life cycles. When they thrive, so do our oceans. 🌊 Why Estuaries Matter for Fisheries Estuaries aren't just scenic—they are essential nursery grounds where juvenile fish grow before heading out to sea. For species like white steenbras, these areas are irreplaceable. Without them, fewer fish survive to adulthood, directly threatening our...

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Science in action: Knysna’s Living Classroom – Episode 1

Jessica Seath
| June 4, 2025
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| Research

What’s happening beneath the waters of the Knysna Estuary? 🦀🌊 In our first Tide Talks, we chat with Leanne, who’s uncovering some of the secrets of estuarine life — from crabs and mud to how it all connects in this dynamic ecosystem.This is the first in a new series where we bring you real science, straight from the field, featuring the researchers working in and around the Knysna Estuary.👉 Get to know the people behind the data, and discover why their work matters — for the estuary, for the community, and for the future. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKUVHwUtu9-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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Talk of the Town: Rabies in Cape Fur Seals

Gabriela Guberman
| November 11, 2024
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| Educate

The first talk in the Garden Route on rabies in Cape Fur Seals, was presented by Chanel Visser at the Knysna Yacht Club on Tuesday evening the 29th. South Africa (and Namibia) are making history with the first ever cases of rabies in ocean dwelling mammals. The talk by Senior Marine Field Ranger at Cape Nature and marine stranding expert answered countless pertinent questions on this outbreak. Raising awareness at talks like these about the vital steps that can be taken to protect oneself is a key aspect of her work. Rabies in Cape Fur Seals was first noticed four years ago when a few seals demonstrated unprovoked aggression. This virus, a wild strain possibly originating in Namibia, is endemic...

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