Youth spellbound by the diversity of life in our oceans

Better Understanding of Your Oceans - Protecting Life and Property! was the theme of this year's National Marine Week celebrations launched by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 7 October 2013.

SAEON's Elwandle Node and its host organisation, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) were invited to showcase their coastal research projects in a combined exhibition at the launch function held at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. They were also given the opportunity to invite the schools in their education outreach programme to attend the launch.

Youngsters from the Wendy House Play School are introduced to a variety of fascinating coastal creatures The kids take a closer look at the baby sharks on display

According to Nozipiwo Hambaze, Education Officer of the SAEON Elwandle Node, the SAEON/SAIAB exhibit attracted considerable interest. "Learners were mostly drawn to the stand by the fascinating underwater videos we screened," she said.

SAEON/ SAIAB interns Mncedi Magade and Bomikazi Tshingana also attended the launch. Mncedi said he enjoyed working with the learners from the different schools. "What made the experience so worthwhile is that we were mostly engaging with young people, which meant that we had to be creative in the way we presented our exhibition material. I enjoyed working with these young minds," he added.

SAEON and SAIAB joined DEA representatives at Nombulelo High School in Grahamstown where they gave a thought-provoking educational presentation focusing on our oceans and water conservation. During the exciting question-and-answer session learners who answered the questions correctly each received a special gift.

Not forgetting the little ones

To end Marine Month on a high note, staff members from SAEON and SAIAB visited the Wendy House Play School with a variety of preserved fish specimens, ranging from pipe fish and moray eels to juvenile sharks and rays. The toddlers enjoyed viewing and touching these amazing creatures, even though there were a few who had mixed reactions to the creatures on display.

The aim of this visit was to ensure that these pre-school youngsters were left with a better understanding of the marine environment and its variety of life forms, as well as the role that each of us can play in the preservation of our oceans.

Nozi Hambaze, Education Officer at the SAEON Elwandle Node, tells the learners at the National Marine Week exhibition more about the coastal research projects conducted at SAEON's Algoa Bay Sentinel Site