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Projects

Work the interns run themselves

Every intern takes on an independent project. The work below is live at Aliwal Shoal and in the schools and communities around Umkomaas.

01 · Current projects

Filter by focus

  • An intern holding a petition to end lethal shark nets and drumlines on the South Coast
    Research

    Sharks and the impact of shark nets and drumlines

    Intern-led research into bycatch from bather-protection gear along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The work documents what the nets and drumlines catch and what that means for shark populations at Aliwal Shoal.

  • A researcher freediving to photograph an oceanic manta ray for identification
    Research

    Manta ray photo identification

    Interns catalogue individual reef manta rays and oceanic manta rays for the national dataset. Each animal is identified by its unique belly spot pattern. 27 unique individuals added so far.

  • Interns in snorkel gear entering the water for a Green Point survey
    Monitoring

    Green Point Inshore Restricted Zone surveys

    Baseline biodiversity monitoring inside the restricted zone. Interns record species presence and habitat condition to support Marine Protected Area management.

  • Interns and school learners holding marine conservation storybooks after a lesson
    Education

    Conservation education for local schools

    Interns design and deliver their own lessons on the Aliwal Shoal, its species and its protection. Five schools have hosted the lessons so far.

  • Two snorkellers at the surface off the KwaZulu-Natal coast
    Outreach

    Snorkelling experiences for youth organisations

    First reef trips for local children, run with youth organisations around Umkomaas. For most participants it is the first time they see the shoal from the water.

  • An intern presenting to a seated audience under the Ocean Festival gazebo
    Outreach

    Ocean Festival and World Ocean Day outreach

    Public conservation awareness events where interns present their research and speak about the Marine Protected Area to their own communities.

  • Interns in wetsuits on the beach after a survey dive
    Monitoring

    Citizen science data collection

    Species-identification surveys on every dive, feeding a growing dataset that informs Marine Protected Area management decisions.

  • Aliwal TV episode title card about a cleaning station on Aliwal Shoal
    Media

    Aliwal TV

    An educational video series for YouTube, developed and produced by interns.

    Watch on YouTube
  • A reef manta ray swimming in the open water at Aliwal Shoal
    Research

    Shark, ray, turtle and wedgefish data consolidation

    Compiling existing datasets for submission to scientific databases, with interns trained to input and analyse data.

  • Devil Ray Conservation Dive poster for Aliwal Shoal
    Community

    Devil ray ecotourism initiative

    Interns are restarting an ecotourism project that had stalled while it depended on one person.

  • Participants sorting river invertebrate samples during a river monitoring workshop
    Monitoring

    River systems monitoring

    Freshwater systems feed the coastal environment. Interns trained in river monitoring and applied it at a workshop with Dr Mark Graham.

  • An intern addressing a school hall packed with learners raising their hands
    Education

    Environmental education programme

    Co-designed by a group of interns, with initial meetings held with 10 local schools.

Reef habitat at Aliwal Shoal

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