The 18 September 2020 was National Recycling Day. Thank you to Business Day for the two articles which appeared in their 18 September 2020 edition.
We believe that every day should be Recycling Day and we invite members of our communities to pick up and dispose of at least one piece of litter every day.
David Curran and Stuart Clarkson were recently invited to participate in a SANOCEAN virtual workshop convened by the SANOCEAN project team to share challenges and enablers for the future management of our estuaries. SANOCEAN is a bilateral research cooperation...
To all the users of Kariega and Boesmans Estuaries, whether local, visitors and/or holiday makers. By adhering to the rules around safety and etiquette you are helping us help you. Safety – South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)CertificatesEach and every...
In preparation for the December holiday season and expected influx of boat users, Kevin Riddin, Ken Rogers and Dave Curran recently ‘refreshed’ channel marker signs in both estuaries.
These photos were taken after collecting plastic from only three building sites in a small area of Kenton over two weeks. It appears that plastic from building sites does not get recycled. It is simply disposed of with builders’ rubble only to blow away and end...
In 2020 alone, 1.6 billion disposable masks entered the ocean. This is equivalent to 7% of the size of the Great Garbage Plastic Patch and may take over 450 years to biodegrade. At this rate, there risks being more masks than jellyfish in the ocean. COVID-19 has...
The Estuary Care Committee would like to send out a plea to all recipients of the newsletter to pay their annual subscription fees and to also encourage all other people they know who enjoy the Kariega and Boesmans Estuaries to join and pay their annual fee. The...
We found a badly damaged concrete and wooden bench at the Kariega Estuary car park.
Dr Louw Claassens, formerly from the Knysna Basin Project has relocated to Palau and is now a Researcher/Science Officer for the Palau International Coral Reef Center.
As our plastic problem grows, we turn to simple solutions to make a difference.
We begin the June 2021 newsletter with an important update from our Chairman, Stuart Clarkson. Dear Estuary Care Members and Friends In our last newsletter I reported on our ongoing efforts to secure a sustainable and low risk solution to the ongoing accretion of...
Congratulations to everyone involved in ensuring that Algoa Bay in South Africa is declared a prestigious Whale Heritage Site Lloyd Edwards, owner of Raggy Charters said ‘becoming a Whale Heritage Site will ensure that visitors to the Algoa Bay marine area are...
Our September 2018 Estuary Care Newsletter featured an article on Lewis Pugh. He had completed what he called The Long Swim which was from Land’s End in Cornwall to Dover in Kent to raise awareness about the health of the worlds oceans. Read it hereA recent...
Dave Curran (top), with the help of Don Thomson (bottom) repaired and replaced a number of channel markers in the Kariega Estuary earlier this year.They also replaced the rock marker, which Dave had made, in the Kariega Estuary.Dave and his team install rocks...
Boesmans Estuary Courtesy of Rob BoydGiant Kingfisher photographed at Boesmans Estuary Courtesy Ted MossGiant Kingfisher photographed at Boesmans Estuary Courtesy Ted MossMiddle Beach low tide Courtesy Colin Milliken Middle Beach low tide Courtesy Colin...
In view of the Covid crisis this past year the committee has decided to cancel the AGM and in lieu of this the following will take place
In January Dave Curran with the help of Don Thompson and their team set out to replace various channel markers in both estuaries. Dave also made a replacement rock marker which was installed in the Kariega...
As was reported in the previous newsletter the Kariega Slipway Jetty broke loose in a storm and was retrieved by an Estuary Care team. After a covid interrupted process Chester Wilmot, Nick Albrightson and Dennis Dallas completed an extensive repair and...
A huge ball of plastic was found above the high tide mark between Middle and Main Beaches. It probably washed ashore but we were determined it would not be washed back into the sea. Our Chairman Stuart came to the rescue and removed...
Over the years Estuary Care has assisted members of the public with the purchase and placement of benches in memory of loved people (or pets!) or simply as a replacement for an existing municipal bench which has become worn or broken down. The procedure to be...
An article by Nina de Villiers Nina is part of Dr Louw Claassens’ team researching the status of the Estuarine Pipefish in the Boesmans and Kariega Estuaries. She has written a fascinating article on Seagrass: essential underwater meadows. and the importance of...
The Estuary Care Committee would like to send out a plea to all recipients of the newsletter to pay their annual subscription fees and to also encourage all other people they know who enjoy the Kariega and Boesmans Estuaries to join and pay their annual fee.
Dave Curren tells us that on the morning of the 5th October an Estuary Care channel marking crew...
In November an Estuary Care team worked over a number of days to repair the Marina Jetty.
This is work in progress and the team is hoping to reinstall it in early December.
What should you do if you find a penguin/seabird/seal/turtle in distress on the beach? Thank you to the NRSI for allowing us to link to their newsletter.
This very neat hole in the sand was found near the Boesmans slipway. The surrounding area was covered with small, very neat uniform balls of sand which look like pebbles.
We end our December newsletter every year with a reminder that we share this space. This holiday season will be particularly challenging. However Coastal Kindness, which is a group of local residents who came together in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, has...
In late June and July hippo tracks were found on Kenton Main Beach. Below: These photos were taken by Mel Arnott on 29 June. It’s not known where it came from or where it went but tracks were once again spotted by Nina Beaufort on 27 July (images...
Dave Curran says: ‘In late August a westerly wind driven storm resulted in a strong surge tide in the Kariega Estuary with a consequence being that the slipway jetty broke clean off its mountings. The jetty was found beached on the inland side of the road bridge....
Mr Willem Nel, the Ndlambe Environmental Law Officer has asked us to share the following information. All queries should be directed to Mr Nel. Boat licenses are due and have been since the 1st July 2020 for the new financial year 2020-2021. The licenses are...
What a beautiful way to share our little spot of paradise
Dr Louw Claassens and her team came back to Kenton in March 2020 (before lockdown) for a follow up visit on their research into estuarine pipefish found in the Kenton and Boesmans Estuaries. Louw sent the following report. Conserving the Critically Endangered...
Ted Gilfillan, with his wife Rem by his side, has steered the Boesmans Kariega Estuary Care Management Forum (Estuary Care) for many years. He is stepping down as chairman and we are very pleased that he remains on the Committee as Treasurer. Ted was a dedicated...
Our new Chairman is Stuart Clarkson. Stuart comes to us from a background in business. He is passionate about the environment and the well-being of our estuaries and strip of coastline. Stuart grew up in Johannesburg and attended King Edward VII School before going...
Our AGM on the 30 December 2019 was well attended. We were privileged to listen to a riveting presentation, which included superb slides, on Conserving the Critically Endangered Pipefish by Dr Louw Claassens, Programme Director of the Knysna Basin Project. Visit...
Exploring our Estuaries: a book for residents and visitors toKenton on Sea & Boesmansriviermond..The launch of the ‘Estuaries Book’ on 16 December 2019 was a happy occasion and a great success. In fact, it appears that many people thought the book would make...
Dave Curran continues to coordinate the team of volunteers who transport members of the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF) on inspection trips up both estuaries. Thank you to Andile Maki of the Department for arranging that Certificates of...
Exploring our Estuaries: a book for residents and visitors to Kenton on Sea & Boesmansriviermond. This is the cover of our book about the Kariega and Boesmans estuaries. Please join us for the launch of the book at the House Planner on Monday 16th December 2019...
You might recall that Marcella Marinelli’s plaque above Shelly Bay was relocated last year. As a follow up our Chairman, Ted Gilfillan who is a committee member of the Bushman’s Kariega Trust (BKT) reports that: ‘The committee of the Bushman’s Kariega Trust first...
Due to a gale force westerly wind which coincided with the high spring tide on 30th October, Kenton and Boesmans experienced exceptionally high seas and storm surges.Thank you Lydia Palmer for the above videos The seawalls along Middle Beach were severely damaged...
Dave Curran continues to coordinate the team of volunteers who transport members of the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF) on inspection trips up both estuaries. Unfortunately, DEFF wardens are not available during December because of other...
It is the time of year again when Kenton and Boesmans fill up with visitors and both estuaries are put to maximum use. Please be aware of and abide by the rules for using a boat on the estuaries. Make sure you have the relevant licenses and are aware of the...
There is endless, often heated debate about dog faeces on the beach and in and around our estuaries. We hear ‘leave it, its biodegradable’, ’just bury it’, ‘throw it into the sea or estuary….’. Then there’s the debate on whether it should be covered in sand and...
Annabé Pretorius of Plastix 911 says; The easiest is to look at the environmental message on the bag – the environmental claim. If they are genuinely biodegradable, it will have reference to any of the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) or EU...
David Curran and Stuart Clarkson were recently invited to participate in a SANOCEAN virtual workshop convened by the SANOCEAN project team to share challenges and enablers for the future management of our estuaries. SANOCEAN is a bilateral research cooperation...
To all the users of Kariega and Boesmans Estuaries, whether local, visitors and/or holiday makers. By adhering to the rules around safety and etiquette you are helping us help you. Safety – South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)CertificatesEach and every...
In preparation for the December holiday season and expected influx of boat users, Kevin Riddin, Ken Rogers and Dave Curran recently ‘refreshed’ channel marker signs in both estuaries.
