2024 recap: Fabulously fishy moments from the Two Oceans Aquarium
2024 was a wonderfully jam-packed year for the Two Oceans Aquarium and its Foundation - from our biggest Waddle yet to being named co-champion of the Mission Blue Hope Spot in False Bay. We are excited to see what the next year brings but first, let's look back on 2024...
We waddled for the endangered African penguin
On International African Penguin Awareness Day, hundreds of waddlers joined together in support of the critically endangered African penguin. Our Two Oceans Aquarium community waddled from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town with CapeRADD, SANCCOB, and I AM WATER to raise awareness in support of the #NotOnOurWatch campaign. Along with our collective community of waddlers, we aimed to give a voice to this charismatic seabird and inspire collective action for their preservation and protection.
The Aquarium released four spotted gully sharks
In August, our Two Oceans Aquarium collections team released four spotted gully sharks back into their ocean home at Mgwalana in the Eastern Cape! Housed in our Kelp Forest Exhibit for several years, the spotted gully sharks had outgrown the space and were ready for release. All four were tagged with acoustic and spaghetti tags, which will help us track their movements along the coastline and learn more about this fascinating species.
Our Turtle Conservation Centre rehabilitated and released over 600 turtle hatchlings
In April 2024, the Western Cape was hit with intense storms and driving rains that caused over 600 turtle hatchlings to strand along our coastline. With our Turtle Conservation Centre's previous hatchling stranding record of 250, it's fair to say that this record was shattered! Cold, weak, and emaciated, our turtle team needed all hands on deck to care for these little patients as wave after wave of hatchlings were rescued. As the turtles' health improved, they were released back into their ocean home in batches throughout the year, with the last cohort being released in December. What an amazing story of teamwork and compassion!
The Aquarium became co-champions of the False Bay Hope Spot
In February, world-renowned marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle welcomed the Two Oceans Aquarium and our Foundation to the Mission Blue family as co-champion of the False Bay Hope Spot with CapeRADD! The False Bay Hope Spot provides a valuable opportunity to unite all the many organisations and communities working in the False Bay marine environment. Each organisation and individual is doing amazing work in research, outreach, community engagement, storytelling, education, protection, and tourism – we are excited to see how much more we can achieve together.
We hosted our biggest Trash Bash ever
In March, the Two Oceans Aquarium Trash Bash team collaborated with FNB and Cape Town Beach Cleanup to host our biggest beach cleanup yet! With sunny skies and a fantastic community spirit, roughly 700 members of the public helped us clean up Kite Beach in Table View. An impressive 229 kilograms of beach pollution was collected, making a significant contribution to a cleaner coastline. The morning was a great example of environmental responsibility and community action, leaving participants with a sense of accomplishment and a renewed appreciation of Cape Town's beautiful coastline.
We launched our Ocean Campus
On World Teachers’ Day, 5 October 2024, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation launched its new Ocean Campus! The launch included a jam-packed day of activities, including free access to the Aquarium and a behind-the-scenes tour for over 400 teachers, a Marine Sciences career exhibition, and an exciting Blue Tie event in the evening. Given the multiple threats facing the ocean and the importance of protecting its health, the Foundation’s Ocean Campus launch has come at a critical time to oversee the expansion of its educational work across the country and the continent.
Our Marine Wildlife Management team coordinated a huge sunfish rescue
In January, our Foundation's Marine Wildlife Management team coordinated the rescue of an over 600kg sunfish that had been trapped in the flooded Transnet Robinson Dry Dock. Our Marine Wildlife team worked with other members of the Aquarium staff, as well as Transnet and Teeman Cranes, to guide the sunfish onto a stretcher and lift it to safety with a crane. The sunfish was then released into the waters of harbour waters, where the team watched it swim off to the open ocean. This was an incredible team effort from all sides.
Marine Protected Areas Day was our biggest yet
Thousands across the globe joined in celebrating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Day on 1 August and into the weekend. From South Africa to Sweden and beyond, these ‘nature reserves of the sea’ were celebrated with more than 30 organised activities. These activities ranged from dives, clean-ups, and lessons to webinars, virtual tours, and presentations - thousands of people had the opportunity to explore, enjoy, and most importantly, learn about protecting the ocean. By raising awareness and growing the MPA Day community, we are building support for these incredible islands of hope.
Our Turtle Conservation Centre released six subadult turtles into their ocean home
The Turtle Conservation Centre had incredible success with subadult turtle rehabilitation in 2024 - the team released six subadult turtles of three different species into the ocean. First up were green turtles Bokkie and Luna, who were released into the warm waters of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in October. In December, Solé and Plum (green turtles), iKhwezi (loggerhead turtle), and Harley (hawksbill turtle) were released along the shores of the De Hoop Marine Protected Area. Five of the six turtles were fitted with acoustic tags and Bokkie with a satellite tag - these will enable us to track their movements as they explore the ocean.
Well, that's a wrap on 2024! The Two Oceans Aquarium is so grateful for our wonderful Aquarium family—thank you to everyone who explored our underwater world this year, adopted a turtle, enjoyed a Penguin Experience, reported sightings of injured animals in the harbour, watched our daily feeding times, or joined one of our beach cleanups. We are so excited to see what 2025 has to offer - sea you next year!
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