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Join our Field Research Training Course with Oceans Research Institute! 🌊
Our program offers aspiring scientists and conservationists the opportunity of a lifetime to work alongside leading marine biologists in Southern Africa, conducting groundbreaking research on the charismatic marine mega-fauna, including majestic great white sharks. Recognized by numerous international universities, our research training program provides intensive hands-on experience, earning participants up to an entire semester's worth of credits in just one month. Immerse yourself in first-hand practical experience in marine research and conservation, regardless of your background. Whether you're an enthusiastic marine biology student, a dedicated conservationist, or an educator passionate about marine life, this program is designed to meet your needs. Our shark-focused field course delves into long-term research projects such as population assessment and habitat use studies of various shark species. You'll also explore the bioacoustics of marine mammals and different approaches to biodiversity assessments. Gain invaluable research skills, from deploying BRUVs and drones to conducting ethical fishing for research purposes. Learn essential seamanship and crew skills aboard research vessels while understanding the importance of responsible fishing practices for tagging sharks. Your fee covers research expenses, dorm-style accommodation, meals, local transport, airport pickup/drop-off, and internet access. Participants gain valuable outputs beyond academics, including course credit, career development skills, and diving certification. Explore the safe and picturesque town of Mossel Bay, free from special vaccinations and malaria, while contributing to local schools' impactful conservation and awareness programs. Secure your spot today and embark on a transformative journey with Oceans Research Institute. 🦈📚 #marinebiology #fieldresearch #conservationeducation #oceansresearch by @oceansresearch

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3 years ago

Are you interested in working with great whites, marine mammals, and local fisheries while learning valuable field skills? We have internship spots available June, July, and August of this year. Email info@oceans-research.com for more information or apply through the link in our bio!
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#marineresearch #marinebiology #internship #marinebiointernship #sharks #sharkweek #research #savesharks #saveoceans #conservationn #education #discover #science #marinescience #protectoceans #marineecology #ocean
#whitesharks #whiteshark #southafrica #capetown #scientificslay #sharkies #sharkinternship taken in South Africa by @oceansresearch

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4 years ago

We set out in search of orcas that had been spotted earlier that day, but instead encountered another fascinating ocean giant just outside the Mossel Bay harbour entrance: the ocean sunfish (𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘢)! 🌊🐟

Also known as the mola mola, this remarkable fish is the heaviest bony fish in the world. Despite their rather unusual appearance, ocean sunfish are active divers, capable of descending hundreds of metres to forage for prey such as siphonophores and other gelatinous zooplankton. They often return to the surface after these deep dives, where they may warm up in the sun. ☀️

You never know what might be waiting just beyond the harbour entrance. Sometimes, the ocean has a different surprise in store! 💙

#molamola #oceansunfish #marinelife #southafrica #marinebiodiversity by @oceansresearch

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13 hours ago

☀️ Sunshine, salty air, and a little science!

No classroom is better than the coastline on a beautiful Mossel Bay day.

🌊Our students made the most of the sunshine during a recent tidal survey, exploring the intertidal zone, observing marine life, and collecting valuable field data.

From the smallest creatures hiding between the rocks to the bigger picture of our coastal ecosystems, there’s always something new to discover when the tide goes out! 🦀🔍

Just another day of learning in the field at Oceans Research

#marineresearch #marinebiology #fieldresearch #marinescience #oceanconservation by @oceansresearch

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2 days ago

🎧 Six months of data in, six more months of monitoring ahead.

Every six months, we head out to retrieve and replace the ATAP acoustic receivers that form part of the long-term acoustic telemetry network along our coastline.

For our new student @carlystarbs , alongside our students @lisa_bruel99 and Elzear, the day started with loading the equipment, heading down to the harbour, getting everything onto the boat and setting off towards Groot Brak.

Before heading offshore, Dr Enrico Gennari introduced the students to different animal tracking methods and explained the principles of telemetry. Once on site, the students learned to use the VEMCO VR100 to assist with locating and retrieving the receivers that had been deployed in January.

In total, we retrieved 13 receivers, which will now be returned to SAIAB for the data to be downloaded and analysed. These recordings can provide valuable information on the movements and habitat use of acoustically tagged marine animals along our coastline.

We then deployed 9 new receivers, carefully recording the location, receiver number, deployment depth and other relevant information for each station.

And just like that, another six months of listening begins. 🌊🎧

#acoustictelemetry #marineresearch #marinebiology #fieldwork #southafrica by @oceansresearch

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4 days ago

🎣 The knots behind the data.

Before an acoustic receiver can start recording the movements of marine animals, there is a fair amount of practical work that happens above the water.

As part of our collaboration with SAIAB’s Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP), our team helps with the preparation and deployment of acoustic receivers. ATAP forms a large-scale acoustic telemetry network along the southern African coastline, with more than 285 moored receivers currently spanning approximately 2,300 km from St Helena Bay to southern Mozambique. The receivers detect acoustically tagged animals as they move through the array, generating long-term data on movement, residency, site fidelity and migrations.

But first, everything needs to be securely rigged.

Railway sleepers are attached to the receiver and buoy to provide the necessary weight and anchoring system, and the connections have to be strong, reliable and correctly tied. Our skipper @skippy.gi took the opportunity to teach our students some of the knots used in marine fieldwork, including figure eight knots, bowlines and half hitches.

Knots might seem like a small detail, but when equipment is being deployed in the ocean, there is very little room for error. Knowing how to rig, secure and handle equipment safely is just as much a part of good marine fieldwork as collecting the data itself.

And once everything is tied, checked and ready to go, the receiver can do what it does best: listen. 🌊

#acoustictelemetry #marineresearch #marinescience #sharkresearch #marinebiology by @oceansresearch

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6 days ago

🐡 Can you guess what this is? 👀

We came across this unusual little find while out on Hartenbos Beach in Mossel Bay during one of our surveys.

It might look like a piece of shell at first, but this is actually part of a pufferfish’s dental structure!

Pufferfish have powerful, fused teeth that form a beak-like structure, allowing them to crush hard prey such as crabs, molluscs and other invertebrates. Their teeth are incredibly robust, which is why pieces like this can remain intact long after the rest of the animal is gone.

So… did you guess it? 🐡

📍 Hartenbos Beach, Mossel Bay

📸 SWNS

#oceanconversation #pufferfish #marinebiology #marineresearch #southafrica by @oceansresearch

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8 days ago

Beauty and reality along the coastline.

Our egg case surveys in Hartenbos often reveal much more than shark and skate egg cases. While working along the high tide line, we came across this tiny beetle perched on an egg case, making for a beautiful little fieldwork moment.

But the same stretch of beach also tells a different story. Mixed in with shells, seaweed and egg cases, we regularly encounter plastic and other marine debris washed up along the high tide line.

It is a striking contrast. So much beauty and life is concentrated along our coastline, but it also offers a visible reminder of the pressures these ecosystems face.

Our surveys help us document the chondrichthyan species using the Mossel Bay coastline, but spending time on the strandline also means seeing the bigger picture of the coastal environment we are working to understand and protect. 🌊🥚

#chondrichthyans #marineecology #coastalecology #marinedebris #plasticpollutionsolution by @oceansresearch

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9 days ago

Just as we were heading out of the harbour, our Station Manager, @oceangirl92 mentioned that the conditions looked perfect for humpback dolphins (𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘢). And almost in the same breath, she spotted one along the harbour entrance, followed shortly by another two further out.

We immediately collected photo identification images for @seasearchresearch ongoing humpback dolphin research, before continuing on our way to the chumming site.

But the surprises did not stop there. As we travelled along the coast towards Kleinbrak, we spotted another three humpback dolphins. We were able to follow them for around 40 minutes, getting some excellent photo ID images that will help researchers recognise and track individual animals over time.

Six humpback dolphins before we had even started our chumming shift! 🐬🌊

After such a beautiful start to the day, it was time to head offshore and get to work on our chumming survey. 💙

#marinemammals #marineresearch #marineconservation #oceanresearch #dolphin🐬 by @oceansresearch

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11 days ago

A gannet traffic jam at sea!

On our way out to the chumming site, we were joined by a whole flock of Cape gannets (𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) passing alongside the boat.

These striking seabirds are expert marine predators, using their incredible eyesight to spot fish from above before plunging into the water at high speed.

A pretty spectacular escort for the trip to our chumming location. 🌊💙

#capegannet #seabirds #marinelife #southafrica by @oceansresearch

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13 days ago

🐚 A little beach behaviour caught during our egg case survey

During our latest egg case collection, we came across a group of plough snails (𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴) moving across the sand.

These fascinating intertidal snails are highly adapted to life on sandy beaches. They use their large muscular foot to “plough” through the sediment, often moving rapidly across the surface. They are also scavengers, using their chemical senses to detect food carried in by the waves and quickly gathering around carrion.

They can even burrow back into the sand remarkably quickly when disturbed or as the tide changes.

Another little reminder that plenty is happening along the strandline beyond the egg cases we are there to collect. 🌊🐚

#oceansresearch #marineecology #coastalecology #mosselbaai #marinelife by @oceansresearch

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14 days ago

🎣 A pyjama catshark in the catch

A pyjama catshark (𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮) was among the catch during a recent sea fishing trip. 🦈

The name comes from its distinctive longitudinal dark stripes, which run along the body and make the shark look like it’s wearing old-fashioned striped pyjama pants. The pattern can vary between individuals, particularly with age and locality, but it makes this species one of the easiest catsharks to recognise.

𝘗. 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮 is endemic to South African waters and is a benthic species associated with rocky reefs, kelp beds and other coastal habitats. It is primarily nocturnal, spending much of the day resting in sheltered areas before becoming active at night.

After we brought it aboard, we briefly assessed this individual before safely releasing it back into the ocean.

Another small glimpse of the diverse shark community living along our coastline. 🌊

#oceansresearch #sharkresearch #marinebiology #marineecology #southafrica by @oceansresearch

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16 days ago