Research

South African waters host five turtle species, all sadly listed on the IUCN Red List. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest on the northern KwaZulu-Natal coast, while Olive Ridley, green, and hawksbill turtles visit our coastal waters. The Turtle Conservation Centre, part of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, actively rescues, rehabilitates, and releases stranded turtles. The team collects crucial data on size, diagnostics, feeding, treatment, plastic ingestion, and post-release movement, contributing to post-graduate studies and publications.

Collaborating with SAIAB's Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP), our team acoustically tags turtles, advancing research on the coastal movements of juvenile green and hawksbill turtles. We collaborate with national and international rehabilitation facilities, contributing to the global knowledge base for turtle conservation.

The Two Oceans Aquarium showcases 12 of the 160 sharks and rays in southern African waters. Collaborating with academic institutes, especially on elasmobranch projects involving exhibited species, is ongoing. In a joint effort, the Two Oceans Aquarium and Foundation, Shark Spotters, and the SAIAB’s Acoustic Tracking Array Platform are addressing knowledge gaps for priority species. Results directly impact spatial management of vulnerable chondrichthyans in False Bay, informing Marine Protected Area effectiveness and understanding anthropogenic overlap.

The Two Oceans Aquarium has undertaken the rescue, exhibition, and release of numerous sunfishes found trapped in the V&A Waterfront basins. In 2004, the Aquarium collaborated with National Geographic researcher Dr Tierney Thys to capture, handle safely, and satellite tag four sunfishes.

Our commitment to sunfish research aims to enhance knowledge and contribute to their conservation. Teaming up with the University of Cape Town, an ongoing project focuses on determining species diversity and distribution along the southern African coast. This initiative involves biological data collection, fostering awareness of these iconic animals through citizen science and communication, and ultimately contributing to improved management of various sunfish species.

The V&A Waterfront is an incredible area where recreational, industrial, and residential use overlap with marine wildlife. The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation's Marine Wildlife Management Programme leads wildlife management in this Blue Flag Harbour, promoting harmonious human-wildlife coexistence. Foot patrols by wildlife monitors collect daily data on the presence and movements of various species of marine wildlife, with a focus on Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus), Cape clawless otters (Aonyx capensis), and different species of seabirds.

Ongoing projects include collaboration with the Department of Fisheries Forestry and the Environment on seal disentanglement. Regular rooftop checks ensure the safety of seabirds and chicks in the precinct. Initiatives also include recent research on the local Cape clawless otter community. The team’s monitoring and rescue efforts valuable data used for welfare and plastic pollution research.

The Two Oceans Aquarium features two species of penguins: the endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) and the northern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi). The rockhopper penguins, native to the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, were rehabilitated by SANCCOB after being stranded on the southern Cape beaches before being donated to the Aquarium. Due to disease transmission risks, they cannot be released into the wild.

Collaborating with the Animal Science laboratory at the University of the Western Cape, our novel research on both species’ sperm viability offers insights into the potential impacts of aquatic toxins on penguin reproduction. Additional ex-situ projects explore the diet, moulting, and reproductive activities of the two penguin species under our care. This knowledge is crucial for enhancing the animal husbandry of penguins in zoos and aquaria, benefitting both the animals and the institute.

Our research in these emerging and critical areas has received significant support, propelling us to the forefront of marine social science and behaviour change studies.

In collaboration with the University of Cardiff, we are spearheading Africa’s inaugural Ocean Literacy survey, aiming to establish a national network and guidelines for best practices in Ocean Literacy. Our Behaviour Change research is expanding, addressing critical issues like sustainable seafood, plastic pollution and food waste. Initiatives are underway to gather evidence of the contribution of raising awareness and encouraging behaviour change among visitors to conservation. Early findings from visitor research have guided the design of signage and presentations for various species, including African penguins and ragged tooth sharks.

The Two Oceans Aquarium conducts water quality analysis daily. A significant database has been established and is used to determine seasonal water quality trends, assist with monitoring our intake pump systems, and provide insight into our filtration systems.

The Two Oceans Aquarium regularly hosts the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 3rd Year Work Integrated Learning students. Projects have investigated the presence of microplastics within the V&A Marina and in Aquarium exhibits. Using water, selected fish species, and invertebrates, we can assess levels of metals and chemicals within the Aquarium. This is critical research as anthropogenic activities in the Waterfront precinct increase.

While parasitic infections in the aquatic environment are a natural occurrence, it is crucial to study and understand the potential impact of infestations on all fish species in an aquarium or aquaculture facility. Investigating the host-parasite relationship and understanding their life cycles is essential for ensuring the well-being of the fish in our care.