A year in research: Advancing conservation through collaboration

At the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, our research team is driven by a commitment to collaborate on research projects that focus on animal health and welfare, conservation, water quality, and the desire to support the next generation of scientists. By supporting novel research, we aim to understand our animal collection at the Two Oceans Aquarium as well as validate scientific findings in the ex-situ environment. Additionally, we aim to empower young researchers, providing them with unique opportunities to gain the essential workplace experience needed to become future leaders in marine conservation.

In the world of conservation, each year yields a series of steps forward in our efforts to understand, protect, and preserve our planet's precious biodiversity. For the research team at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, the past year highlighted the importance of collaboration in the pursuit of knowledge.

Let’s look back through the eyes of our research team…

Expanding horizons: Partnerships and projects

Over the last year, the research team has administered 28 formal research projects, marking significant progress in our mission to advance marine conservation. These projects supported students working towards 12 formal degrees and diploma studies.

The subject areas of these projects included tracking sea turtles, acoustic tagging of elasmobranchs, studying otter movement and behaviour, monitoring various species of sunfish populations, and using artificial intelligence to interpret penguin behaviour. Not only do these projects deepen our understanding of marine ecosystems, but they also lay the groundwork for informed conservation strategies.

"It was a great experience. I believe doing my Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) at the Aquarium contributed to where I am currently finding myself (employed). The experience helped immensely," says a past WIL student.

In line with our strategic focus, we homed in on one primary research project: Searching for the elusive sunfish. Using citizen science and tissue sample collection, this project helps us to understand the species distribution and genetic diversity of sunfish populations in South African waters. By concentrating our efforts, we aim to make meaningful strides in understanding and conserving these fascinating creatures, as various fish populations are threatened by industrialised fishing.

Nurturing talent: Education and internships

Education lies at the heart of our work. We continue to nurture future ocean scientists through work-integrated learning programmes and internships with esteemed institutions such as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), the University of Cape Town (UCT), and the World Wildlife Fund-South Africa (WWF SA).

In 2023, we hosted four interns and students, providing them with invaluable hands-on experience in marine research, animal husbandry, and conservation. Through these mutually beneficial collaborations, we were able to expand and formalise our partnerships with both CPUT and UWC.

Here are some reflections from our students:

"What I enjoyed most about my job and working for the organisation was the opportunity to immerse myself in all departments, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how the organisation functions. Working closely with my favourite animal, the octopus, was particularly fulfilling and allowed me to deepen my knowledge and appreciation for these incredible creatures."

” I left the Two Oceans Aquarium with a solid background of knowledge in marine aquariology. If not for the aquarium, I would not have continued to pursue a career in Marine Science. Thank you for your support and words of encouragement!"

"My experience was more than positive. I think interning at the Two Oceans Aquarium is a unique and enriching opportunity. I would recommend this experience to everyone."

Understanding people: Our solution to conservation

Visitor research is a new focus area for the Two Oceans Aquarium. We initiated several research projects in the past year that focused on understanding people’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. These included a first in South Africa; Ocean Literacy in South Africa. Following our successful Ocean Literacy workshop, we established our role as a leader in this field. We sought to understand what motivates a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium through questionnaires that further gave us insights into the impact of a visit on people’s behaviour towards conservation. We undertook to better understand visitors’ knowledge and attitudes to the conservation of African penguins and Cape clawless otters. Our location in the V&A Waterfront allowed us to support Sustainable Seafood projects.

Strategic focus: Consolidation and expanding

As we entered 2024, we recognised the importance of consolidating our efforts and maximising the impact of our research. Attention was devoted to sorting and analysing internal datasets, empowering us to harness our data more effectively for conservation purposes.

Additionally, we are excited to collaborate with UWC to test the efficacy of environmental DNA (eDNA) in the in-situ environment, starting with the sunfish. This cutting-edge approach will help us better understand the genetic diversity and distribution of sunfish populations in our waters, furthering our conservation efforts.

Empowering collaboration: Research Open Day and beyond

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s role as a research collaborator was further solidified through our inaugural Research Open Day. This event brought together 43 academics from 19 Western Cape institutes to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Throughout 2024, we aim to continue supporting many research projects with higher education institutes and centres for excellence, amplifying our impact and reach within the scientific community.

Looking ahead: Building on success

Reflecting on the past year, our achievements are cause for celebration.

With each project, partnership, and publication, our research team makes progress towards building capacity to further research marine ecosystems and flourishing biodiversity. Together, we can make a tangible difference in conservation efforts, ensuring the future well-being of our oceans.

We are thrilled to announce opportunities to communicate the science with our blue environment community through a blog series that will take you behind the scenes of our research at the Two Oceans Aquarium. Get ready for an in-depth look at our exciting projects, inspiring partnerships, and the incredible impact of our conservation efforts. Watch this space for the first instalment!