Whale Migration & Effects of Single Use Plastic - Knysna to Kenya
By Jake Keeton
Monday, 9th September 2019This year on the 16th of June we held our second annual celebration of the Arrival of the Whales Festival at Pine Lodge. This year the focus of the festival was to raise awareness of the northern humpback migration and the effects of single use plastic in an attempt to reduce the amount of plastic entering the marine environment.
Everyone who attended the festival gained good insight to what is happening along our coastline and what they can do in their every day lives to preserve the marine environment. Lloyd Edwards did presentations on the Humpback Whales and their migration and Ronelle Potgieter giving a detailed talk on the severity of marine plastic pollution and what is needed to work towards a zero plastic waste generation. Together with the talks, the stands and stalls at the festival focused on plastic alternatives, marine education and conservation.
This year we aimed higher than just reaching the population of Port Elizabeth and decided to take our efforts all along the east coast of South Africa. Lloyd and Ronelle Potgieter conducted a total of 17 talks and presentations along the South African coastline from Knysna to Watamu Kenya, following the whales as they make there way up the coast.
Next year bigger things are being planned for our annual festival. Lloyd is currently traveling up the east coast of Australia visiting coastal towns, local whale watching companies and other operations showing interest in the Marine environment and pitching the idea of having whale festivals and talks following the whales up the Australian coast at the same time that it is done here.
Keep an eye on our page for details of our third annual Festival, we hope to see you all there!
Picture credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
