False Bay Hope Spot

The False Bay area offers superb dive sites and a mixture of marine habitats from rocky reef, soft corals and wreck diving to kelp forests and off shore blue water diving.

Mission Blue declared False Bay a Hope Spot in 2014. The Co-Champions for this Hope Spot are Cape RADD (Research and Diver Development) and Two Oceans Aquarium.

The Two Oceans Aquarium brings more than 20 years of experience and strong relationships with the local community, with their popular Marine Protected Areas Day (MPA Day), beach cleanups, Dalebrook Rocky Shore exploration days and more. 

Helen Lockhart, Conservation and Sustainability Manager for Two Oceans Aquarium, says, “The Two Oceans Aquarium and its Foundation are excited to be a Co-Champion for the False Bay Hope Spot.” She continues, “Mission Blue’s Hope Spots are perfectly aligned with the mission of the Aquarium and the Foundation – to inspire people to act for the ocean, so that all may share in an abundant and healthy ocean for life.” Lockhart develops and implements the Aquarium’s sustainability strategy to minimize its ecological footprint and raises both internal and public awareness around sustainability through communication platforms, exhibits, and environmental campaigns. 

Lockhart concludes, “This Hope Spot is a wonderful opportunity to unite all the many organizations working in the False Bay marine environment. Each organization is doing amazing work in research, outreach, community engagement, storytelling, education, protection, and tourism – imagine how much more we could achieve if we all worked together?”

Cape RADD established in 2017 an area marine research facility, which aims to serve as a platform for marine research and scientists in the CapeTown and False bay region. It is run by two marine biologists, Mike Barron and Dylan Irion. The team runs research projects which are designed to assist with the scientific monitoring of marine habitats and their biodiversity in this incredible global hotspot, which has more than 3,500 endemic marine species. Cape RADD is involved with several projects, including assessing the success of the different management strategies in Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s), monitoring diversity and abundance of marine species such as white shark population estimates, shark deterrent strategies and science programs designed to engage, educate and inspire the general public.

One examination showed that one of the individuals had a very clear slice between the pectoral fins with the entire liver having been removed, another one was missing its stomach and testis as well as the liver. White shark livers are huge, representing a third of the sharks total weight and hold highly nutrient squalene. This evidence pointed towards the likely verdict that killer whales were responsible for these mysterious washed up white shark carcasses!

The area hosts an abundance of species large and small, from an eclectic array of colourful nudibranchs, sponges and sea anemones to mega-fauna species including dolphins and Humpback whales.

False Bay once drew visitors from all over the world for great white shark sightings, but fewer and fewer sharks have been recorded in these waters. Fishing pressure in unprotected parts of False Bay is significant and pollution is also an issue in the area. Luckily, Part of the False Bay Hope Spot is reserved as a marine protected area and no-take zone, creating a sanctuary for large reef fish, abalone and small sharks.

 Cape RADD  offer a citizen  Science experience in the False Bay Hope Spot , where you can assist biologists on marine fish surveys! Learn about the biodiversity and conservation projects that are happening in the area and contribute ‘real data’ to research projects.Cape RADD also get involved with beach cleans and plastic awareness projects which helps spread awareness of these issues.

You can also join Free Citizen Science databases such as iNaturalist and input your sightings and photos. iNaturalist is an online social network database of observations from naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists whose observations help record and monitor biodiversity.