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www.thevillagenews.co.za
Beachcombing in the digital age Writer Elaine Davie
T
he question is, what treasures of the sea are beachcombers searching for in this digital age? The answer is simple: anything and everything that can be turned into data describing the state of health of our coastal environment. At least, that is what 31 smartly-turned-out young interns from Hermanus Varsity (HV) will be doing for the next two months. You may come across them somewhere between Vermont and De Kelders in small teams of six any day of the week. They have just completed a gruelling year-long theoretical course in Criminal Law Enforcement in the Marine Environment, presented by Nelson Mandela University. Since the course comprises a mix of face-to-face lectures, online input and tutorials, the experience during lockdown has been particularly stressful for the young students, most of them straight from school. Now the time has come for them to put some of their newly-acquired knowledge to work and they are fired up with enthusiasm. Kitted out with smart new hats, jackets, shoes and masks, they will be patrolling a stretch of coast approximately 40 km in length and are already finding the going tougher than they expected. Although they are all local youngsters from Hawston, Zwelihle and Masikhane and familiar with the area, they are discovering that walking long distances along the beach is no joke. (Just ask the Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies!) One thing is for sure, by the end of November, they’ll be a whole lot fitter than they were at the start. As it is, the exercise involves a lot more than just a pleasant walk on the beach. Each member of each small team has a specific role to play in collecting, processing and analysing the information they gather along the way. This includes noting beach strandings, pollution, the movements of birds, fishing activity and the content of catches. They will be talking to fishers, tracking changing patterns in the local marine ecology and measuring and describing fish and other marine animals like starfish and octopus.
need to be aware of the legal framework within which it takes place. As we know, poaching is rife in our area and it is not our intention to expose the students to any danger, but they need to filter their findings through an understanding of the law enforcement provisions currently available.” After only a few days on the job, Johann Kruger, HV’s Communications Co-ordinator says he can already see which students are the true environmentalists. “They are the ones who are picking up the differences between old birds and young ones, who are seeing the details and asking the right questions. But it’s not just the eco-system they’re learning more about, it’s themselves as well. They’ll be different people at the end of it.” CapeNature is playing a supervisory role in the internship and HV is planning to make a documentary of the process. At its conclusion, they will organise an experiential debriefing, allowing the students to express themselves through role play, art and storytelling. “We believe these youngsters will be eminently employable at the end of their course,” says Delana Finlayson, CEO of the HVT. They could be appointed as peace officers in a number of environmental contexts, or, indeed, as coastal rangers or guides. In fact, we’re hoping that the Overstrand Municipality will be able to appoint some of them, at least during high season, to patrol the cliff paths and answer visitors’ questions about the coastal ecology. “We have already seen how much their language skills improved and how their self-confidence grew as the course progressed; the internship will provide the extra polish to round it off. They have knowledge of the local birds, fish, animals and plants and they are bursting with enthusiasm – what better PR could you want for our region?” In fact, the Varsity’s School of Environmental Studies is itself planning all sorts of exciting activities for the December holidays with its students, including guided coastal walks, outdoor movies with an environmental focus, a Wine and Whales Evening and storytelling sessions for children.
According to Kirsten Neke, Co-ordinator for the School of Environmental Studies at HV, this will be the first time such an intensive study of our coastline has been undertaken and as such, the data gathered will be of immense importance in shaping future conservation planning.
In the meantime, plans for next year’s School of Environmental Studies courses are well advanced. It is to be hoped that WWF will be in a position to fund the same Marine Law Enforcement course next year and the School will be introducing an aquaculture course from Stellenbosch University, as well as one on agro-ecology (sustainable farming) and a Marine Tourist Guide Course.
“The emphasis of the course is on coastal protection as a whole, which means that the students
For further information visit www.hermanusvarsity.co.za. PHOTO: Johann Kruger
14 October 2020
De Bos Dam overflows The welcome rain that fell over the past week has pushed the level of the De Bos Dam to the 100% mark, with water spilling down the overflow wall over the weekend.
a rainfall total of 40 mm was measured, in June we received another 115 mm, in July 90 mm, in August a whopping 143 mm and in September 81 mm.
Hanré Blignaut, Deputy Director: Engineering Planning at the Overstrand Municipality, said he is elated that the dam filled up during the winter rainfall season. “Just as the rainy season started in June this year the level of the dam was at 35%, the lowest level since May 2011, when a record low of 18.6% was recorded.
Historically the average rainfall for Hermanus during the period May to September is 70 mm per month, compared to this year’s 93 mm. Combined with the 39 mm that fell during the first 10 days of October, the total rainfall for the year to date comes to 642 mm, compared to the long-term average of 447 mm for the period January to September over the past 50 years. The total annual average rainfall for Hermanus over the past 50 years is 626 mm, a number that was last reached in 2014.
“We have seen the level rise weekly during the past few months and we are blessed that we have had such a good season,” he said. Last year, the dam was at 44% at the end of September, and it was at 66.93% at the same time in 2018. The De Bos Dam was last full in 2016, despite the start of a devastating drought in other parts of the Western Cape that saw the imposition of severe water restrictions in large areas of the province, with residents trying to survive on less than 80 litres of water per day. This year was one of the wettest winters the region has experienced since 2013. In May,
According to Blignaut the water services bylaw will remain in place, which requires that no irrigation may take place between 9:00 and 17:00 daily. “This is simply good practice, to limit evaporation during the generally warmest period of the day. When it comes to saving water and adhering to water restrictions, a municipality must have the buy-in from residents sticking to regulations,” he said.
– De Waal Steyn
Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of Hermanus Public Protection (HPP), which is the management body of the Hermanus Special Rating Area (HSRA), will be held at 18h00 on Thursday, 5 November 2020 at the Municipal Auditorium, Civic Centre, Overstrand Municipality. As COVID-19 regulations may still be in place, the number of attendees will be restricted. Property owners within the HSRA who wish to attend, must register via email: info@hpp.org.za. Please provide your full name, ERF number and contact number. Attendees will be selected on a firstcome-first-served basis, with only one attendee permitted per property. Registration to attend will commence on 23 October 2020. Only property owners who have registered to attend, will be allowed in. Owners will receive confirmation notifications via e-mail by 2 November 2020. The meeting will commence at 18h00 sharp, however, attendees must be at the venue at 17h00 to allow time for the compulsory health screening. Masks must be worn. Further communication will follow via e-mail and the HPP website. Property owners within the HSRA are also encouraged to register as members of HPP-NPC, as only members can vote on resolutions or matters pertaining to HPP-NPC. To register for membership, visit the HPP website. The agenda, chairperson’s report and HPP’s financial statements (AFS) will be available on the HPP website ahead of the meeting. Please visit www.hpp.org.za. Please direct enquiries via email to the HPP Manager at manager@hpp.org.za
Kennisgewing van Algemene Jaarvergadering Die Algemene Jaarvergadering van Hermanus Public Protection (HPP), die bestuursliggaam van die Hermanus Spesiale Aanslag Gebied (HSAG) sal gehou word in die Munisipale Ouditorium, Burgersentrum Overstrand Munisipaliteit om 18h00 op 5 November 2020 Weens die huidige Covid-19 inperkingsmaatreëls sal daar ‘n beperking wees op die bywoningsgetal. Eiendomseienaars binne die HSAG wat wel die vergadering wil bywoon sal per epos moet registreer by info@hpp.org.za. Verskaf asseblief u volle name, Erf nommer en kontaknommer. Toelating tot bywoning sal geskied op ‘n basis van “eerste registreerders kry voorkeur” en slegs een persoon per geregistreerde eiendom sal mag bywoon. Die registrasie-proses vir bywoning sal in aanvang neem op 23 Oktober 2020. Slegs eienaars wat geregistreer het sal toegelaat word om by te woon en sal by wyse van epos korrespondensie bevestiging hieromtrent ontvang teen 2 November 2020. Die vergadering sal stiptelik om 18h00 begin maar persone wat die vergadering bywoon moet reeds om 17h00 by die lokaal wees om voldoende tyd toe te laat vir die nakoming van die verpligte Covid-19 protokolle . Die dra van maskers is verpligtend. Verdere korrespondensie sal volg via epos en die HPP webblad. Eiendomseienaars binne die HSAG word ook aangemoedig om te registreer as lede van die HPPNie Winsgewende Maatskappy. Slegs lede het stemreg oor besluite en ander sake rakende die maatskappy. Om te registreer besoek asseblief die HPP Webtuiste.
Monitoring all aspects of the marine and coastal eco-system from Vermont to De Kelders is the task given to 31 Hermanus Varsity students for their course internship. It’s a responsibility they take seriously, but that doesn’t preclude them from having fun. At a local tidal pool, from left: Prince Munemo, Simbonile Mhlomi, Lydia Tom and Sindisiwe Mhathuna.
Die agenda, asook die voorsittersverslag en HPP se Finansiële state sal voor die aanvang van die vergadering op die HPP webtuiste beskikbaar wees. Besoek asseblief www.hpp.org.za. Indien u enige navrae het kan u dit rig aan die HPP Bestuurder by manager@hpp.org.za
