Letters

I SUPPOSE THIS autumn message would have been well matched by the autumn of the Covid-19 pandemic, but perhaps that’s pushing it! It seems this virus, as well as the resulting lockdowns and restrictions, will be with us for a while.

Although we were hoping for a summer free from Covid-19 to be enjoyed by all, that was cut short by the reimplementation of Lockdown Level 3, once again throwing plans into chaos. Despite the pandemic, we had prepared well for the season. We had several lifeguarding contracts lined up and our guys on the beaches and at the bases were ready to respond as always. What we did not expect were the beach bans! An absolute tragedy at a personal and business level for everyone. We really have huge empathy for all our stakeholders who have been severely compromised by the effects of the pandemic.

However, we are positive about 2021, having survived 2020 and managed to get through much of what we had planned in a year that was surprisingly busy for our services. Medevacs continued in numbers, fishing and boating casualties continued, and we were ramping up to the summer season only to have the beaches closed. There’s plenty planned for 2021, not least of which our survival swimming and water safety programmes, which we hope to get going full steam again after the school year starts. We’ve got some catching up to do.

On the technological front, the ORC and JetRIB programmes continue to get everyone excited. ORC vessel No 4 is now in the mould! The JetRIBs, of course, are rolling out rapidly into surf rescue services and having a fantastic impact with improved safety.

Probably the most difficult element of our service at the moment is the lack of social contact across the platform. We miss one another and we miss interacting with stakeholders, members, donors and crew. It’s interesting how valuable primary human contact is to us! If there’s one thing we wish for this autumn, it’s to be able to congregate, chat, share and get on with the service in the community. This will pass – I suppose we will just have to be patient.

The Covid-19 outbreak has been stressful for all of us, but we’ve been sustained by the amazing support we get from so many people. Thank you. Once this is over, we’ll be there with more energy and enthusiasm than ever. We look forward to a Covid-19-free world.

All the best; stay healthy!

DR CLEEVE ROBERTSON, CEO

CAPE TOWN: NSRI, 1 Glengariff Road, Three Anchor Bay 8001; PO Box 154, Green Point 8051 Tel: +27 21 434 4011 Fax: +27 21 434 1661

Visit our website at www.searescue.org.za or email us at info@searescue.org.za

www.facebook.com/SeaRescue @nsri youtube.com/c/NSRISeaRescue @searescuesa

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SEA RESCUE

OFFICE +27 21 434 4011 WEB www.nsri.org.za FUNDRAISING AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Janine van Stolk EMAIL janine@searescue.org.za MARKETING MANAGER Bradley Seaton Smith bradley@searescue.org.za COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Megan Hughes EMAIL megan@searescue.org.za

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WINNING LETTER

Thank you, Lucas, Gareth and Christine Haysom, for sharing your story with us. Lucas, your prize is on its way.

YOUNG TROOPER RAISES FUNDS FOR NSRI

Hi, everyone! As you would have heard, I finished my NSRI walk. We have spoken to NSRI Plettenberg Bay (Station 14), who asked that we use the money collected to buy special dry bags for each of their boats. Each boat has a bag in a different size – they are really quite cool, and a lot more fancy than the one my mom and dad use when I go swimming.

We have bought the bags and they will be delivered to the NSRI in Plett. I wanted to deliver these myself but, because of the virus, I can’t go to Plett right now.

My mom and dad helped me with this little thank you letter. Thank you so much for all your help and for supporting the walk. It was actually great fun. LUCAS HAYSOM (WITH DAD GARETH AND MOM CHRISTINE)

A (little) man on a mission to raise frunds for Sea Rescue.

THE SMART THING TO DO One of the

I noticed in the latest edition of Sea Rescue black seal pups magazine that you had a useful section in the rescued off Seal Island. centre pages about what to do and who to call if you spot animals on the beach or in distress. Could you perhaps add our organisation to the list, please? The Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (SMART) has been very active along the coast from Gouritz to Wilderness for almost six years now.

Our volunteers respond to rescue calls on a designated WhatsApp group, and have a permit to work as agents for Dr Greg Hofmeyr from Bayworld in Port Elizabeth. We also cooperate very closely with the South African National Stranding Network; Andre Fraser of NSRI Mossel Bay; the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries; the SAPS; and the Mossel Bay Municipality. Sometimes we are also called upon Contact The Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team to do basic necropsies and sampling for the (SMART) on 072 227 4715 scientists when an unusual stranding occurs.

We have had special permits issued to 10 Smarties, as our volunteers are known, to work on the beaches during the closures. Last year, during the hard lockdown, we monitored a huge elephant seal who had hauled out at Glentana for WRITE TO US AND WIN! a four-day rest… Very special indeed. This past December we were kept busy rescuing black seal pups that had washed off Seal Island in the bay. The writer of the winning letter We have a truly dedicated private vet, Dr Frans published in the Spring 2021 de Graaff, who attends to all our rescues, mostly issue of Sea Rescue will at his own cost, as funding is a huge problem. receive an NSRI hoodie. (Do I even have to mention that to you?) Email your letters to We mainly rescue or monitor marine animals info@searescue.org.za or but occasionally will assist with the collection post them to Sea Rescue and transportation of seabirds and penguins for magazine, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018. (Letters may be shortened and the the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC). This organisation also has limited winning letter is chosen at funds and volunteers, so we try to help one the editor’s discretion.) another when possible. VAL MARSH, SMART