Support to the New Small-Scale Fisheries Cooperatives
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Published 29. Jan 2025 by Fiona
Saving South Africa's Turtles: ABALOBI joins the Rescue Network.

ABALOBI join the Two Oceans Aquarium Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation team on a knowledge sharing road trip along the West Coast.

In a productive workshop with West Coast fisher communities, Two Oceans' aim was to educate attendees about the plight of turtles, and in particular hatchlings, within South African coastal waters. In turn they highlighted how valuable the support from our coastal communities and deep knowledge of the marine environment is, to the work that they do.

In January 2025 the Two Oceans team ran an insightful and successful workshop co-hosted with ABALOBI at our warehouse hub in Lamberts Bay. Attendees ranged from WWF representatives, ABALOBI staff, high school kids, Fisheries data collectors, Fisher monitors and people from and the surrounding the Lamberts Bay community.

Turtle behaviour in South African waters; a little background.

Turtles are an endangered species and listed as a TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species). Hatchlings that have been born between December and March, float down the East coast of South Africa in the warm Agulhas current. When they reach the southern part around the PE and Plett area, the warm current moves offshore into the Indian Ocean but the winds and storms pick up blowing onshore round about the same time of year.

These tiny guys are unable to swim against the forces and often get swept into the cold inshore waters along our Western Cape coast, causing COLD SHOCK, weakness and dehydration. They become targets for hitchhikers like barnacles and algae and often munch on plastic floating along with them.

They are not in great shape at all. If they are lucky, then they are washed ashore somewhere where they are visible.

The Rescue Mission

This is where the Turtle Rescue Network comes in - only through ocean stewards like those of the ABALOBI fisher communities can these tiny turtles be rescued and given a second chance. The Two Oceans team highlighted how in the coming months, as we head into 'hatchling stranding season', they will once again rely heavily on W Cape coastal communities to find and assist with rescue of turtles.

Fun Fact!

Did you know? Last hatchling season in 2024, ABALOBI Co-founder and Director, Serge, single handedly rescued close to 40 turtle hatchlings stranded off the beach in Struisbaai, and helped to transport more than 100 mini rescuees back to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town! First hand evidence from within our team that this genuinely significant marine ecological issue. Happily, ABALOBI were offered the opportunity to adopt a couple of Serge's saved baby turtles, which of course, we jumped upon. Abby and Lobi are doing really well! We’re also now integrating turtle rescue protocols and awareness into our e-learning programme, and Abby and Lobi are helping to inspire responsible ocean practices among our participant fishers! Read our IG post HERE

Found stranded turtles? Top Tips direct from the Two Oceans team.

'If you come across stranded turtle hatchlings, here's a brief summary of what to do:

  • If a turtle is found, it should immediately be called into the rescue hotline 083 300 1883.
  • via the call to the hotline, the situation will be assessed and step by step instructions given for safe rescue
  • if a small hatchling is found, do not leave it behind to go and call it in, gently lift onto soft dry fabric (like your shirt or towel) and carry it to safety. Call it in at the earliest possibility.
  • if a large turtle, take pictures and a GPS location so that during the assessment of the situation, the species, injuries, size and location can be included in the planning.

Through-out the coastal network we have trained responders who know how to handle the turtle but as a reference -

  • Do not put it into water
  • Do not try to feed or offer water
  • Keep away from your pets
  • Handle as little as possible
  • Turtles breath air so are safe during rescue

Also through-out the network, we have dedicated responders who drive the turtles for us - whether it be towards BayWorld or to Cape Town. We keep a rescue diary and in here we also note any upcoming available transport.

Last season we had 606 hatchlings. It was wild for all of you out there and certainly a task and a half for ourselves, BayWorld and uShaka - but we achieved incredible results and most of those hatchlings are safely out at sea doing what baby turtles should be doing. Thank you, From the Two Oceans Turtle team!'