Raggy Charters - Marine-Eco Cruises

12/09/2024

We are overwhelmed by the support and encouragement from all.. Thank You.. our Raggy Charters - Marine-Eco Cruises Team are very proud and honored to have been awarded Winner at the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism Awards, category Conservation, Culture and Sustainability. What an amazing event for Tourism in Gqeberha, so many wonderful hardworking people recognised. Thank you to all involved in putting this event together, to all the Judges who spent many hours listening and choosing finalists and winners. And to all sponsors contributing to such a fantastic event. And a BIG Congratulations to all Category Winners! Well deserved!
We appreciate you all.

Eastern Cape Tourism Love South Africa Sarah Baartman District Municipality B and E Conference Centre Barney's Tavern Beachfront Bidfood Chef’s Shop Gqeberha Absa South Africa Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Kouga Municipality Liberty Group SA Magnetic Storm Scan Display Tavcor Volkswagen Atlas Security Erika in Helderberg, Balance Cape Town Boardwalk Mall Creative Fred Castle Lite Fat Cats Catering, Nelson Mandela Bay Fitch & Leedes Mixers The Konvenient Magazine Lx Events Mosaic Tourism Muse Restaurant Nelson Mandela Bay - South Africa One Land Love It ShowMe Port Elizabeth Snap 360 STUDIODO The Tramways Building, Nelson Mandela Bay Walmer Park, Shopping Centre Woolworth Beauty Three Peaks Wine Addo Tourism World Cetacean Alliance WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Algoa Bay Conservation Algoa Bay Hope Spot Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7"

10/09/2024

Whale entanglements in Ghost gear has to stop.
Ghost gear (discarded fishing nets or rope) has been a threat to cetacean species ever since man started fishing the oceans with nets or traps. Every year, countless whales, dolphins and other marine species are entangled in discarded or illegal fishing gear. In most cases these entanglements lead to a slow death if not discovered by those with the means to free the animal. The most prominent issue along our coast is the entanglement of Humpback Whales as they migrate past us up to their breeding grounds off of Mozambique and Kenya.
Thankfully there are teams of people from all around the world that are trying to make a difference. Our local NSRI station 6 in Port Elizabeth do an amazing when called upon to free entangled whales.
On 21 September 2023 we came across a juvenile humpback whale entangled in rope and floating buoys. NSRI arrived on the scene and succeeded in freeing the whale unharmed.
Shortly after that event the World Cetacean Alliance informed us about the incredible work being done by the sustainable brand Waterhaul. Waterhaul go to great lengths to remove ghost gear from the ocean and turn it into recycled products.
With the help of the WCA we were instructed on how to correctly clean and pack the rope, then shipped it off to Waterhaul HQ in Cornwall, UK where they are busy recycling the ghost gear and turning it into something special. Head over to https://waterhaul.co/ to learn more about their latest campaign.
We will do our best to keep an eye out for entangled whales during the rest of this migratory season so that they too can be given a second chance. What really needs to happen though is to prevent the addition of new ghost gear to our ocean whilst the existing gear can be removed. For this to happen we need to create public awareness so that people worldwide can speak out against the dumping of ghost gear.

World Cetacean Alliance Eastern Cape Tourism Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Addo Tourism SANCCOB saves seabirds Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association Butt Cat Boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Sustainable Seas Trust BirdLife South Africa BirdLife Eastern Cape (BLEC) Algoa Bay Hope Spot Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Amakhala Game Reserve Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa WESSA - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa - Eastern Cape FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Jeffreys Bay Tourism Millers Local Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth

23/08/2024

A winter wonderland in Algoa Bay

June to December each year is a special time for us in Algoa Bay. During these winter months we have an overlap of natural phenomenon’s resulting in a hive of activity. The following pictures have been taken during our last two weeks of cruises and showcase the variety of species and behaviour that can be seen this time of year.
Our winter season kicks off with the arrival of the migratory humpback whales in late May/early June. Humpbacks are then seen right through to early December. Southern Right Whales arrive a bit later than the humpbacks and can be seen from July through to the end of September. Southern Rights prefer to mate and have their calves in a sheltered area close to St Croix Island. We have seen amazing numbers of Southern Rights with newly born calves over the last few weeks.

Together with the whales the winter months bring thousands of pelagic birds closer to our shores. Shy and Indian yellow nosed albatross are on the scene of most humpback sightings near Cape Recife Lighthouse. Other species that we keep an eye out for are giant petrels, white chinned petrels, sooty shearwaters and cory shearwaters.

Even the Bottlenose Dolphins that are in our waters all year have a great time during the winter months. Dolphins love to surf the shore break in Algoa bay. Winter conditions bring good size swells for the playful cetaceans to surf. It becomes hard to leave when a large pod of dolphins is surfing the shore break and launching themselves out of the waves below the backdrop of the Alexandria Dune Field.

Between now and the end of September we are presented with the rare opportunity to see Humpback Whales, Southern Right Whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Cape Fur Seals and a variety of bird species all in a single cruise.

We look forward to sharing the presence of these species with our guests over the remainder of this winter. It is always a privilege for us to give people the opportunity to observe whales and dolphins doing what they do best in their natural environment.

Eastern Cape Tourism Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay World Cetacean Alliance Addo Tourism SANCCOB saves seabirds Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association Butt Cat Boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Sustainable Seas Trust BirdLife South Africa BirdLife Eastern Cape (BLEC) Algoa Bay Hope Spot Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Amakhala Game Reserve Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine WESSA - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa - Eastern Cape WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Jeffreys Bay Tourism Millers Local Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth

14/08/2024

Humpback whales in the bay this season (2024)

Enjoy the video below of our humpback whale sightings in Algoa Bay with Raggy Charters.

14/08/2024

It is with much delight that we received news that the African penguin breeding pairs on St Croix Island in Algoa Bay is on the increase. Last year they reached rock-bottom, with only 700 pairs left. This year the colony has grown to 1200 pairs, this is fantastic news!
The main reason for this increase in the penguin colony is that Ship-to-Ship (STS) bunkering has been prohibited since September 2023. This was due to financial issues where the tax man was wanting his fair share of the oil transfers that are taken place in the bay. It seems that an impasse occurred between SARS and the operators, to such an extend that the taxman impounded some of the bunkering vessels, and prohibited any further STS transfers.
We had a long and hard battle for more than 5 years against this extremely hazardous fuel transferring operation occurring, on the open sea, in our bay. In this time we have seen the world’s largest colony of African penguins plummeting, losing 85% of the colony. This was a catastrophic ecological disaster, caused by the selfish and possibly unlawful STS bunkering operations.
Not only has the numerous oil spills influenced the marine environment, it also led to oiled penguins that had to be rescued. Many did not make it. Furthermore, the visiting vessels moved across the foraging area of the penguins, negatively influencing their feeding habits, and causing pollution, emissions, noise and contaminated water discharges.
From the beginning we have voiced our utmost resistance to the bunkering vessels in the bay, transferring oil close to the marine protected area and St Croix Island. We organized public meetings, submitted concern letters and reports to the ministers and operators, obtained legal opinion, used printed, television, radio and social media, all while protesting the inconceivable deed by government to permit this hazardous operation. We did not stop and used every opportunity to address this injustice done to our bay, tenaciously fighting to protect our penguins.
In the end, in 2022, Minister Barbara Creecy (then minister of DEFF) had to agree with us, and ordered a risk assessment to be done. The results of the assessment put specific restriction to the STS bunkering operations. Possibly the restrictions, together with the financial mess that they found themselves in, were too much for the bunkering fraternity. The operators vanished overnight- leaving the bay to recover from the damage caused by them.
And recover it did.. to our delight!
Now, after less than a year, the colony has grown by 70%! This is an indication of just how huge and absolute devastating impact STS bunkering had on the penguin population for so long. As soon as bunkering was gone, the population bounced back and flourished. We are holding our breath, hoping that this trend will continue year-on-year.
We would like to thank each and every one who helped us in various ways on the path to protect our penguins. From being in despair, we are now cautiously optimistic for the future of the penguins in Algoa Bay.
Who knows, maybe one day we will again be able to claim the accolade for the largest colony of African penguins in the world!
I hope that day will come soon.
Ronelle Friend Algoa Bay Conservation

Read more: https://groundup.org.za/article/quieter-seas-are-good-news-for-african-penguins/


Butt Cat Boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Sustainable Seas Trust BirdLife South Africa SANCCOB saves seabirds Algoa Bay Hope Spot World Cetacean Alliance Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Amakhala Game Reserve Addo Tourism Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine Algoa FM News Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve St Francis Tourism Dynamic Elements Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth Sardinia Bay Conservancy

23/07/2024

happy World WHALE and DOLPHIN day! 🐬🐳🐋💦
Today we celebrate the Humpback whales on their migration, the Southern Right whales who feel safe to use the Bay as a nursery and our local Bryde's whales who pop up and say hi in summer AND our happy playful dolphins that have a beautiful home called Algoa Bay!

Eastern Cape Tourism Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay World Cetacean Alliance Addo Tourism SANCCOB saves seabirds Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association Butt Cat Boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Sustainable Seas Trust BirdLife South Africa BirdLife Eastern Cape (BLEC) Algoa Bay Hope Spot Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Amakhala Game Reserve Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa - Eastern Cape FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Nyosi Wildlife Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Jeffreys Bay Tourism Millers Local Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth

17/07/2024

Right Whale to Hunt become the Right Whales to Watch in Algoa Bay

Early whalers gave the Southern Right Whale its name due to it being deemed the right whale to hunt. Their large size, slow speed, long valuable baleen and buoyancy when dead made them an attractive and easy target.

Southern Right Whales are unlike any other species that visit us in Algoa Bay. They have a V-shaped blow, no dorsal fin and large callosities on their heads. These callosities form a unique pattern on each individual whale and can be used to identify individuals. Adult Southern Right Whales average between 14 and 15.5 meters in length with an average weight of 43 tonnes. Despite their size Southern Right Whales are extremely flexible. Drone footage has allowed us to observe how these large whales can turn on a dime with ease.

Good numbers of Southern Right Whales visit us in Algoa Bay every year during July, August and September with a few early arrivals showing up in June. The main reason these whales visit our Bay is to give birth and nurse their newborn calves. Female Southern Right Whales prefer to do this in shallow sheltered bays with a sandy bottom that drops off very gradually from the shoreline. We often observe Southern Right Whales just behind the backline. There is a theory that the sound of the waves breaking close to shore masks the sound of the mother and calf communicating and thus reduces the chance of the calf being detected by Killer Whales. Aside from giving birth these whales also come to Algoa Bay to mate. Their gestation period is roughly one year so they need to mate here in order to give birth here the following winter.

Southern Right Whales have a thick (up to 38cm thick on the back) layer of blubber which keeps them warm in cold waters and serves as a store of energy for their northerly migration. This thick layer of blubber prevents this species from visiting the tropical waters near the equator as they would be in danger of overheating. Southern Right Whales do not feed in our waters. They feed predominantly on krill and copepods in the South Seas. Southern Right Whales are skim-feeders. When feeding they swim forward with their mouth open for an extended period of time. This is very different to other baleen whales like Bryde’s Whales that engulf their prey with one well timed lunge at a time.

Although Southern Right Whales are slow movers they are fascinating to watch. Their behaviour ranges from logging motionless on the surface to breaching. They can be extremely friendly and inquisitive. They will often approach, circle and spy hop around boats as if to show a great interest in its occupants. These encounters can be an incredibly moving experience for anyone on board.

Over the last eight years we have observed a Northward shift in the area that the Southern Rights choose to congregate in within Algoa Bay. In the past these great whales could be found in good numbers along our beachfront, Bluewater Bay and St Georges beach. We now have very few whales choosing to use these areas. They now congregate in a more remote area along the Alexandria Dunefield between Sundays River Mouth and Bird Island. Although it is a bit further for us to travel to see them, the remoteness and vastness of the Alexandria Dunefield has resulted in some special excursions for us and our guests. We suspect that this Northward shift is due to the increased shipping traffic and engine noise that resulted from Coega Harbour becoming operational and the onset of ship-to-ship bunkering in Algoa Bay.

We look forward to spending some quality time with these whales during our cruises over the next few months. It is always exciting to try and count the number of calves that are born into the next generation of gentle giants that will migrate to Algoa Bay in the future.

Eastern Cape Tourism Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay World Cetacean Alliance Addo Tourism SANCCOB saves seabirds Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association Butt Cat Boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Sustainable Seas Trust BirdLife South Africa BirdLife Eastern Cape (BLEC) Algoa Bay Hope Spot Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Amakhala Game Reserve Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine WESSA - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa - Eastern Cape FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Jeffreys Bay Tourism Millers Local Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth

05/07/2024

Very proud of our Team, going the extra mile in everything they do. Wonderful to receive this award from TripAdvisor. The Travelers' Choice Awards is TripAdvisors highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best. Thank you to all our guests for joining us and for taking the time to share your experience giving confidence to future guests to make their booking!

Eastern Cape Tourism
Nelson Mandela Bay - South Africa World Cetacean Alliance Addo Tourism SANCCOB saves seabirds Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association Butt Cat Boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Sustainable Seas Trust BirdLife South Africa Algoa Bay Hope Spot Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Amakhala Game Reserve Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine WESSA - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa - Eastern Cape FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Jeffreys Bay Tourism Millers Local Dynamic Elements Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth

04/07/2024

Whaling Festival in Utqiagvik, Northern Alaska

Raggy Charters went on a mission to Utqiagvik in order to find out more about the cultural history and relationship the Inupiats had with whales. When Algoa Bay was declared a "Whale Heritage Area" in 2021 by the World Cetacean Alliance, we were told to do more research on the Khoisan and their historical relationships with whales. What we do know is that 9,2% of their diet consisted of stranded whales and dolphins. We arrived just in time for the Inupiat (Eskimo) Whaling Festival.

Well this wasn't quite the kind of "Welcoming the Whales to Algoa Bay" festival that we are used to! The Inupiats have been whaling sustainably in the Arctic for the last 4000 years and it is totally interwoven with their culture.

It was only when Commercial hunting for Bowhead whales was started by various industrialised nations in the 17th Century, that their numbers started to plumet. Like our Southern right whales, Bowheads are slow swimmers and floated when dead, making them relatively easy to hunt.

By the 1860's the population was down to 40% of pre exploitation numbers. By the 1920's there were estimated to be only 300 left and they were officially protected in 1946. The global population has now recovered to between 20 and 30 thousand.

As can be seen by the attached graph, the native Alaskans have been given a quota to hunt Bowhead whales since 1986 and kill about 51 animals per year. The community assists in making ice roads to be able to launch the wooden boats. These whales are hunted using traditional methods, except of course for the exploding harpoon bombs. Old Inuit harpoon points recovered from whales indicate that these animals can live for 200 years, making them the longest lived mammals on the planet.

There are about 50 whale crews in the area. After the hunt, the whales are butchered and distributed amongst the community by the crews. Each successful crew has a day to host a festival where frozen meat is distributed. Cooked and fermented (really yuk) whale meat is consumed on the day. Migratory bird (mainly goose) soup is dished out.

We were openly welcomed by the friendly Inupiats and they served us up all kinds of delicacies. Besides whale products, there was Eskimo ice cream and some kind of fermented berries.

The Inupiats claim that all the whale is used in some way. The baleen is stripped into thin pieces and used to make baskets. Some of the vertebra are carved into faces. In the next post we will take a look at some of the festivities and people.

Thanks to the Inupiat Centre for a very informative display of early whaling methods and a peak into the life of these people. It was interesting to see the early tools that were used to process the carcasses. No doubt the early Khoisan used something similar and it will now allow for some comparisons. All the artifacts have been photographed and this will be further researched when we return to Port Elizabeth.



Butt Cat Boats Fans of Butt cat boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Sustainable Seas Trust SANCCOB saves seabirds Algoa Bay Hope Spot World Cetacean Alliance Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Amakhala Game Reserve Addo Tourism Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine Algoa FM News Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Conservation Experience Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Jeffreys Bay Tourism Millers Local Dynamic Elements Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth KHOISAN Khoisan First Nations KhoiSan Economic Forum Khoisan Business Forum Khoisan Empire

01/07/2024

What great fun was had by our team together with Kids Perfect Events at the SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees this last weekend. Many congrats to be announced: Congratulations to Mandy Roets on putting together the Walk on the Wildside Marquee - we were proud to be part of it. Congratulations to the youth who took part in the Youth Art Sculpture Competition, all bringing a very strong message to us all, something close to our hearts at Raggy Charters! We look forward to having the top 3 on board with us soon. And last but not least, Congratulations to our Lucky Draw Winner!!

Addo Tourism SANParks Honorary Rangers One Land Love It SANCCOB saves seabirds Nyosi Wildlife Reserve Sarah Baartman District Municipality Katberg Mountain Resort & Hotel Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7"

26/06/2024

We are so happy to have had the best day for the best Welcoming the Whales Festival to date. The support was amazing and we are forever grateful to everyone who assisted, took part and visited us on the day. If you missed all the action take a look here at all that took place and keep in mind the 1st June 2025 to join our next years celebration at The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre

https://www.raggycharters.co.za/article/welcoming-the-whales-to-algoa-bay-2024

World Cetacean Alliance Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Addo Tourism Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" Nelson Mandela Bay - South Africa Nelson Mandela Bay Yacht Club Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association PEDSAC: Port Elizabeth Deep Sea Angling Club Nelson Mandela University Zsports Events SA BYD Kelston Periexpo Go See Do South Africa The Function Warehouse Magnetic Storm Bayworld PE SANCCOB saves seabirds The Waste Trade Company

  A wonderful day had by all at The Willows Resort and Conference Centre on 9th June 2024. All was prepped for...

19/06/2024

World Albatross Day

Seeing as it is World Albatross Day, I thought I had better do a post on our recent sightings. These iconic birds have the ability to fly without flapping their wings. It is so special to see them gliding along and getting a lift from the swells. They can attain speeds of 130km/h and stay airborne for weeks at a time.

Albatrosses are massive sea birds and the Wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any bird, up to 3,3 metres. They can live to be sixty years old; they mate for life and spend up to 80% of their lives at sea. Their eggs are incubated for longer than any other bird, very doting parents. As they can spend years without having to go onto land, how do they sleep? They manage this by locking their wings into position and snoozing away during their travels!

The Indian yellow-nosed in the attached images is quite small and slender for an albatross. They have been split apart from the Atlantic yellow-nosed, which does not occur in our area. While the adult has a yellow-orange stripe along the top ridge or culmen of the bill, this is lacking in the juveniles. They wander in a band from South Africa past Marion Island and eastwards to Australia and beyond New Zealand. They breed on subantarctic islands like the Prince Edward and Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen and St Pauls. During incubation, the adults will forage up to 1500km from the nest. They feed on fish, squid and crustaceans.

The Shy albatross in the attached images, like the yellow-nosed, are known as mollymawks. They have a wingspan of two and a half metres and can weigh four kg. Breeding occurs on three remote islands off the island of Tasmania in Australia. Have been recorded living for forty years. The chick is incubated for seventy days and then fed for the next five months by both parents. Once they leave the island they will not return for at least five years. They travel all the way to our shores in search of fish, squid and even jellyfish. Unfortunately, they often ingest plastics and other man-made chemicals. Global warming is a serious threat to their survival.



Butt Cat Boats Fans of Butt cat boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Bayview Boating Sustainable Seas Trust BirdLife South Africa SANCCOB saves seabirds Algoa Bay Hope Spot World Cetacean Alliance Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Buffalo Kloof Amakhala Game Reserve Addo Tourism Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine Algoa FM News Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Jeffreys Bay Tourism Millers Local Dynamic Elements Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth Sardinia Bay Conservancy World Ocean Day

18/06/2024

“Popcorn” the albino bottlenose turns 1 year and 2 months old!

Much to the conventional wisdom theory that albino animals never last long in nature . . . “Popcorn” has defied the odds. Our very own white dolphin is still going strong!

Since the first sighting after my son Kalahari and Toni’s wedding in April 2023, we have seen Popcorn over a dozen times. It has been interesting that the pod size ranges from 200 to 600 animals. This is normal according to feeding or mating activities.

We caught up with Popcorn and co just south of the Port of Coega breakwater recently and followed them into the mouth of the harbour. The water was dirty but we could see mom and calf moving very fast through the water while feeding. The pod was spread out and we observed quite a few with fish in their mouths.

We have had five sightings of killer whales in Algoa Bay this year, some preying on dolphins. Luckily Popcorn has not been on the menu! The other predator that would attack, is any white shark over three metres. Besides juveniles that are often observed close inshore, there have been no sizeable ones around. Current feelings are that the demersal shark long lining vessels that operate out of Port Elizabeth harbour, could be the reason. See our Live Shark Project, https://www.raggycharters.co.za/page/live-shark-project
As these long liners have severely impacted on the population of soup fin and smooth hound sharks in Algoa Bay, the whites have moved to areas where this prey species occurs in large numbers. This year the white sharks have been full up around East London, where the long liners do not operate. Good news for Popcorn but bad news for sharks and the entire marine eco system.

On another note, we are busy setting up a collaboration with the International Marine Mammal Project who are trying to get a similar albino bottlenose dolphin, the same as Popcorn, called Angel, released from an aquarium (jail) in Japan. https://savedolphins.eii.org/news/save-angel-the-albino-Whale and Dolphin Conservation

During 2014 a large pod of dolphins was driven into the notorious cove in Taiji, Japan where hundreds of dolphins are slaughtered annually. An albino was caught, her family butchered and she was sold to the Taiji Whale Museum, where she is still being kept. By supporting cetaceans in aquariums, you are encouraging this kind of activity.



Butt Cat Boats Fans of Butt cat boats Suzuki Marine South Africa Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay Bayview Boating Sustainable Seas Trust SANCCOB saves seabirds Algoa Bay Hope Spot World Cetacean Alliance Algoa Bay Ocean Stewards Whale and Dolphin Conservation Pro Dive Port Elizabeth ProDive Travel Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre SANParks Honorary Rangers Addo Elephant National Park - The Home of the "BIG 7" The Willows Holiday Resort & Conference Centre Buffalo Kloof Amakhala Game Reserve Addo Tourism Kenton-on-Sea & Boesmans Tourism Getaway Magazine Algoa FM News Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association WESSA Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa FRIENDS OF SCHOENMAKERSKOP Go See Do South Africa Addo Cruises and Sand Sledding Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR Shamwari Private Game Reserve Ulovane Environmental Training Lalibela Game Reserve Algoa Bay Conservation St Francis Tourism Frontier Agencies Millers Local Dynamic Elements Schotia Safaris private game reserve Seaview Port Elizabeth Sardinia Bay Conservancy Jeffreys Bay Tourism