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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 10h

Just as we were heading out of the harbour, our Station Manager, Kristina, mentioned that the conditions looked perfect for humpback dolphins (𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘢). And almost in the same breath, she spotted one along the harbour entrance, followed shortly by another two further out.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A gannet traffic jam at sea! On our way out to the chumming site, we were joined by a whole flock of Cape gannets (𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) passing alongside the boat.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

🐚 A little beach behaviour caught during our egg case survey. During our latest egg case collection, we came across a group of plough snails (𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴) moving across the sand. These fascinating intertidal snails are highly adapted to life on sandy beaches.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

🎣 A pyjama catshark in the catch A pyjama catshark (𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮) was among the catch during a recent sea fishing trip. 🦈

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Grey skies, wild seas, and a coastline full of life. 🌊☁️ Not every field day comes with sunshine, but there is something special about exploring the shore under a moody sky.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This week, our research team had an exciting encounter with a female tiger catshark (𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴), measuring 41 cm in total length. This species is endemic to southern African waters and is a small, benthic shark typically associated with rocky reefs and sandy substrates.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

🌊 Before the survey. After the survey. A tidal survey might look like a simple walk along the shore, but every piece of equipment has a purpose.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🌊 A tidal pool is much more than a pool of seawater. Along the rocky coastline of Mossel Bay, every tidal pool is a small, dynamic ecosystem.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Did the fieldwork actually happen if there’s no selfie to prove it? 😎🌊 Between transects, quadrats, species IDs and data sheets, we obviously had to document the most important part of the fieldwork too. 😂

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Although our work focuses on the animals in & around the ocean, we are fascinated by all the wildlife we encounter. This week, we had an exhausted bee land on Triton. We carefully escorted her back to the harbour, where she was able to rest and recover before flying off on her own.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

🦭 Morning chats with the locals! While out on shift at Seal Island, a few Cape fur seals (𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴) decided to hang out around Triton’s anchor line and had a lot of fun.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

🐬 Our first shift of the NEW land-based humpback dolphin survey! From our observation point at SeaGypsy, we are monitoring the waters around Santos Beach for Indian Ocean humpback dolphins (𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘢), as well as other whale and dolphin species passing through the area.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

A new group of students means a new season of learning, fieldwork and plenty of time on the water! 🐋 Orientation Day is all about getting everyone settled in and ready for life at Oceans Research.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

🐋 Land-based cetacean surveys from the Point Today’s survey took us to the spectacular Point in Mossel Bay, beneath the historic St. Blaize Lighthouse, where our team conducted a land-based cetacean survey using a theodolite.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

⚓ Keeping Triton safe through the storm When the wind picks up, our work at sea doesn’t stop completely — sometimes it just moves into the harbour.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

🦭 A little company on the water Cape fur seals (𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴) are a familiar sight along South Africa's coastline. These individuals spent some time following our research vessel, using the wake to surf alongside the boat while investigating their surroundings.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

🦈 An early-season surprise! Last week, we had a special encounter off Mossel Bay: three juvenile smooth hammerheads (𝘚𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘳𝘯𝘢 𝘻𝘺𝘨𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘢), measuring between 0.8 and 1.2 m.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Fieldwork is as much about being prepared as it is about finding the animals you’re looking for. While waiting for the next shark to arrive, our students get the opportunity to practise an essential skill in shark research: taking high-quality photo ID images.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

We recently joined Midbrak Conservancy and local families at Reebok Beach for a morning of marine education and exploration. Our team had the opportunity to teach participants about marine conservation, the challenges facing our oceans and some of the methods we use to study marine ecosystems.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Excited to share the deployment of a hydrophone as part of an important new research project investigating the acoustic world of the Critically Endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘢). 🐬🎧

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Name that species! 🐬 It’s the bottlenose dolphin! But how can you tell? Look for their rounded dorsal fin, all-grey body and short, broad beak. They’re also often seen travelling in groups, making them a familiar sight along the South African coastline.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Today, our students spent the afternoon on campus with Dr Enrico Gennari (PhD), learning more about animal stress responses and the importance of following proper tagging procedures.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Oceans Research Institute’s director, Dr Enrico Gennari (PhD), co-authored a new publication led by Dr Eugin Bornman, “Residency and space use of endangered smoothhound sharks (𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘴) in relation to Marine Protection and Demersal Longline Fishing along South Africa's South Coast”.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Not all egg cases belong to sharks! When we analyse egg cases, we’re looking at those from sharks, skates and chimaeras. We identify the species where possible, take measurements and assess each case for signs of damage or wear before recording the data.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Reel ‘em in 🎣 Our ethical fish biodiversity assessments are all about getting students involved in real fieldwork. Using handlines, they help catch, identify and measure fish and sharks before releasing them back into the water.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Eyes in the sky 🚁 Every student starts by learning the fundamentals on land, from flight planning and safety to building confidence with the controls. These practical skills prepare them to use drones as a research tool in the field.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

From our land-based survey site, we spend hours watching the ocean for whales and dolphins. Once an animal is spotted, we use binoculars to keep track of it before recording its exact position with a theodolite.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Our intertidal surveys are all about seeing what's living along the shoreline. Students work their way through the pools, identifying and recording the different species they find while collecting data that helps us keep track of these coastal ecosystems over time.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

The ocean is full of sounds that we can't hear from the surface. Bioacoustics uses those sounds to learn more about marine life. By recording underwater noise with a hydrophone, to study how they communicate and better understand their behaviour, without disturbing them.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

From the pool to the ocean. Once our students are comfortable in the pool, it's time to put those skills to the test in the ocean. Open water is a completely different environment, with currents, changing visibility, and natural obstacles, making it the closest experience to real ROV fieldwork.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

During our White Shark Population Dynamics surveys, every encounter is an opportunity to photograph a shark's dorsal fin. Since each fin is unique, much like a fingerprint, these images allow us to identify individual sharks without needing to tag them.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Meet Triton. We're taking a break from Shark Sunday to introduce someone you probably recognise, even if you don't know her name.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

That's a wrap for our July students! 👋

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Our White Shark Population Dynamics Project is helping us build a better understanding of one of the ocean's most iconic predators. During our surveys, we photograph each shark's unique dorsal fin for identification.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Meet the spearnose skate (𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘫𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘢). This bottom-dwelling species spends much of its time on sandy and muddy seabeds, where its mottled colouring helps it blend into its surroundings. Like many skates, it relies on camouflage to avoid predators and ambush small fish and invertebrates.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

🦈 Shark Sunday🦈 The great white shark (𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘴) is one of the ocean’s most recognisable predators. Found in temperate waters around the world, including right here in Mossel Bay, they spend their lives moving between coastal and offshore habitats in search of food.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Spot it, track it, record it. 🔭🐋 Every land-based cetacean survey starts with a pair of binoculars. We scan the ocean for whales and dolphins, and once we've made a sighting, we need to move quickly.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Sometimes we go looking for sharks, and sometimes we go looking for where they came from. At ORI, we're interested in every stage of a shark's life. Skates, rays, and some species of sharks lay egg cases, and those egg cases can tell us a lot before the animal has even hatched.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

As part of our student programme, participants create educational infographics to share what they've learned during their time with us. This one was designed by one of our students, Ella, highlighting some of the key differences between true seals (Phocidae) and fur seals (Otariidae).

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

🦈 Shark Sunday 🦈 Meet the Common smoothhound (𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘴), a coastal species that swaps slicing for crushing as it searches the seafloor for its next meal.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

What happens after the catch? 🦈🐟 Our fish biodiversity assessments use catch-and-release methods to sample sharks and fish from our local waters. Every individual is carefully identified, measured and recorded before being released, giving us a snapshot of the species that use these habitats.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

From the shoreline, there's a whole world waiting to be discovered. 🌊 Our land-based intertidal surveys take us through the rocky pools exposed at low tide, where we record the invertebrates living between the tides.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Some of our days start in the dark, which means we're lucky enough to watch the coastline wake up with the sun. 🌅 Low tide doesn't wait for a convenient hour, and neither do the animals we're studying.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

🦈 Shark Sunday 🦈 Hiding among the rocky reefs and kelp forests of our coastline is this week's shark: the puffadder shyshark (𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘦𝘥𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴𝘪𝘪).

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

🍩 Who knew turning yourself into a donut could be a survival strategy? When threatened or handled, some of South Africa's shark and skate species curl their bodies into a tight ring, wrapping their tail around to protect their more vulnerable underside.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Can you spot it? You never know what you’ll find during an intertidal survey. This is a common octopus (𝘖𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴), a master of camouflage that can change both the colour and texture of its skin to blend seamlessly into its surroundings.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Not every lesson in marine science is an easy one. Our team had the rare opportunity to take part in the dissection of a stranded pygmy sperm whale in collaboration with SMART. Working under the supervision of experienced personnel, we assisted with collecting samples and recording observations.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

This week we're focusing on the pyjama catshark (𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮), one of South Africa's most recognisable endemic sharks.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Sometimes the best place to study whales and dolphins is from above sea level. Our land-based cetacean surveys let us keep an eye on what’s happening offshore without ever leaving the coastline. We use a series of short and long scans to systematically search the ocean for animals.

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