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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 8h

From the smallest creatures hiding between the rocks to the bigger picture of our coastal ecosystems, there's always something new to discover when the tide goes out! Just another day of learning in the field at Oceans Research #MarineResearch #MarineBiology #FieldResearch #TidalSurvey

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 8h

☀️ Sunshine, salty air, and a little science! No classroom is better than the coastline on a beautiful day in Mossel Bay. 🌊Our students made the most of the sunshine during a recent tidal survey, exploring the intertidal zone, observing marine life, and collecting valuable field data.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

We then deployed 9 new receivers, carefully recording the location, receiver number, deployment depth and other relevant information for each station. And just like that, another six months of listening begins.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

In total, we retrieved 13 receivers, which will now be returned to SAIAB for the data to be downloaded and analysed. These recordings can provide valuable information on the movements and habitat use of acoustically tagged marine animals along our coastline.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Before heading offshore, Enrico Gennari (PhD) introduced the students to different animal tracking methods and explained the principles of telemetry. Once on site, the students learned to use the VEMCO VR100 to assist with locating and retrieving the receivers that had been deployed in January.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

For our new student Carly, alongside our students Lisa and Elzear, the day started with loading the equipment, heading down to the harbour, getting everything onto the boat and setting off towards Groot Brak.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

🎧 Six months of data in, six more months of monitoring ahead. Every six months, we head out to retrieve and replace the ATAP acoustic receivers that form part of the long-term acoustic telemetry network along our coastline.

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

And once everything is tied, checked and ready to go, the receiver can do what it does best: listen. 🌊

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

Knots might seem like a small detail, but when equipment is being deployed in the ocean, there is very little room for error. Knowing how to rig, secure and handle equipment safely is just as much a part of good marine fieldwork as collecting the data itself.

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

Railway sleepers are attached to the receiver and buoy to provide the necessary weight and anchoring system. Our skipper, Gian, took the opportunity to teach our students some of the knots used in marine fieldwork, including figure-eight knots, bowlines and half hitches.

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

The receivers detect acoustically tagged animals as they move through the array, generating long-term data on movement, residency, site fidelity and migrations. But first, everything needs to be securely rigged.

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

ATAP forms a large-scale acoustic telemetry network along the southern African coastline, with more than 285 moored receivers currently spanning approximately 2,300 km from St Helena Bay to southern Mozambique.

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

As part of a collaboration with SAIAB’s Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP), our team helps with the preparation and deployment of acoustic receivers.

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

🎣 The knots behind the data. Before an acoustic receiver can start recording the movements of marine animals, there is a fair amount of practical work that happens above the water.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

So… did you guess it? 🐡 📍 Hartenbos Beach, Mossel Bay 📸 SWNS

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Pufferfish have powerful, fused teeth that form a beak-like structure, allowing them to crush hard prey such as crabs, molluscs and other invertebrates. Their teeth are incredibly robust, which is why pieces like this can remain intact long after the rest of the animal is gone.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

🐡 Can you guess what this is? 👀 We came across this unusual little find while out on Hartenbos Beach in Mossel Bay during one of our surveys. It might look like a piece of shell at first, but this is actually part of a pufferfish’s dental structure!

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Six humpback dolphins before we had even started our chumming shift! 🐬🌊 After such a beautiful start to the day, it was time to head offshore and get to work on our chumming survey. 💙 #OceansResearch #HumpbackDolphin #SeaSearch #MarineMammals #MarineResearch #MosselBay #MarineConservation

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

But the surprises did not stop there. As we travelled along the coast towards Kleinbrak, we spotted another three humpback dolphins. We were able to follow them for around 40 minutes, getting some excellent photo ID images that will help researchers recognise and track individual animals over time.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

We immediately collected photo identification images for SeaSearch’s ongoing humpback dolphin research, before continuing on our way to the chumming site.

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Oceans Research Institute @oceansresearch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

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

These striking seabirds are expert marine predators, using their incredible eyesight to spot fish from above before plunging into the water at high speed. A pretty spectacular escort for the trip to our chumming location. 🌊💙

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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

They can even burrow back into the sand remarkably quickly when disturbed or as the tide changes. Another little reminder that plenty is happening along the strandline beyond the egg cases we are there to collect. 🌊🐚 #OceansResearch #PloughSnail #MarineEcology #CoastalEcology #MosselBay

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

They use their large muscular foot to “plough” through the sediment, often moving rapidly across the surface. They are also scavengers, using their chemical senses to detect food carried in by the waves and quickly gathering around carrion.

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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

After we brought it aboard, we briefly assessed this individual before safely releasing it back into the ocean. Another small glimpse of the diverse shark community living along our coastline. 🌊 #OceansResearch #SharkResearch #MarineBiology #MarineEcology #MosselBay #OceanResearch

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

𝘗. 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮 is endemic to South African waters and is a benthic species associated with rocky reefs, kelp beds and other coastal habitats. It is primarily nocturnal, spending much of the day resting in sheltered areas before becoming active at night.

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

The name comes from its distinctive longitudinal dark stripes, which run along the body and make the shark look like it's wearing old-fashioned striped pyjama pants. The pattern can vary between individuals, with age and locality, but it makes this species one of the easiest catsharks to recognise.

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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

The survey took us along the beautiful coastline of Tergniet, Mossel Bay — a reminder that even on the gloomiest days, the ocean never stops being extraordinary. 💙 #Tergniet #MosselBay #TidalSurvey #MarineEcology #CoastalEcology #MarineLife #OceanConservation #Fieldwork #SouthAfrica

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

Between the crashing waves and exposed rocks, every tidal pool reveals another little piece of the ecosystem we are here to understand and protect.

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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

Every encounter adds another piece to the picture of the shark community inhabiting our coastal waters — and some are particularly special. 💙 #OceansResearch #TigerCatshark #SharkResearch #ChondrichthyanResearch #MarineBiology #MarineEcology #SharksOfSouthAfrica #MosselBay #OceanConservation

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

Following capture, the shark was carefully processed, and morphometric data were recorded, her condition assessed, and her skin examined for external parasites. At 41 cm, she was considered too small for tagging, so after processing, she was released back into the ocean by our student, Lisa. 🌊

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

This was a noteworthy record for our monitoring programme, as we have not recorded a tiger catshark in our catches for at least four years. Rare encounters such as this contribute to our understanding of the local chondrichthyan community and provide information on occurrence and distribution.

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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

After the shift, everything comes back wet, sandy, and salty. Then comes the less glamorous but equally important part: checking equipment and organising the data sheets. Good fieldwork isn't just about finding species. It starts with careful preparation and ends with careful data management.

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

Before heading out, we make sure the transects are ready, quadrats are packed, the GPS tracker is charged and recording, data sheets are prepared, and species ID guides are within reach. And, all our gear needs to be disentangled, organised and ready to go before the tide dictates our schedule.

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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

Tidal pools also have a way of connecting people to the ocean. They are often where curiosity begins: where we first turn over a rock, discover a tiny crab or watch an anemone close around a drop of water. A whole world in a pool. A whole ocean beyond it. 📍 Mossel Bay, South Africa

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

And then, with the incoming tide, these miniature ecosystems reconnect with the ocean. I think there is something quite special about that connection. What looks like a small, isolated pool is actually part of a much larger living system.

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

Limpets, anemones, algae, small fish, crabs and countless microscopic organisms each occupy their own niche, creating a surprisingly complex community in a very small space.

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

Within just a few metres, you can find organisms adapted to some of the most challenging conditions in the marine environment: changing temperatures, wave exposure, drying out between tides and dramatic fluctuations in salinity and oxygen.

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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

Because behind all the data collection and ecological monitoring, there are usually wet feet, salty clothes, questionable hair and a few good memories along the way. Fieldwork: scientifically rigorous. Selfies: equally essential. 📸🌊

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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

Our work may focus on marine wildlife, but spending time outdoors means we share our space with all kinds of fascinating creatures. Whether they swim, fly, climb or have far too many legs, we are always happy to give them a little helping hand when they need it and plenty of space when they don't.

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

And then there was the centipede we discovered in our garage. We left it completely undisturbed and simply made sure it was safe, allowing it to retract itself into a shaded corner of the garage where it could carry on about its business. 🐛

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