|
Coastal Baseline Survey.
In May of 2019, a team of 6 Strandloper Project volunteers embarked on the first expedition to survey plastic pollution and fishing debris in the Southern Cape. The first stage of the expedition was a 210km hike between Blombos Nature Reserve and Wilderness in the Garden Route. Over the 11 days, they conducted a series of research surveys to document the incidence of fishing debris and plastic pollution and the coastline.
The second phase of the expedition between Nature's Valley and Wilderness will take place in 2020.
Expedition Route.
A group of six hikers walked 210km between Blombos Nature Reserve and Wilderness in the Garden Route.
Demanding Itinerary.
Over the 11 days of the research expedition, we hiked stages averaging 20km per day and surveyed washed up plastic pollution and snagged fishing tackle.
Its all in the name.
The name Strandloper Project was chosen to represent the early human origins in the Southern Cape. Archeological evidence indicates that early Homo sapiens lived and foraged from the inter tidal zone along the shifting coastline of the region from 164,000 years ago.
It is proposed that the rapid development of early human cognitive thought developed in the Southern Cape as a result of the high phospholipid content of their marine diet..
Mapping Trash Distribution.
For locals that take regular beach hikes in the Garden Route, it has become apparent that certain types of plastic pollution washes up at specific locations on the shoreline.
By mapping the location of various categories of plastic found on the hike we were able to link it to possible sources.
Municipal Engagement.
Using our collected data, the Strandloper Project plans to enter into a dialogue with respective municipalities to take appropriate action to prevent future losses of plastic debris into rivers and the ocean.
Baseline Survey.
Plastic pollution and fishing debris were documented using our Dirty Dozen transect, Bottle Transect and Incidental Sighting app in Cybertracker. Surveyed items were classed in various categories including size, colour and original use and recorded with GPS location.
Public Awareness.
One of the main reasons to conduct the hike survey is to document the plastic pollution and fishing debris along the route.
However knowing the rate of pollution is useless unless the information is made available to the public and authorities.
To raise awareness about our findings we had a concerted daily update of our progress and finding across all our social media platforms.
Monica from Landmark Foundation assisted by arranging for school groups to join us and collect trash along sections.
Social Media.
To this end we had regular posts on our Instagram and Twitter platforms during the expedition and ongoing posts of our monthly research dives
Expedition Reports.
On our 2019 expedition we recorded 117 Dirty Dozen surveys, 45 Plastic Bottle surveys and 904 Incidental Sightings.
Our findings can be read in the reports below.
1. Great Brak Report
2. Duineveld Report |
