AFRICAN BOATING CONFERENCE 2026

This participatory workshop is a safe space to explore what good ocean communication really looks like, with honest examples, practical tools and plenty of time to practice. Whether you are a seasoned communicator or someone who breaks into a sweat at the thought of talking to non-scientists, this session is for you. Come ready to try things, make mistakes, and leave knowing a little more about how to reach people, spark genuine interest, and hopefully new sense of excitement about sharing your work with others.

Dr Toby Rogers from Shark Spotters and Courtney MacSween from Innovasea will be joining as workshop facilitators. A basic understanding of the statistical programme R would be beneficial, but isn't crucial.

Monofilament nets are widely prohibited for fishing in SADC countries due to their destructive ecological and socio-economic impacts. Made of clear nylon, these nets are nearly invisible underwater. They are non-selective, non-biodegradable and, as the material tears easily, they are often discarded after only a few uses, creating large amounts of plastic pollution.

In celebration of International Biodiversity Day on 22 May, this presentation showcases fifteen years of foundational offshore biodiversity research in South Africa, sharing discoveries, lessons learnt and the growing momentum.