Smile and Wave - Plett sharks and rays

Stories of the diverse shark and ray species of Plettenberg Bay

The great white shark is undoubtedly the most famous of all sharks and, in particular, has been on the minds of the community of Plettenberg Bay after the two unfortunate fatalities in 2022. However, when it comes to sharks and rays, Plettenberg Bay is so much more than just the great white shark. This talk will share stories from the wonderfully diverse shark and ray species living in our bay. From the bronze-whaler sharks that aggregate in summer, to the juvenile hammerhead sharks seeking safety, to the resident shysharks that are vastly under-appreciated, to the biggest stingray in the world calling this bay home, each species has its own unique and interesting story to tell, and I’m here to share them with you!

ABOUT DR CHANTEL ELTON

Dr. Chantel Elston is a passionate marine scientist, conservationist and science communicator. She is mildly obsessed with stingrays and has been researching sharks and rays for the last decade. Her PhD work focussed on identifying an important stingray nursery in Seychelles which was declared as a Marine Protected Area. Her post doctoral research brought her to the beautiful Garden Route, where she has been studying the stingrays of the Keurbooms and Knysna estuaries. She runs an exciting citizen science project called ELMO Africa which encourages everybody to submit their own sightings of sharks, rays and mermaids purses to aid in their conservation.

This event takes place on: