From the Sands Back to the Sea

Every year, South Africa’s coastline becomes both a challenge and a lifeline for thousands of turtle hatchlings swept into southern waters by the Agulhas Current. Plettenberg Bay stands at a unique crossroads in this rescue network — playing a crucial role in connecting the east and west coasts through the transfer of stranded hatchlings to rehabilitation centres like Bayworld and the Two Oceans Aquarium.

This presentation explores the extraordinary journey of vulnerable turtle hatchlings from initial stranding and rescue, through rehabilitation efforts, to their eventual release back into the sea. In the face of climate change and increasing human pressures on marine ecosystems, the successful rescue and release of stranded hatchlings underscores the critical role that the public, rehabilitation centres, and research institutions each play in improving the survival chances of sea turtles.

Each session consists of 20-minute presentations, followed by a joint Q&A session of 15 minutes.

ABOUT MINYONNE VERSTER

Minyonne Verster is an MSc student in Zoology at Nelson Mandela University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and her Honours in Zoology at NMU, both with cum laude. She was the recipient of the Zoological Society of Southern Africa (ZSSA) Award for the top Honours student in Zoology. As a 2024 Ocean Steward working under the WildTrust, she is committed to marine research, conservation and awareness. Her research focuses on the conservation and management of the endangered seagrass Zostera capensis and its associated macroinvertebrate communities in the Keurbooms, Knysna and Swartvlei estuaries. In addition to her academic work, she volunteers in the Turtle Rehabilitation section at Bayworld, where she contributes to the care and rehabilitation of rescued sea turtles. She is passionate about marine ecology and conservation.