The greatest long-term threat to our existence is climate change and the lack of care of our environment. The NSRI believes in doing everything possible to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment. We also advocate the conservation of South Africa’s marine areas and support animal rescues.
Water crises in the Western, Eastern and Southern Cape, extreme weather conditions and devastating wildfires have all underlined the importance of the environment to sustainability and livelihoods.
We have taken a position with regards to conservation to identify with initiatives to conserve marine animals, whales, dolphins, turtles and seabirds, and actively participate in programmes related to protecting these species. We are positively against marine pollution of a solid, biological and chemical nature and lobby local government to improve their systems. We understand the impact that marine pollution has on human health and our activism relates to our values around human life. The ocean cannot continue to absorb the waste it is confronted with and we must make internal and external effort as an organisation to reduce pollution.
We are conscious of energy requirements and its impact on the environment, and we are constantly striving to reduce our environmental footprint through more efficient sources and mechanisms like LED lighting, four-stroke outboard motors, building insulation and reduced travel.
Help us to protect our planet.
Help us preserve South Africa’s marine wildlife.
The results of our energy-efficient and water-saving strategies have led to a reduction in our overall carbon footprint. Our facilities and assets reflect a culture of safety and concern for the environment. We strive to create awareness around the preservation of natural resources, including marine wildlife, and will always respond to marine animals in distress. Around 140 Sea Rescue volunteers, operating from 18 stations, have been trained to perform whale disentanglements.
NSRI Hout Bay were alerted by Hout Bay CCP (Community Crime Prevention) control room of a group of hikers, locals, 2 adult females, an adult male and their dog, who had lost their way and were reporting to be dehydrated on the Hangberg hiking trail, between Hout Bay and Sandy Bay.
At 18h38, Tuesday, 30 October, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were requested by CoCT MASN (City of Cape Town Marine Animal Stranding Network) to assist at Gordons Bay Beach where a Sword Fish had beached.
Three recent animal rescues were cause for celebration... The NSRI is always available to help our aquatic friends to safety.
At 11h12, Thursday, 21 September, NSRI Gqeberha Station 6, including 3 NSRI Gqeberha crew trained in SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) whale disentanglement techniques and methods, launched 2 NSRI rescue craft from the NSRI rescue station at the Port of Gqeberha, Rescue 6 Alpha and Rescue 6 Bravo, following eye-witness reports of a whale entangled in fishing rope lines.
Big Bay rescue teams pulled together to release a stranded sunfish back into the blue.
On Saturday, 10 September, NSRI Hermanus, while conducting routine maintenance at our NSRI Hermanus rescue station were alerted by public members of a seal, witnessed in amongst the Dolosse, in and around the new harbour, with a rope entangled around the seals neck.