MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

One More CITES Endangered Animal Lost

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This past weekend another Whale Shark was washed up on Maitlands beach, almost a year after the last Whale Shark was killed in the Port Elizabeth Harbour.

These magnificent creatures represent no danger to man as they eat plankton and are common worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters. Here in Port Elizabeth we seem to be sending the message to Whale Sharks that they must come to our shores during February and March and expect to die.

The sight of a beached Whale Shark at Maitland is definitely cause for concern.

Commenting on the death of the Whale Shark, Ocean Messengers’ Rainer Schimpf said; “Unless we change our attitude on how we handle our water, sewage and industrial waste, and with particular reference to the Swartkops River and Markman, we will lose our unique chance to become a ‘World Heritage Site’ here in Algoa Bay”

“Our beaches have lost their Blue Flag status and not taking care of our river water will continue messing up the sea as well. Water is a element which belongs to ALL humans, we cannot allow the public or industry to continue polluting this resource”.

Ocean Messengers will be publishing a Department of Education endorsed book explaining the complete water cycle and detailing reasons why we need to treat this resource with respect. 100 000 books aimed at Grade 8 and 9 pupils will be distributed.

This publishing of the book is supported by the Wilderness Foundation, General Motors as the main sponsor and SSI and will be initially available in Xhosa and English.

Contact Ocean Messengers to be a part of this initiative or to sponsor.

This 'Whale with an inappropriate name' washed up on the Maitlands beach on 10 February 2011.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.

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