Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation Co-Hosts Seal Health Week: A Showcase Of Powerful Collaboration For Marine Mammal Conservation In Southern Africa

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation just co-hosted the first-ever Seal Health Week, bringing different conservation groups together to focus on marine mammal conservation Southern Africa. It’s a big deal for protecting the seals that live in Southern African waters.

Getting Everyone on the Same Page

Seal Health Week shows what happens when marine conservation groups work together. The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation already has wildlife monitors and specialists keeping an eye on marine animals around the V&A Waterfront, plus they consult on marine wildlife issues throughout Cape Town.

The week brought together experts who normally work separately. They shared what they know about keeping seal populations healthy and safe.

What the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation Brings to the Table

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is a South African non-profit that gets people to care about the ocean. They’re perfect partners for this conservation work because they’ve been doing it for years.

Their Marine Wildlife Management Programme has figured out smart ways to help humans and wildlife get along. Seals have been hanging out on the jetties for over 20 years. The Foundation built two seal platforms (at Clock Tower and Two Oceans Aquarium) so the seals have their own space and don’t clash with people as much.

The Real Problems Killing Seals

Seal Health Week tackled some serious issues that are hurting marine mammals in Southern African waters.

Getting Tangled Up

Seals constantly get wrapped up in fishing gear, plastic bands, and other junk. The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s disentanglement team has freed thousands of seals since they started. They keep watching for seals in trouble and jump in to help when needed.

Losing Safe Spaces

The groups talked about how important marine protected areas are for seals. These spots give seals safe places to breed and rest without getting bothered.

Learning More About Seals

The organizations shared their research data and monitoring methods. This helps everyone understand seal behavior, health issues, and how many seals are actually out there.

Why This Actually Makes a Difference

Seal Health Week proves that conservation groups can get more done when they pool their resources and knowledge. The Foundation already runs successful programs like the Turtle Conservation Centre (they rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles) and their Marine Wildlife Management Programme. Working with the V&A Waterfront, they’ve shown how wildlife and humans can coexist in a busy urban area.

Getting Local Communities to Care About Seals

The initiative focused about the experts getting together, and educating communities. The Foundation wants to create “ocean-literate South Africans” who understand how to use ocean resources sustainably.

Seal Health Week included public education on:

• How to identify different marine mammals and understand their behavior
• What to do if you find a marine animal in distress
• Why reducing plastic pollution and fishing gear waste matters
• Simple ways local communities can help with conservation

Using Tech to Save Seals

The groups shared new technology and conservation methods during Seal Health Week. The Foundation uses data to figure out how to prevent problems between humans and wildlife. For example, they provide specific resting spots for Cape fur seals so the seals don’t take over boats.

Some of the technology being shared includes:

• Better tracking and monitoring systems
• New rehabilitation and veterinary techniques
• Alternatives to harmful fishing gear
• Better ways to manage marine protected areas

More Than Just Saving Seals

The marine mammal conservation Southern Africa work that started with Seal Health Week affects more than just seal populations. This way of working together creates a template for tackling other marine conservation problems across the region:

• How climate change is messing with marine ecosystems
• Getting fishing practices to be more sustainable
• Cutting down on marine pollution
• Fixing damaged ecosystems
• Getting local communities involved in conservation

What Happens Next for Seal Conservation

This first Seal Health Week was successful enough that everyone wants to do it again. The Foundation already works to help communities understand ocean health and get involved in protecting marine ecosystems. Every South African has a stake in keeping the oceans healthy.

Plans for the future might include:

• Making Seal Health Week an annual event in different coastal areas
• Creating shared databases for research and monitoring
• Getting joint funding for marine mammal conservation projects
• Setting up training programs that work across borders
• Working together on policies that protect marine life

The Bottom Line

The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s role in co-hosting Seal Health Week shows that marine mammal conservation Southern Africa works better when organizations team up. Instead of everyone doing their own thing, sharing expertise and resources gets better results for protecting marine animals.

This kind of collaboration is becoming necessary as marine ecosystems face more pressure.

Written by: Junior Thanong Aiamkhophueng.

Attribution: This article is based on information from the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation press release and official communications regarding Seal Health Week 2025. Additional context sourced from Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Marine Wildlife Management Programme documentation.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, and, Wild Waves Films.

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