Special Courses

In addition to working with school groups, the NPC Sea World Education Centre offers a number of more specialized courses for learners interested in marine careers, tertiary education institutions, for resource users, marine conservation agencies and other special interest groups.

Marine Careers

The NPC Sea World Education Centre runs two-day courses for learners from Grade 9 upwards to expose them to a range of potential marine careers, as well as what personal qualities and formal qualifications are required.  The many departments of Sea World are visited to interact with scientists, aquarists, animal behaviorists, etc. To make a booking for the course, contact Emma on emabaso@seaworld.org.za
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Introduction to Marine Biology

Many SCUBA divers undergo their initial training to obtain their qualification and, once they are comfortable with diving, want to learn more about the living environment they are experiencing.  A number of beach recreationalists are also keen to learn more about the environment under the big, blue blanket of the sea.

Courses are presented to groups at different times of the year and usually take the form of a set of five modules presented once a week in the evening.  Two-day courses for groups during the day can be arranged with prior notice.  The course covers an introduction to oceanography, biodiversity, classification, more on fish families and an extensive guided tour of the ecosystems of the aquarium.

Tertiary Education Students - resource management and classification

A specific course in marine fisheries management has been designed for these students. The main topics covered include population dynamics, diversity of fish life styles and different ecosystems as well as management options available to ensure sustainable use. The ideas presented include the latest scientific understanding as a result of input from some of our senior scientific staff in the Oceanographic Research Institute.

The Education Centre also has the facilities to provide a hands-on introduction classification based on marine species.

Resource Users:

Subsistence Fishers

Courses in basic marine biology and the sustainable use of marine resources have been specially prepared for rural subsistence fishermen to assist with capacity building of administrative committees for each of the fisheries along the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape coast.

Recreational Fishers

We also give presentations to recreational angling clubs on request.

Conservation Organisations

A number of courses are offered:

• Marine fish identification and life history (skiboat and/or shore catches)
• Marine resource management
• Marine ecosystems
  
• Estuarine ecology
• Beach dynamics
  

These courses are adapted for management and/or field staff.

Sustainable Seafood

Courses for restaurants and fishmongers

 For more information access the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative website: http://www.wwf.org.za/sassi/