The first southern right whales of the winter have been spotted in Mossel Bay - marking the start of the whale-watching season for the popular Southern Cape Town. They were seen from their balcony in Reebok, Little Great River by the owners of At Whale-Phin Guest House, Joy and Louis Cook, on the morning of 1 June 2009.
“We saw two this morning slowly moving from the Hartenbos area in the direction of Great Brak River,” said Cook. (Mossel Bay is ideal for both land-based and boat-based whale- and dolphin-watching and, according to Marcia Holm, COO of Mossel Bay Tourism).
“Although the other species, like orcas and dolphins, can be seen here throughout the year, the southern rights, which are known for their gentleness, their inquisitiveness, and their endearing behaviour, represent something really good in the world - and seeing them is always exciting,” said Mossel Bay Tourism chairman, Neels Zietsman.
He said that visitors were beginning to learn what the locals have known all along - that Mossel Bay is an excellent whale- and dolphin-watching destination.
“And it's becoming a well-rounded water-sports destination, too, with more and more water-based attractions opening up all the time.”
In December last year the mayor of Mossel Bay, Marie Ferreira, agreed to apply to have three of the town's beaches registered with the internationally recognised Blue Flag programme.
Blue Flag
“At the moment, the beaches - Santos, Diaz, and Hartenbos - are still under observation, and they'll get their Blue Flag status after a year-long probation if the Foundation for Environmental Education is satisfied that they are managed according to strict criteria,” said Holm.
The Blue Flag Programme aims to encourage sustainable development through appropriate environmental management. Water quality, environmental education, safety, infrastructure, and services such as the supply of information are vital facets of the programme.
“It's exactly because the Bay is so clean that it's also a brilliant shark-watching destination, and last year one of the owners of one local company - Ryan Johnson of the South African Marine Predators Lab, which is involved in formal scientific research into these fascinating animals - produced a National Geographic video that examined why shark-human coexistence is actually a peaceful, live-and-let-live affair in Mossel Bay,” said Zietsman.
“Mossel Bay's clean, shallow and protected waters make it as attractive for people as it is for animals, and the arrival of the whales is another reminder both of why it's so important to constantly protect our environment, and why Mossel Bay Tourism will always exercise its legally imposed ‘general duty of care'.
“We want to be absolutely sure that our children's children can enjoy the whales as we do today,” he said.
More information at www.visitmosselbay.co.za.
