EARTH CHATS welcomes Mark Dixon, the Founder and Project Manager of The Strandloper Project which operates along the Garden Route of South Africa. Mark is tackling the impact Ghost Fishing is having on the environment and fish species.
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About Mark Dixon
Mark Dixon has specialized in environmental education and consultancy services including field research and analysis. For the past three years a focal component of his consultancies have been avifaunal surveys for the wind energy industry. As a training facilitator he concentrates on forest ecology, marine ecology and small scale fisheries.
Mark holds a B.Sc Agriculture (Lifestock Science), Lifestock and Agriculture nutrition and production and an M.Sc Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Study of the environmental effects on the digestive physiology of the South African Abalone.
What is GHOST FISHING – The Strandloper Project is finding SOLUTION for recreational fishing pollution
The Strandloper Project
The Strandloper Project aims to survey and recover lost recreational fishing tackle on inshore reefs in the Garden Route. Studies include the incidence of ghost fishing and reef degradation caused by recreational fishing. Though attention and research is focused on commercial fishing activities, little research has been conducted on the contribution that snagged recreational shoreline fishing tackle makes to ghost fishing. To address the impact of recreational fishing on biodiversity the Strandloper Project is studying ghost fishing and reef damage caused by shore based activities.
In October 2020, the Strandloper Project will set off on their second research expedition to survey fishing debris and plastic pollution along the Garden Route coastline. Hiking from Nature’s Valley to Wilderness, they will be covering some demanding terrain in an endeavor to protect the marine biodiversity of the region.
More about the Strandloper Project here
Ghost Fishing
‘Ghost fishing’ is what fishing equipment or gear does when it has been lost, dumped or abandoned in the seas and oceans either by commercial and recreational fishing. The fishing equipment that is no longer in the fisherman’s hands continues to trap and kill fish, crustaceans, marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds. Follow The Strandloper on Instagram
The Garden Route Trails
Mark started Garden Route Trail in May 2004 and Amanda joined in 2007. Together, as a husband and wife team, they offer guiding, logistics and catering for nature tours in the Garden Route and Southern Africa. Both Mark and Amanda have extensive background in ecology and the environment, both as guides and field researchers. An astute naturalist, Mark informs guests with a mixture of scientific information and personal obervations.
Eco-conscious travel is trending and according to a survey conducted by Booking.com in 2019. 87% of all tourists want more sustainable travel options, and 67% are willing to spend at least 5% more on their travel to ensure it has as low of an impact on the environment as possible.” Criteo Travel Study
Plan and Book your Garden Route Trail here
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