The Two Oceans Aquarium celebrated MPA Day 2026 with a Rocky Shore Explore

Last weekend, on 1 August 2026, the Two Oceans Aquarium community celebrated the sixth annual Marine Protected Areas Day with a Rocky Shore Explore at Dalebrook Tidal Pool in the Table Mountain Marine Protected Area.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) protect some of our ocean's most valuable ecosystems. They provide safe havens for marine wildlife, support healthy fisheries, preserve natural heritage, and create opportunities for recreation, tourism, research, and education. Because these areas are protected, they are bursting with marine life, from vibrant coral reefs to teeming wetlands. MPA Day celebrates these special places and reminds us why safeguarding them is so important.

The family-friendly Rocky Shore Explore event invited participants to discover the remarkable diversity of Cape Town's rocky shoreline within the Table Mountain MPA. More than 200 participants explored the intertidal zone, encountering a variety of fascinating marine species and gaining a deeper appreciation for the role MPAs play in conserving South Africa's rich marine biodiversity. 

Throughout the morning, our Ocean Campus educators explored alongside participants, answering questions and pointing out fascinating marine life. Under sunny winter skies, everyone from first-time rockpoolers to seasoned ocean enthusiasts enjoyed discovering the incredible diversity of marine life right on Cape Town's doorstep. Among the day's highlights were delicate feather-duster worms and brightly coloured sandy anemones; small but fascinating reminders of the biodiversity protected within the Table Mountain MPA.

As a founding supporter since the very first MPA Day, the Two Oceans Aquarium is proud to have helped grow this movement through community engagement and ocean education. This year marked another important milestone, with MPA Day receiving official recognition from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

Originally launched in 2021 as a South African initiative, MPA Day has grown into a global celebration encouraging people to recognise and value the role Marine Protected Areas play in protecting our shared ocean.

As the day came to a close, participants left with sandy shoes, memorable wildlife encounters, and a deeper appreciation for the remarkable marine life protected within South Africa's MPAs. Every Rocky Shore Explore is a reminder that when people experience the ocean firsthand, they are more likely to value and protect it for generations to come.