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Many people ask us why one of the main exhibits at the Two Oceans Aquarium carries the name "I&J". As a founding partner, I&J has supported the Two Oceans Aquarium since 1995 by supplying food for our animals, investing in education programmes through the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, and supporting our I&J Children’s Play Centre. In 2004 I&J played a pivotal role in attaining the stringent sustainability Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for the South African hake industry, which aligns with our message of sustainable use of the ocean's resources. In 2016 the brand new I&J Ocean Exhibit opened and it has become one of our most popular exhibits - for good reason!

As humans, we are often led to believe that sharks are dangerous creatures that should be feared. This notion is portrayed in movies, books, pop culture, traditions, and in so many other ways. Sharks have been incorrectly labelled "monsters of the sea", and have been given minimal opportunity to prove themselves to be otherwise. Well, here at the Two Oceans Aquarium, they are given their “voice”, courtesy of the marvellous Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit.

We're incredibly pleased to officially welcome Dr Judy Mann-Lang to the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation as its newly appointed Executive for Strategic Projects, where she will be overseeing research and adult training programmes. Many members of the South African ocean community will recognise Judy as the former Conservation Strategist for the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR) in Durban, and we are overjoyed to be able to welcome such a well-known and well-respected figure within marine conservation education and communication circles to the team.

The moray eel family (Muraenidae) is a big one, consisting of 15 genera and 200 different species. These snake-like fish are quite shy, and tend to dwell under ledges and in rock crevices. Moray eels possess a very good sense of smell, which combined with their second set of jaws situated in the throat, makes it easier for them to secure their prey. Despite not being generally aggressive, the bacteria in their teeth means that one bite from these beauties can quickly become infected. Now that you know a little bit about moray eels, let's meet the four different types of moray eels at the Two Oceans Aquarium!

Happy Marine Protected Areas Day! Yes, today is the day that we dedicate to, and celebrate those areas around our coast, and within our marine environment, that have been declared protected areas. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are areas that function almost in the same way as nature reserves do on land. Around and off the South African coastline there are 41 MPAs, dotted between iSimangaliso in KwaZulu-Natal on the East Coast, all the way to Orange Shelf Edge, offshore of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape on the West Coast. It might sound like our ocean territory is well covered by MPAs, but in reality, only 5% of South Africa’s ocean territory falls within an MPA.

Thanks to the support of SPAR, another junior biologist course has come and gone, and as always, it was a blast! Our highly popular junior biologist course is aimed at kids between the ages of 10 and 12, that are interested in the ocean and its beautiful plants and animals.

We'd love you to join us on Saturday 30 July 2022, from 10h00 to 11h30 at Dalebrook Tidal Pool, part of the Table Mountain National Park MPA. Bring the family for a fun morning of ocean adventures and enjoy a rocky shore treasure hunt with expert teams from the Two Oceans Aquarium, I AM WATER, SOSF Shark Education Centre, and OceanHub Africa. Bring your camera and join us in finding as many of Dalebrook's iconic species as you can.

Pan, Donny and Caddy are three sea turtles that were recently released off different parts of the South African coastline, after successful rehabilitation under the care of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. Each of these turtles has been fitted with a satellite tracking tag, which will allow us (and you to follow their ocean journeys and see where these three incredible animals go - providing valuable information for the conservation of this species in South Africa.

In celebration of Mandela Day 2022, the Two Oceans Aquarium team took to Red Cross Children’s Hospital to bring much-needed joy and sunshine to the cold and rainy morning! "Mandela Day is a day of giving without expecting anything in return and giving to Red Cross Children’s Hospital was an honour for us. All of us had the same intention of cheering up everyone, especially the kids," said Marketing Coordinator Phumza Jongihlathi, who organised the day's activities.

Teamwork makes the dream work (cheesy, but true)! The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, uShaka Sea World and Bayworld (with assistance from East London Aquarium) teamed up for the release of three rehabilitated juvenile loggerhead turtles. Due to adverse weather conditions, we couldn't release all three turtles at the same, but over the past week, all three of these endangered rescues were successfully returned to the ocean. Swim well Pan, Donny and Caddy!