|
SCENES FROM ALGOA BAY
 Article in Eastern Province Herald, June 7, 2005
Algoa Bay book focuses on
life of marine mammals
By GUY ROGERS
ALGOA Bay is the vibrant centrepiece of a
unique new book by marine tour operator
Lloyd Edwards.
While there are many books about
whales, dolphins and seabirds, it is
believed that this is the first to focus on
these creatures within a specific bay.
Edwards said yesterday that he had
realised, after 14 years spent showing
people Algoa Bay, that another medium
was needed to complement this work.
"One can only fit so many people on a
boat. This book gave me the opportunity
to summarise and contextualise my
experiences, to explain why our marine
animals are there and where they are in
the cycle of I'heir lives."
Scenes from Algoa Bay begins with the
history, climate, coastal hydrology of the
bay and progresses to different marine
mammals and seabirds, with anecdotes
about encounters with each species.
A chapter on "One day in Algoa Bay"
focuses on an encounter with a "bait ball"
of sardines and a feeding frenzy of
predator birds and marine mammals.
The book also looks at eco-education
outreach, rescue operations and
assisting with research - and law
enforcement.
A former police colonel, he said he did
not believe the bay was being protected
well enough, exemplified by rampant
perlemoen poaching,
"We've got to have more marine
officials spending more time at sea."
The book is aimed at educating local
people, especially children, and his hope
is that every school in the area will buy
one for its library.
"It's also aimed at tourists and tourist
establishments like B&Bs. The more
these visitors get to know about what a
special place the bay is, the more likely
we will get them to stay a bit instead of
using Port Elizabeth as just an entry or
exit point for the Garden Route." |
