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NSRI EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTRE (EOC)

087 094 9774

59

Animals rescued in 2024

209

Whales assisted to date

140

Volunteers specially trained to do whale disentanglements

Our Planet

The greatest long-term threat to our existence is climate change and the lack of care of our environment. The NSRI believes in doing everything possible to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment. We also advocate the conservation of South Africa’s marine areas and support animal rescues.

Why our planet matters

Water crises in the Western, Eastern and Southern Cape, extreme weather conditions and devastating wildfires have all underlined the importance of the environment to sustainability and livelihoods.

What Sea Rescue is doing

We have taken a position with regards to conservation to identify with initiatives to conserve marine animals, whales, dolphins, turtles and seabirds, and actively participate in programmes related to protecting these species. We are positively against marine pollution of a solid, biological and chemical nature and lobby local government to improve their systems. We understand the impact that marine pollution has on human health and our activism relates to our values around human life. The ocean cannot continue to absorb the waste it is confronted with and we must make internal and external effort as an organisation to reduce pollution.

We are conscious of energy requirements and its impact on the environment, and we are constantly striving to reduce our environmental footprint through more efficient sources and mechanisms like LED lighting, four-stroke outboard motors, building insulation and reduced travel.

Help us to protect our planet.

Why it works

The results of our energy-efficient and water-saving strategies have led to a reduction in our overall carbon footprint. Our facilities and assets reflect a culture of safety and concern for the environment. We strive to create awareness around the preservation of natural resources, including marine wildlife, and will always respond to marine animals in distress. Around 140 Sea Rescue volunteers, operating from 18 stations, have been trained to perform whale disentanglements.

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How you can help

Members of the public play an important role in alerting rescue services when they encounter animals in distress. If possible, stay with the animal until help arrives. But don’t attempt a rescue yourself as this may be dangerous. We have specialised teams of volunteers who know what to do
Reduce, reuse and recycle and encourage family, friends and colleagues to do the same
Organise beach clean-ups with your school, club or a group of friends. Coastal birds are particularly vulnerable to small bits of plastic and pieces of rope or netting that wash ashore
Live consciously with the planet’s future in mind

READ MORE ABOUT ANIMAL RESCUE

Station 14 Plett Whale Rescue
ANIMAL RESCUE  | Published: 20 May 2025

Efforts to save a juvenile Humpback whale have sadly been unsuccessful:

Sadly, a juvenile Humpback whale, beached at Robberg Nature Reserve, has unavoidably been humanely euthanised by marine authorities, assisted by Police, despite extensive efforts to try to save the whale.

Dolphin Release Banner1
ANIMAL RESCUE  | Published: 15 April 2025

The lasting impact of the NSRI – A dolphin, a fire, and a devoted supporter

We often picture boats cutting through waves to reach people in peril when we think of rescue missions. But sometimes, it’s a dolphin on a quiet beach – or a house fire in the early hours of Christmas Eve – that reminds us just how far the NSRI's reach truly extends.

Cape fur seal
ANIMAL RESCUE  | Published: 21 January 2025

NSRI Urges Caution Following Seal Incident at Simon’s Town

Cape Town, [Monday 20 January 2025] – Following an incident involving a seal and freedivers off Simons Town’s Windmill Beach in False Bay, the NSRI wishes to acknowledge the swift response and ongoing efforts of the City of Cape Town, whose staff actively managed the situation on-site.

Stn 10 Whale Detanglement
ANIMAL RESCUE  | Published: 20 September 2024

A juvenile Humpback whale assisted in a disentanglement operation

The young Humpback whale approached the NSRI rescue craft and fishing vessel IINGWANE and hung around for quite some time appearing to show appreciation for being freed.

Whale rescue 2024 1440x500
ANIMAL RESCUE  | Published: 24 July 2024

Rescuing giants: The NSRI's heroic whale disentanglement mission

On Friday, 28 June, the SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) received an urgent call about a whale entangled in a fishing line off Walker Bay, Hermanus.

Whale disentanglement 3july
ANIMAL RESCUE  | Published: 3 July 2024

Whale assisted in a disentanglement operation and ongoing efforts

On Friday, 28 June, the SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) was alerted to a whale appearing to be in distress, entangled in what appeared to be a fishing line, off-shore in the Walker Bay area, Hermanus.