Marion Island Science team setting sail from cape town harbour on the Pelagic Australis sailing vessel. Photo Credit: Kim Stevens

After 5 months of despair, contingency plans and some creative collaboration, our science programmes are set to resume on Marion Island!

But this is no usual voyage… instead of the usual SA Agulhas II icebreaking polar supply and research ship, our science team is embarking on a 6-day journey to Marion Island on the Pelagic Australis, an Antarctic sailing vessel. Click here for a tour of the vessel.

Earlier this year, scientific research came to an abrupt halt on Marion Island due to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent hard lock-down in South Africa. This was a massive blow to the scientific community, but particularly so for programmes with long-term data collections like our MIMMP, that would be missing out on the entire 2020 field season.

Fortunately, the day has been saved due to a historical collaboration between the MIMMP, Plimsoll Productions and the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), and our science crew has set sail TODAY from Cape Town harbour to resume scientific activities on Marion Island.

Our experienced sealers are getting some sailing practice on this voyage of a lifetime! Photo credit: Leandri de Kock

Congratulations to all parties involved for this milestone in science, conservation and society. Thanks to these tireless efforts, the integrity of long-term science programmes like the MIMMP can continue and result in achievements like our 39-years of uninterrupted Southern elephant seal monitoring!

Safe travels to our experienced MIMMP sealers Yinhla Shihlomule (going for his 3rd Marion Island expedition) and Frikkie van der Vyver (going for his 2nd expedition), who will have to hit the ground running as they arrive during the busiest field season of all - the Southern elephant seal breeding season.

Bon voyage!