Issue 59
December 2025
Changes to the Breede River Estuary Management Plan
Download the full document here - Approved 2025 Breede River Estuary Management Plan
Animal Rescues for 2025:
Tracking our turtles: Nori's first satellite tracking update
©Two Oceans Aquarium
The LBRCT found Nori, a subadult green turtle, near Moodie se Put in the St Sebastian Bay during May 2023 and quickly arranged transport to the Two Oceans Aquarium.
The LBRCT had the privilege of joining the Turtle Rescue Network team from the Two Oceans Aquarium during November to release four turtles back into the ocean after being successfully rehabilitated. One of which was Nori, a subadult green turtle that the LBRCT rescued from the St Sebastian Bay in May 2023. Nori was recently released into the De Hoop Marine Protected Area alongside her fellow rehabilitation patients from the Turtle Conservation Centre - Stella, Pebbles, and Cinnamon.
Thanks to her awesome adopters, the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation, Nori was fitted with a satellite tag the day before her release. This tag allows the Turtle Conservation Centre team to follow Nori’s journey as she moves through the ocean. As a rehabilitated subadult green turtle, Nori’s post-release oceanic movements make an important contribution to the global database for turtle conservation.
While the Turtle Conservation Centre team suspected that Nori might take some time to recalibrate and acclimatise within the De Hoop MPA before venturing further, she clearly had other plans. Instead, she immediately headed offshore! Her initial movements mirror those of Bheni, the only other satellite-tagged turtle released from this site. Just like Bheni, she moved southwest straight through the Agulhas Mud MPA before being carried westward along the continental shelf. In this first week, Nori covered 144km and averaged about 20km per day.
Since then, nothing about Nori’s reintroduction into the wild has been in the slow lane. In just under three weeks, she has upped the ante, travelling an impressive 1 154km with an average of 58km per day.
Blue indicates that the current is barely moving, while red indicates that the current is strong and fast.
New look sign boards for the Witsand Nature Reserve!
If you visit the Witsand Nature Reserve for walking, bird-watching or whale-watching, please consider donating to the Witsand Nature Reserve Trust. All donations help to maintain the footpaths and remove alien vegetation. To donate, scan the QR code via SnapScan or pay online via EFT to the account above.
Monitoring the Swellendam Slipways
The LBRCT has an agreement with Swellendam Municipality to monitor its Public Launch Sites (PLS) during busy periods. We currently have a team working at the Moddergat slipway over the December and January school holidays. They are friendly, and may be able to assist you with boat licences if arranged beforehand. In collaboration with the Infanta Residents and Ratepayers' Association, appointed Honorary Rangers assist in the monitoring of the Infanta Slipway.
Witsand Annual Information Meeting
The LBRCT hosted our Annual Information Meeting (AIM) in Witsand on the 29th of December 2025. The meeting was well attended. We plan to host our Malgas AIM over Easter time after the Malagas Residents and Ratepayers' Association's Annual General Meeting. If you missed our meeting and are interested in what we have been up to this year, the presentation is available for download below:
Join the LBRCT Community using our Cell Phone App!
Signs displaying scannable QR codes for Day Permits and the new Mobile Communications App have been installed underneath the existing Malgas area signs.
With the LBRCT added as a community on the GLO CMS app, you can explore the content for useful information relating to fishing, boating and important regulations. Be sure to click on the more button for additional links.
The app has many features which will be used to keep you informed and up to date with special events, stakeholder engagements, annual meetings, and important notices.
Apple App Store - https://apple.co/4cgCLeF
Google Play Store - https://bit.ly/3Egtgj7
Huawei App Gallery - https://bit.ly/429FORq
CAUTION:
Rabies and Bird Flu in the Western Cape!
Avian Influenza detected in Western Cape: Public urged to stay alert, not alarmed.
Since early July 2025, a new outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in wild seabirds across the Western Cape. These are the first wild‐bird detections in the province since April 2024. Wild seabirds infected with HPAI often develop neurological signs such as tremors, head twitches and seizures. Although HPAI occasionally infects mammals and humans, the risk to the public remains very low when basic precautions are followed. Members of the public are encouraged not to touch sick or dead birds and to report them to the LBRCT.
What is High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza?
High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, is a viral disease that causes rapid, severe illness in birds. The type of HPAI affecting seabirds in South Africa is officially known as H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b.
Which birds have been affected?
At the beginning of August 2025, most of the affected wild birds were Hartlaub’s gulls. Cases have also been reported in Great white pelicans, Grey-headed gulls, Kelp gulls, Whitebreasted cormorants, Crowned cormorants and Sacred ibises. Domestic chickens and ducks have also been affected.
Buy your Recreational Fishing Permit online:
We are pleased to announce that Recreational Fishing Permits are available online! Please visit https://www.fishing.dffe.gov.za/ to purchase your permit.
Should you intend on fishing from a vessel, at least one crew member requires the permit condition for an "additional fee per vessel for recreational fishing from such vessel" to be selected.
REMINDER:
Current Closed Seasons
Breede River Locations Map
Click here to view a map of the Breede River Estuary containing the locations of popular spots, attractions, restaurants & pubs, accommodation, boat licence sales outlets, public slipways, and more!
Grab your Fish Measuring Sticker for Free!
Visit our office in Witsand to collect a free fish measuring sticker for checking minimum size and bag limits of common fish and bait species.
Legal Size Red Flags for Water Sports
As per the municipal by-law, the operator of a boat towing a skier must display a red flag measuring a minimum of 500mm by 500mm to indicate when:
(a) a skier is down in the water, or preparing to ski;
(b) a tow line extends from the boat;
(c) a ski is in the water in the vicinity of the boat.
To purchase a legal size LBRCT red flag for only R130 please contact info@breede-river.org or WhatsApp 064 774 3862 to place an order.
Buy a Conservancy Cap
Are you a member of the LBRCT?
If you take an active interest in, or use the Breede River Estuary, we encourage you to become a member of the LBRCT and support our worthwhile endeavours on your behalf by way of contributing to these efforts. Memberships are due for renewal from the 1st of July 2025.
If you are interested in receiving news updates and other interesting information join our 'LBRCT Communications' WhatsApp group.
Click here to join the group.
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