Creatures of Hout Bay Harbour

Creatures of Hout Bay Harbour

Adriaan Gie 4th April 2022 Destinations, Lifestyle, News No Comment

Making a splash in Hout Bay

Chris Hames is a marine zoologist who has become deeply involved with Hout Bay and the environment. He is a director and COO of BlueBay2030, an Environmental Officer with the Hout Bay Yacht Club, and working closely with the Seal Rescue Centre. He is also an author and teacher and is keen to promote educational opportunities for youngsters to appreciate and care for the environment.

To keep Hout Bay harbour and beach as free as possible from pollutant materials, it is useful to measure the current situation in various ways to ascertain progress. Chris has begun to keep a photographic record of invertebrates living in the Bay. Some of these are regarded as ‘indicator species,’ reflecting a sustainable living environment for various life, so it is a positive start.

Beneath the Waves

Here are some examples, all except the isopod are living inside our harbour.

Roll over each photo to learn more.

Fan Worm
Marine Isopod
Marine isopods are aquatic woodlouse, a crustacean related to crabs and shrimp. This isopod was in a pool at Spring Low Tide beneath the leopard statue. This is a species Chris has not seen before. He would like to catch one to study it closer.
Sea Squirt Colony
A sea squirt colony contains many transparent individuals that pass water with food particles through their body for digestion.
Sea Anemones
Sea Squirt Colony
Fan Worm
Fan worms are a fan-like array that collects food particles in the water, which can be digested when the animal rapidly retracts them into its tube. It also disappears rapidly when threatened.
Sea Anemones
Sea anemones use stinging cells in its many tentacles to catch food. If you touch them, it feels like sellotape!