Sally Sivewright, marine biologist and head of Guardians of the Deep, and ranger sergeant Tyron Schroeder have been honoured for their efforts to conserve Cape Town's marine environment.

Their project, the Table Mountain Marine Support Group, won the Initiative of the Year award at the SANParks Honorary Rangers national awards for its innovative community engagement in conservation.

Ms Sivewright recalls that the idea for the support group emerged in January when she and Mr Schroeder discussed the pressures facing the Marine Unit, which is tasked with safeguarding the Table Mountain Marine Protected Area (MPA) and the Robben Island MPA, covering 1 680 square kilometres of critical coastal waters.

"The Marine Unit has a huge responsibility as custodians of these waters, and I saw that by providing additional support we could ease some of their load," she said.

They decided that community engagement would be the cornerstone of their strategy.

“We wanted to create a calendar of community conservation events that would run throughout the year,” she said, emphasising the shared responsibility of all residents in protecting South Africa’s natural heritage.

Since then, the group has hosted beach clean-ups, awareness days for the MPA, and educational programmes for local schools.

“We each hold the power to make a positive environmental difference, and that power lies in the choices we make every day,” she said.

Beyond public outreach, Ms Sivewright noticed the need for additional resources and training for the SANParks rangers.

Her team raises funds to provide equipment and support ranger training, while Guardians of the Deep, a non-profit that helps people make good decisions for the ocean and the environment, collaborates with local communities on projects to assist the Marine Unit.

“These contributions range from swim training sessions to building eco-brick benches, which are simple but impactful additions to ongoing conservation work,” she said.

Operating under the Marine Watch banner, the group has also organised extra patrols along the coastline and coordinated major public events like World Ranger Day and MPA Day.

Ezekiel Kosa, MPA manager for Table Mountain National Park, showed appreciation for their work.

“Their efforts to transform our office atmosphere are truly inspiring. The team feels more motivated, happier, and shows greater appreciation for their work environment,” he said.

Ms Sivewright said she felt a strong connection to her role as an honorary ranger. As a marine scientist, this direct involvement with the rangers had enriched her work and provided her with new insights into their daily challenges, she said.

“It means a great deal to me; I feel truly honoured,” she said. "I am constantly learning from the Marine Unit and always enjoy my time with them, whether on patrol, helping with swim training, or working on community projects.

“Community involvement has been one of the biggest wins for Marine Watch, and the turnout at events has been inspiring. People of all ages and backgrounds are coming together to support conservation,” she said.

Looking ahead, Ms Sivewright has more projects in the works.

“We’re excited to launch our children’s book, The Adventures of the Balaena Crew, next week,” she said, explaining that 10% of every book sold would go to the SANParks honorary rangers to support and better equip the TMNP Marine Unit.

She also plans to expand swim training to include more youth in environmental activities.

“Getting to spend time in South Africa’s breathtaking natural spaces with the incredible rangers striving to protect them has been a privilege,” she said.

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