Junior River Wardens taking action for the ocean
03 June 2026
World Ocean Day is celebrated on 8 June, and this past weekend, 48 young environmental champions from the City’s Junior River Wardens Programme took early action by participating in a day of marine conservation, environmental education and a beach litter clean-up at Lagoon Beach.
The City’s Biodiversity Management Branch and Nature Connect, in partnership with Shark Spotters and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, hosted the event at Lagoon Beach on Saturday, 30 May, to highlight the role young people can play in protecting oceans and coastal ecosystems for future generations.
Learners from Red River Primary School, Floreat Primary School, and Ysterplaat Primary School participated in the day’s activities and were issued with official Junior River Warden T-shirts and hats, as well as protective gloves.
First off, the Shark Spotters environmental education team facilitated a series of interactive conservation activities designed to build awareness of marine ecosystems and ocean stewardship.
Learners were given an engaging introduction to the role sharks play in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. Through a fun relay challenge, participants explored shark identification, ocean safety, marine conservation, and the threats facing marine life. The activity encouraged collaboration and critical thinking while fostering a greater appreciation for marine biodiversity and the need to protect South Africa's oceans and coastlines.
Learners then joined the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation in a sweep of the shoreline, collecting all manner of pollution in bags sponsored by PlasticsSA. Under the guidance of the Shark Spotters team, they recorded the waste items using the internationally recognised Dirty Dozen litter audit methodology that focuses on the most common types of litter found on beaches.
At the end of the session, the learners collected and removed a total of 112,16kg of litter along 500m of coastline
These included plastic bottles, sweet and chip packets, fishing line, cans, discarded toys, and shoes
By auditing the litter, the learners gained knowledge about the sources of pollution entering coastal ecosystems and the impact litter has on marine life, bird species, and the broader environment
The waste collected during the event was removed and responsibly disposed of by the City’s Ndabeni Waste Depot
Through the clean-up, learners gained hands-on experience in environmental stewardship while contributing to a cleaner coastline. The activity also highlighted the importance of reducing waste at source and making responsible choices in everyday life.
‘We are extremely proud of the Junior River Wardens Programme, which is a partnership between the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch and Nature Connect. This programme aims to inspire environmental leadership among young people by providing practical conservation experiences and fostering a deeper connection with nature.
‘As we approach World Ocean Day, it is important that we educate young people about our oceans, the role they play in ensuring a stable climate and the fact that our collective survival and resilience rely on the health of our oceans. Through hands-on experiences such as the one hosted at Lagoon beach on Saturday, the Junior River Wardens develop an awareness, and also the skills and passion to become future custodians of our planet,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The event formed part of activities leading up to World Ocean Day, which is celebrated annually on 8 June. By combining education, action, and community partnership, the Lagoon beach event empowered learners to become ambassadors for environmental conservation in their schools and communities while reinforcing the important message that healthy rivers, wetlands, and oceans are everyone's responsibility.
Caption: Learners from Red River Primary School, Floreat Primary School, and Ysterplaat Primary School participated in a Junior River Wardens activity day at Lagoon Beach on 30 May. The day was hosted by the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch and Nature Connect, in partnership with Shark Spotters and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation. The 48 learners gained knowledge about the oceans, marine life and the local ecosystem and also conducted a litter sweep along a stretch of the coastline in celebration of World Ocean Day on 8 June.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
