Look beyond

The Cape coast is characterised by having enormous forests of kelp (Ecklonia maxima). These remarkable plants grip the substrate with a holdfast and grow rapidly to the sea surface, where they maintain their position by way of a gas-filled bladder that ensures that their fronds are maximally exposed to sunlight for photosynthesis. Besides being a characteristic feature of our shores, these kelp forests are vitally important in the ecology of the area. They act as a baffle, reducing the strength of the high-energy currents and providing a protected zone in which...