Reclaiming the Ocean
Tommy Trenchard, South Africa
Tommy Trenchard is an independent photographer and writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. He has been living in various parts of Africa for the past 14 years, documenting a broad range of topics from across the continent and further afield, from stories of conflict, crisis and environmental destruction to stories of hope, resilience, and of the people, communities and organisations striving to change the world for the better. He is represented by Panos Pictures.
During apartheid, institutionalised racial segregation saw the forced removal of some 150,000 people of colour from their homes in Cape Town. Coastal communities, which were considered desirable by the country’s ruling white minority, were particularly affected, with tens of thousands of poeple, many of them relying on the sea for their livelihood, relocated to bleak housing projects outside the city.
Today, it’s estimated that only 15% of South Africans can swim, and the country sees around 1500 drownings a year.
The kelp forests off the coast of Cape Town are among the world’s richest marine environments, and they’ve experienced a surge of interest in recent years among divers, snorkelers, swimmers and conservationists. Yet, as with the country’s world famous beaches, the vast majority of those experiencing them hail from the country’s white minority or the growing numbers of international tourists.
Now, two grassroots organisations, the I Am Water Foundation and the Black Mermaid Foundation are spearheading a movement to restore the connection between marginalised displaced communities and the ocean. The programs teach children from the city’s underprivileged townships how to swim and snorkel, as well about the marine environment, its critical role in sustaining life on land, and the many pressing threats it faces. They aim not only to enable young people from marginalised communities to rekindle their connection with the ocean, but also to inspire the next generation of ocean conservationists.