Above Photo: The Mouse-Free Marion team at Marion Island. From left: Monique van Bers (M81 Overwintering researcher), Anton Wolfaardt (MFM Project Manager) and Camilla Smyth (M80 Overwintering Researcher).
Every year around April-May, South Africa’s research and supply vessel, the S.A. Agulhas II, makes its annual relief (takeover) voyage to sub-Antarctic Marion Island. The voyage aims to relieve the overwintering team who have been living on the island for the previous year and resupply the island’s research station. This month-long voyage is an important part of South African sub-Antarctic researchers’ calendars as it provides a valuable opportunity to conduct critical research on the island and to train and ensure knowledge exchange between outgoing and incoming overwintering researchers.
This year, the MFM Project will again participate in the takeover voyage, with a new face joining the overwintering team. The MFM Project is excited to welcome Monique van Bers to the team as the MFM Project Research Assistant for the 2024/2025 season. Monique will be taking over from Camilla Smyth (2023/2024 Research Assistant) and will spend the next 13 months living and working on Marion Island. Dr Anton Wolfaardt (MFM Project Manager) will be joining Monique on the takeover voyage to oversee the smooth transition between the MFM Project Research Assistants and ensure that Monique is well-versed in the fieldwork protocols to be employed on Marion Island.
Above: Monique van Bers (left) and Anton Wolfaardt wait at East Pier to board the S.A Agulhas II for the annual relief voyage. Photo: Leigh Wolfaardt
On why she is looking forward to going to Marion Island, Monique writes: “This has always been a dream of mine since I first heard about it in high school. I am excited because I will be actively involved in conservation efforts and helping to preserve the native species. I am also looking forward to the mental challenge of dealing with the unpredictable weather conditions on this remote island.”
Monique, who completed her BSc Honours degree at the University of Pretoria, has spent considerable time conducting fieldwork in Kwa-Zulu-Natal and Lesotho and is excited to work in a very different environment. She writes “I am looking forward to the beautiful scenery. I am also thrilled to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct significant and groundbreaking research on Marion Island. But mostly, I can’t wait to see the seals and penguins on the beaches, the killer whales in the bay, and the albatrosses dancing for their life-long partners.”
We wish Monique all the very best for the year ahead. We firmly believe that this experience will be a life-changing one.
Robyn Adams, Communications Officer and Project Assistant. 23 April 2024
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Breeding Light-mantled Albatrosses on Marion Island, photograph and poster design by Michelle Risi
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a registered non-profit company (No. 2020/922433/08) in South Africa, established to eradicate the invasive albatross-killing mice on Marion Island in the Southern Ocean. The project was initiated by BirdLife South Africa and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Upon successful completion, the project will restore the critical breeding habitat of over two million seabirds, many globally threatened, and improve the island’s resilience to a warming climate. For more information or to support the project please visit mousefreemarion.org.
