Publications
CSO Publications
Journal Articles
2025
Bukasa, W.A., Awe, A., Sparks, C., 2025. Characteristics and distribution of litter, mesolitter, and microplastics in Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management vjaf159. Sparks, C., Thompson, R., Jahnke, A., Wagner, M., Filella, M., Frias, J., Wang, M., Farrelly, T., Kentin, E., Velis, C., 2025. Comments on Article 2: Definitions. Dignac, M.-F., Mihai, F.-C., Bergmann, M., Boodhoo, K., Carney-Almroth, B., Colombini, G., Courtene-Jones, W., Cyvin, J., Deeney, M., Dettling, V., Ghiglione, J.-F., Gundogdu, S., Jayasinghe, R., Kelly, M., MacGregor, M., Sparks, C., Thompson, R., van Emmerik, T., Varvastian, S., Vázquez, A., Woodall, L., 2025. Scientists’ coalition for an effective plastics treaty. Article 7 on releases and leakages: Why is this article important and what could be improved? [WWW Document]. Policy Brief. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15638883 Trisia Farrelly, Susanne Brander, Natalia de Miranda Grilli, Noreen O’Meara, Winnie Courtene-Jones, Megan Deeney, Kristian Syberg, Andres H. Arias, Marie-France Dignac, Martin Wagner, Florin-Constantin Mihai, Richard Thompson, Jean-Francois Ghiglione, Jane Muncke, Conrad Sparks. 2025. Letter to the Editor: Scientists' Coalition perspectives on articles of the Chair's text. Cambridge Prisms: Plastics. https://doi:10.1017/plc.2025.10016 Julius, D., Awe, A., Sparks, C, 2025. Abundance, Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Echinoderms along the Western Cape coastline, South Africa. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Khan, A.B., Pereao, O., Sparks, C., Opeolu, B., 2025. Assessing microplastic characteristics and abundance in the sediment and surface water of the Diep River, Western Cape, South Africa. Environmental Pollution 381, 126555. Mayoma, B.S., Yusuph, M.A., Sailas, H., Emanuel, Z., Lukanga, E., Kitogo, L., Edson, A.A., Simbila, D., Mugema, A., Matonya, P., Kasenene, F., Sørensen, C., Sparks, C., Khan, F.R., 2025. Abundance and characteristics of anthropogenic litter along the Tanzanian shores of the African Great Lakes: including volunteer involvement, outreach, and stakeholder engagement in a holistic approach. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 32, 14127–14141. Awe, A., Oputu, O., Aigbe, U.O., Sparks, C., 2025. Metals associated with Beach plastic litter at Woodbridge Island and Derdesteen in Table Bay, South Africa. Microplastics and Nanoplastics 5, 13. Savoca, S., M., Angelo Abreo, N., H. Arias, A., Baes, L., Baini, M., Bergami, E., Brander, S., Canals, M., Anela Choy, C., Corsi, I., Witte, B.D., Domit, C., Dudas, S., M. Duncan, E., E. Fernández, C., Cristina Fossi, M., Garcés-Ordóñez, O., J. Godley, B., González-Paredes, D., González Carman, V., M. Hamilton, B., Denise Hardesty, B., Hee Hong, S., Kahane-Rapport, S., M. Kashiwabara, L., Baptista Lacerda, M., Luna-Jorquera, G., Manno, C., E. Nelms, S., Panti, C., J. Pérez-Venegas, D., K. Pham, C., F. Provencher, J., Purca, S., Rashid, H., Rodríguez, Y., Sparks, C., Sun, C., Thiel, M., Tsangaris, C., G. Santos, R., 2024. Monitoring plastic pollution using bioindicators: a global review and recommendations for marine environments. Environmental Science: Advances.
https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjaf159
https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.15796709
https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjaf169
Assessing microplastic characteristics and abundance in the sediment and surface water of the Diep River, Western Cape, South Africa - ScienceDirect
Abundance and characteristics of anthropogenic litter along the Tanzanian shores of the African Great Lakes: including volunteer involvement, outreach, and stakeholder engagement in a holistic approach | Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Metals associated with Beach plastic litter at Woodbridge Island and Derdesteen in Table Bay, South Africa
Monitoring plastic pollution using bioindicators: a global review and recommendations for marine environments - Environmental Science: Advances (RSC Publishing) DOI:10.1039/D4VA00174E
2024
Ferguson, L., Awe, A. & Sparks C., 2024. Microplastic concentrations and risk assessment in water, sediment and invertebrates from Simon’s Town, South Africa. Heliyon, 10(7), e28514. Samuels, W., Awe, A. & Sparks C., 2024. Microplastic pollution and risk assessment in surface water and sediments of the Zandvlei Catchment and estuary, Cape Town, South Africa. Environmental Pollution, 342, 122987. Ariefdien, R., Pfaff, M., Awe, A. & Sparks, C., 2024. Stormwater outlets: A source of microplastics in coastal zones of Cape Town, South Africa. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 198, 115800.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28514
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122987
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115800
2023
Sparks, C., Viljoen, N., Hill, D., Lassen, J., Awe, A., 2023. Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Water and Mussels Sampled from Cape Town Harbour and Two Oceans Aquarium, South Africa. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 110, 104. Julius, D., Awe, A. & Sparks C., 2023. Environmental concentrations, characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in water and sediment along the Western Cape coastline, South Africa. Heliyon, 9:8 8, e18559. Bukasa, W.A., Awe, A.A. & Sparks, C., 2023. Characteristics and distribution of litter, mesolitter and microplastics in Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. Research Square, PREPRINT. Apetogbor, K., Pereao, O., Sparks, C. & Opeolu, B. 2023. Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediment samples of the Plankenburg river, Western Cape, South Africa. Environmental Pollution, 323, 121303. Wilkinson, C., Seyboth, E., J Olbers, J., Vermeulen, E., Kramer., R & Findlay, K. 2023. Estimating population changes in humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae migrating past Cape Vidal, South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science, 45(1), 39-50. Seyboth, E., Meynecke, J-O., de Bie, J., Roychoudhury, A. & Findlay, K. 2023. A review of post-whaling abundance, trends, changes in distribution and migration patterns, and supplementary feeding of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 997491. Loureiro, T.G., Milligan, B., Gacutan, J., Adewumi, I.J., Findlay, K. 2023. Ocean accounts as an approach to foster, monitor, and report progress towards sustainable development in a changing ocean – The Systems and Flows Model. Marine Policy, 154, 105668. Ramos, E.A., Cheeseman, T., Marcondes, M.C.C., Olio, M., Vogel, A., Elwen, S., de Melo, T.H.M., Facchola, C., Cipolotti, S., Southerland, K., Findlay, K., Seyboth, E., McCue, S.A., Kotze, P.G.H. & Seakamela, S.M. 2023. Interchange of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales across the South Atlantic Ocean. Scientific Reports, 13.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-023-03737-1
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18559
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2965504/v1
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121303
https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2023.2193591
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.997491
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105668
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31358-5
2022
Loureiro, T.G., du Plessis, N., Findlay, K. 2022. Into the Blue – The Blue Economy Model in Operation Phakisa “Unlocking the Ocean Economy” Programme. South African Journal of Science, 118(11/12). Trotzuk, E., Findlay, K., Taju, A., Cockcroft, V., Guissamulo, A., Araman, A., Matos, L., & Gaylard, A. 2022. Focused and inclusive actions could ensure the persistence of East Africa's last known viable dugong subpopulation. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(7), e12702. Gacutan, J., Pınarbaşı, K., Agbaglah, M., Bradley, C., Galparsoro, I., Murillas, A., Adewumi, I., Praphotjanaporn, T., Bordt, M., Findlay, K., Lantz, C. & Milligan, B.M. 2022. The emerging intersection between marine spatial planning and ocean accounting: A global review and case studies. Marine Policy, 140, 105055. Gacutan, J., Galparsoro, I., Pınarbaşı, K., Murillas, A., Adewumi, I.J., Praphotjanaporn, T., Johnston, E.L; Findlay, K.P. & Milligan, B.M. 2022. Marine spatial planning and ocean accounting: Synergistic tools enhancing integration in ocean governance. Marine Policy, 136, 104936. Loureiro, T.G., Gacutan, J., Milligan, B.M., Praphotjanaporn, T. & Findlay, K. 2022. Every account counts for sustainable development: lessons from the African CoP to implement ocean accounts in the Western Indian Ocean region. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science, 1, 139 – 165. Warwick-Evans, V., Constable, A., Dalla Rosa, L., Secchi, E., Seyboth, E. & Trathan, P. 2022. Using a risk assessment framework to spatially and temporally spread the fishery catch limit for Antarctic krill in the west Antarctic Peninsula: A template for krill fisheries elsewhere. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1015851. Warwick-Evans, V., Kelly, N., Dalla Rosa, L., Friedlaender, A. & Hinke, J., Kim, JH., Kokubun, N., Santora, J., Secchi, E., Seyboth, E. & Trathan, P. 2022. Using seabird and whale distribution models to estimate spatial consumption of krill to inform fishery management. Ecosphere, 13(6), e4083.
https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2022/14664
https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12702
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105055
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104936
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wiojms.si2022.1.11
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1015851
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4083
2021
Meynecke, J-O., De Bie, J., Barraqueta, J-LM., Seyboth, E., Dey, S.P., Lee, S.B., Samanta, S., Vichi, M., Findlay, K., Roychoudhury, A. & Mackey, B. 2021. The Role of Environmental Drivers in Humpback Whale Distribution, Movement and Behavior: A Review. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 720774. Prado, J., Kinas, P., Pennino, M., Seyboth, E., Silveira, F., Ferreira, E. & Secchi, E. 2021. Definition of no‐fishing zones and fishing effort limits to reduce franciscana bycatch to sustainable levels in southern Brazil. Animal Conservation, 24(5), 770-782. Paarman, S., Vermeulen, E., Seyboth, E., Thornton, M., & Findlay, K. 2021. Abundance and distribution of Antarctic blue whales Balaenoptera musculus intermedia off the Queen Maud Land coast of Antarctica. African Journal of Marine Science, 43(1), 53–59. Dey, S. P., Vichi, M., Fearon, G., Seyboth, E., Findlay, K. P., Meynecke, J.-O., de Bie, J., Lee, S. B., Samanta, S., Barraqueta, J. M., Roychoudhury, A. N., & Mackey, B. 2021. Oceanographic anomalies coinciding with humpback whale super-group occurrences in the Southern Benguela. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 20896. Cade, D. E., Seakamela, S. M., Findlay, K. P., Fukunaga, J., Kahane-Rapport, S. R., Warren, J. D., Calambokidis, J., Fahlbusch, J. A., Friedlaender, A. S., Hazen, E. L., Kotze, D., McCue, S., Meÿer, M., Oestreich, W. K., Oudejans, M. G., Wilke, C., & Goldbogen, J. A. 2021. Predator-scale spatial analysis of intra-patch prey distribution reveals the energetic drivers of rorqual whale super-group formation. Functional Ecology, 35(4), 894–908.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.720774
https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12679
https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2020.1864471
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00253-2
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13763
2020
Shabangu, F.W., Andrew, R.K., Yemane, D. & Findlay, K.P. 2020. Acoustic seasonality, behaviour and detection ranges of Antarctic blue and fin whales under different sea ice conditions off Antarctica. Endangered Species Research, 43, 21-37. Purdon, J., Shabangu, F.W., Yemane, D., Pienaar, M., Somers, M.J. & Findlay, K. 2020. Species distribution modelling of Bryde’s whales, humpback whales, southern right whales, and sperm whales in the southern African region to inform their conservation in expanding economies. PeerJ, 8, e9997. Seyboth, E., Félix, F., Lea, M-A., Dalla Rosa, L., Watters, G., Reid, K. & Secchi, E. 2021. Influence of krill (Euphausia superba) availability on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) reproductive rate. Marine Mammal Science, 37, 1498-1506.
https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01050
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9997
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12805
2019
Carroll, E.L., Alderman, R., Bannister, J.L., Bérubé, M., Best, P.B., Boren, L., Baker, C.S., Constantine, R., Findlay, K., Harcourt, R., Lemaire, L., Palsbøll, P.J., Patenaude, N.J., Rowntree, V.J., Seger, J., Steel, D., Valenzuela, L.O., Watson, M. & Gaggiotti, O.E. 2019. Incorporating non-equilibrium dynamics into demographic history inferences of a migratory marine species. Heredity, 122(1), 53–68. Shabangu, F.W., Findlay, K.P., Yemane, D., Stafford, K.M., van den Bergh, M. & Blows, B. 2019. Seasonal occurrence and diel calling behaviour of Antarctic blue whales and fin whales off the West Coast of South Africa. Journal of Marine Systems, 190, 25-39.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41437-018-0077-y
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2018.11.002
2018
Corkeron, P., Hamilton, P., J Bannister, J., Groch, K.R., Findlay, K., Rowntree, V., Vermuelen, E. & Pace, R.M. 2018. The recovery of North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, has been constrained by human-caused mortality. Royal Society Open Science Journal, 5(11), 180892.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.180892
2017
Findlay, K.P., Seakamela, S.M., Meÿer, M.A., Kirkman, S.P., Barendse, J., Cade, D.E., Hurwitz, D., Kennedy, A., Kotze, P.G.H., McCue, S.A., Thornton, M., Vargas Fonseca, O.A. & Wilke, C.G. 2017. Humpback whale “super-groups” – a novel low-latitude feeding behaviour of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Benguela Upwelling System. PLOS ONE, 12(3), e0172002. Ansorge, I., Skelton, P., Bekker, A., de Bruyn, P.J.N., Butterworth, D., Cilliers, C., Cooper, J., Cowan, D., Dorrington, D., Fawcett, S., Fietz, S., Findlay, K.P., Froneman, W., Grantham, G., Greve, M., Hedding, D., Hofmeyr, G., Kosch, M., Le Roux, P., Lucas, M., MacHutchon, K., Meiklejohn, I., Nel, W., Pistorius, P., Ryan, P., Stander, J., Swart, S., Treasure, A., Vichi, M. & van Vuuren, B. 2017. Exploring South Africa’s southern frontier: A 20-year vision for Polar Research through the South African National Antarctic Programme. South African Journal of Science, 113(5/6), 1-7. Shabangu, F.W., Yemane, D., Stafford, K.M., Ensor, P. and Findlay, K.P. 2017. Modelling the effects of environmental conditions of the acoustic occurrence and behaviour of Antarctic blue whales. PLOS ONE, 12(2), e0172705. Segre, P.S., Seakamela, S.M., Meÿer, M.A., Findlay, K.P. & Goldbogen, J.A. 2017. A hydrodynamically active flipper-stroke in humpback whales. Current Biology, 27(13), 636-637. Kershaw, F., Carvalho, I., Loo, J., Pomilla, C., Best, P., Findlay, K.P., Cerchio, S., Collins, T., Engel, M.H., Minton, G., Ersts, P., Barendse, J., Kotze, P.G.H., Razafindrakoto, Y., Ngouessono, S., Meyer, M., Thornton, M. & Rosenbaum, H.C. 2017. Multiple processes drive genetic structure of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) populations across spatial scales. Molecular Ecology, 26(4), 977-994.
https://doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172002
https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2017/a0205
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172705
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.063
https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13943
2016
Findlay, K.P. & Best, P.B. 2016. Distribution and seasonal abundance of large cetaceans in the Durban whaling grounds off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 1972–1975. African Journal of Marine Science, 38(2), 249–262.
https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2016.1191042
Book Chapters
2025
Dalu, T., Oduro, C., Wu, N., Mello, F.T. de, Sanganyado, E., Al-Jaibachi, R., Gruwell, M.E., Sparks, C., Mpopetsi, P., 2025a. Environmental Health Impact of Plastisphere, in: Plastisphere. CRC Press. Dalu, T., Wu, N., Oduro, C., Gruwell, M.E., Sanganyado, E., Al-Jaibachi, R., Mello, F.T. de, Sparks, C., Mpopetsi, P., 2025b. Plastisphere Community Assemblage in Freshwater, in: Plastisphere. CRC Press.
Environmental Health Impact of Plastisphere | 16 | Plastisphere | Tate
Plastisphere Community Assemblage in Freshwater | 6 | Plastisphere | T
2023
Arabi, S., Neehaul, Y., Sparks, C., 2023. Impacts and Threats of Marine Litter in African Seas, in: Maes, T., Preston-Whyte, F. (Eds.), The African Marine Litter Outlook. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 91–136.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08626-7_3
2020
Findlay, K.P. 2020. Oceans and Blue Economies. In Otto, L. (ed.), Global Challenges in Maritime Security. Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34630-0_2
2019
Findlay, K.P. 2019. Challenges facing marine protected areas in Southern African countries in light of expanding ocean economies across the sub-region. In Humpheys, J. & Clarke, R. (eds.), Marine Protected Areas: Evidence, Policy & Management, Elsevier Ltd: 37-65.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102698-4.00003-4
2018
Du Plessis, N., Hermes, J. & Findlay, K. 2018. Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in the Indian Ocean Region. In: Attri, V.N. & Bohler, N. (eds). The Blue Economy Handbook of the Indian Ocean Region. Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa. 272-298. Findlay, K. & Bohler-Muller, N. 2018. South Africa's ocean economy and operation Phakisa: lessons learned. In: Attri, V.N. & Bohler, N. (eds). The Blue Economy Handbook of the Indian Ocean Region. Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa. 231-255.
https://books.google.co.za/books?id=kA9tDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&ots=5hweASc3l7&lr&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
https://books.google.co.za/books?id=kA9tDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&ots=5hweASc3l7&lr&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
Technical Reports & Other Outputs:
Reports
Mtshali, T., Tsanwani, M., Kiviets, G., Britz, K., Vena, K., Mdokwana, B.W., Siswana, K. & Sparks, C. 2023. Spatial and seasonal distributions of metals in mussels in the Western Cape. Oceans and Coasts Annual Science Report. Sparks, C., Awe, A., Tsanwani, M., Mtshali, T., Kiviets, G. & Baliwe, N.G. 2023. Monitoring microplastics in the Western Cape – a pilot study. Oceans and Coasts Annual Science Report. Findlay, K.P. 2018. Policy paper – Operation Phakisa and Unlocking South Africa’s Ocean Economy. Journal of the Indian Ocean Region, 14: 248-254. Willson, A., Leslie, M., Baldwin, R., Cerchio, S., Childerhouse, S., Collins, T., Findlay, K., Genov, T., Godley, B.J., Al-Harthi, S., MacDonald, D., Minton, G., Zerbini, A.N. & Witt, M.J. 2018. Update on satellite telemetry studies and first unoccupied aerial vehicle assisted health assessment studies of Arabian Sea humpback whales off the coast of Oman. Submitted to the 2018 Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Brandão, A., Vermeulen, E., Gillespie, A.R., Findlay, K. & Butterworth, D.S. 2018. Updated application of a photo-identification based assessment model to southern right whales in South African waters, focussing on inferences to be drawn from a series of appreciably lower counts of calving females over 2015 to 2017. Submitted to the 2018 Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Olson, PA., Kinzey, D., Double, M.C., Matsuoka, K., Pastene, L.A. & Findlay, K. 2018. Capture-recapture estimates of abundance of Antarctic blue whales. Submitted to the 2018 Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Vermeulen, E., Wilkinson, C., Thornton, M., Peters, I.T.& Findlay K. 2018. Report on the 2016 Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit Southern Right Whale Survey Nature’s Valley to Lamberts Bay, South Africa. Submitted to the 2018 Meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Els-Vermeulen/publication/373119172_Report_on_the_2016_Mammal_Research_Institute_Whale_Unit_Southern_Right_Whale_Survey_Nature's_Valley_to_Lamberts_Bay_South_Africa/links/64db3a3cad846e288292f4c4/Report-on-the-2016-Mammal-Research-Institute-Whale-Unit-Southern-Right-Whale-Survey-Natures-Valley-to-Lamberts-Bay-South-Africa.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370873363_Huggett_et_al_2023_-_Oceans_and_Coasts_Annual_Science_Report_2022.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370873363_Huggett_et_al_2023_-Oceans_and_Coasts_Annual_Science_Report_2022.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19480881.2018.1475857
https://arabianseawhalenetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/sc_67b_cmp_13_rev1_oman-humbpack-whale-research-update-1.pdf
http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30708
https://archive.iwc.int/pages/download.php?direct=1&noattach=true&ref=9321&ext=pdf&k=2499406a3b
Centre for Sustainable Oceans Links
