Africa Marine and Leisure Expo to promote ocean-based tourism

Highlights of the festival include the Scottburgh Powerplay Surf Pro Contest and Tag & Release Fishing competitions.

Exhibitors and attendees at the expo will be from a widely varied background, bound together by a common interest in the ocean. In line with the conservation aspect of the event, it will also play host to several of the area's most prominent marine protection groups and individuals.

Thrill, educate and entertain the visitor

"The purpose of the African Marine Expo is to underscore the tourism asset and beauty of the stretch of Indian Ocean that touches our shoreline and to send out a message that everyone should do more to protect this asset. We promise a sea festival that should thrill, educate and entertain the visitor, offering nonstop fun for the whole family to enjoy," commented event organiser, Vicky Erasmus from Wozani Africa.

On both days guests will be treated to a display of surfing prowess in the form of the Scottburgh Powerplay Surf Pro contest, which will be held on Scottburgh Main Beach. Sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the prize money at stake ia R50,000.

For those more concerned with what's beneath the waves, fishing competitions are scheduled for both days of the expo. On the Saturday, anglers will launch from Pennington Beach to take part in the African Marine Expo Tag & Release Deep Sea Fishing Competition, for a purse of R10,000 plus product prizes - anyone interested should register on 2 August at the Pennington Beach Club House.

Sunday's fishing will be handed over to the children, with the Family Fun Junior Tag & Release Shore Fishing Competition. Registration for this event will take place at 7am on the day, and will cost R20. The junior angling addicts will get to show off their skills on Scottburgh's Back Beach, and will be competing for prize hampers. The tag and release element of both fishing competitions is intended to highlight that angling can still take place without having a negative impact on the marine environment.

Guest speakers

The conservation aspect of the event will be further highlighted by the guest speakers who will be present throughout the weekend, and who will explore the issues facing the KZN coastline in more depth. These speakers include well known scientists, conservationists, divers and underwater photographers.

There will be a Leisure Expo, showcasing all kinds of products related to having fun on the ocean. In addition to this there will be a bodyboarding contest as well as jet-ski demonstrations and a bikini fashion show. For the children, there will be a Marine Mania entertainment programme and festival running for the entire course of the expo.