This is one of the latest Ramsar wetlands in South Africa that we have not visited yet. A more complete report will be posted once we have visited the wetland.
Designation date: 29 March 2019
The island of 212 hectares lies 11km offshore on the west
coast close to the town of Yzerfontein in the Western Cape, approximately 55km north-west
of Cape Town. The boundaries for the Ramsar wetland includes a further 525 ha
sea surrounding the island.
The reserve is managed by Cape Nature while the lighthouse
on the island is managed by Transnet.
It supports 10 of the 15 seabird species endemic to
southern Africa and provides a safe haven to numerous Palearctic and
sub-Antarctic migrants. Dassen Island Nature Reserve is recognised by BirdLife
International as one of 103 Globally Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas due
to the role it plays in providing habitat for significant numbers of resident
and migratory seabird and shorebird species.