A love of our natural world and a commitment to a sustainable lifestyle are crucial for Danielle Julius. Being raised by parents who are educators in the field of Natural Sciences, she has always surrounded herself with peers who have a similar interest.

Her curiosity in the marine environment was sparked during family trips to the beach. On the back of these memories, she pursued a career in Oceanography.

She is currently a WWF intern with I&J at the V&A Waterfront where she works with many processes involving commercial fishing.

We asked Danielle to tell us more about her passion:

What motivated your career choice?
The experiences I had as a child growing up in Cape Town were phenomenal. My parents used to take my siblings and me to the beach where we examined the small animals in rock pools and shells on the beach. I love the ocean and I prefer working in this area.
 
I completed my diploma in Marine Science at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2017 and then followed with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Oceanography in 2018.
 
What do you hope to gain from the internship?
I look forward to improving my knowledge on how the commercial fishing industry works. I am interested to learn how this industry impacts marine life and how they work towards sustainable resource management.
 
When we see the final, packaged goods in our stores, we often don’t think about the process they have undergone before making it to the shelves. It is interesting to see this process first-hand. I would also like to understand how the fishing sector complies with our various environmental laws and how companies plan to improve their strategies and contribute towards marine conservation.

What excites you the most about the internship?
I am excited to work in the field I have studied and to put what I have learned at university into practice. At I&J, I work as a Marine Science Intern and my duties involve some data analysis, improving I&J's environmental management plan, as well as doing some work on plastics and environmental education. 

What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the world is facing right now?
The saying, “we know more about space than we do about the ocean” is true. Marine pollution, specifically plastic pollution, is the biggest problem we are facing. Many people do not understand how important healthy oceans are to our survival, and how detrimental litter is to marine life.

What contribution do you wish to make to the well-being of people and nature?
I keep learning more about the environment and its importance every day, and I wish to share this knowledge with others. I hope to take this knowledge into schools and volunteer for initiatives that share this vision.

If you had a chance to change one thing in the world, what would it be?
I would change the way people think about the environment. Many people do not know the importance of a healthy natural environment and how it affects us. We all benefit from nature and if everyone realises the role it plays in our lives, we would all take better care of it.

Who do you admire the most and why?
I admire my parents the most. They have always encouraged me to do what I love and have supported my career choices.

My parents have worked extremely hard and sacrificed a lot to get me through university. Both of them did not have an easy life growing up, but they worked hard and persevered despite all odds and still managed to give me and my siblings the life they could only dream of when they were children.

What role do you think your generation could play in creating a better world for all?
Our generation could educate and encourage one another to take care of the environment. The more awareness we raise, whether it be in schools or on social media platforms, the more people might understand and take action. Looking after the environment is our responsibility.