Man-O’-War Tony honoured
The man behind uShaka
THE Portuguese Man O’War is now a living legend, not only at sea but also on land. Scientist Tony de Freitas earned that nickname fighting architects and engineers to make sure uShaka Marine World would be operationally functional.
He is one of a group of people the South African Association for Marine and Biological Research has declared living legends.
He also came up with the vision to replace the old Sea World premises at the end of West Street to where Durban’s premier aquarium attraction is now, in the shape it has taken.
His life’s work, which includes research on prawns in his previous home country, Mozambique, has also earned De Freitas Portugal’s Order of Henry the Navigator award.
He even named one of these crustaceans, Cryptopenaeus catherinae, in honour of his late wife.
Other living legends recognised by SAAMBR are turtle expert George Hughes, author and photographer Dennis King, former Sea World curator John Ballard, coral expert Professor Michael Schleyer, former Oceanographic Research Institute director Rudy van der Elst and Sea World’s longstanding volunteer guides.
“They have, for many years, contributed to marine research, awareness and conservation,” reads a SAAMBR release.
“And they have contributed towards the success of SAAMBR in many different ways.
“These people have largely dedicated their lives to the conservation of the marine environment through a range of different activities.”
Each has a slot to share their life story at 4pm on the first Thursday of each month. King’s turn is on March 2; De Freitas’s on April 6; Ballard’s on May 7; the volunteers’ on June 1 and Schleyer’s on July 13. Hughes delivered his talk this month and the date for Van der Elst’s address is yet to be finalised.
As head of the old Sea World, De Freitas saw the need to save both SAAMBR and the aquarium where tank leak problems were not being solved, but only managed.
“It needed to be revamped along modern lines,” said De Freitas, now 84. “I had seen a number of aquariums around the world. I knew what an end-ofthe-20th-century aquarium was.
“We didn’t want a railway carriage with windows. We wanted an experience,” De Freitas recalls.
He was adamant the new outfit should have a strong education and conservation component.
De Freitas negotiated with major hotel companies while trying to convince scientists that Sea World’s successor would need to be something other than a conventional aquarium.
Eventually, Viv McMenamin, who was involved in Point area development, approached him, suggesting it would fit well in that area, then known best for drugs and prostitutes.
“It was wise of Viv to bring in something that would be a catalyst to development in the area.”
One of the ideas was for an aquarium in a shipwreck at the bottom of the sea, as has panned out at uShaka Marine World.
“I liked the idea and I wanted to go ahead with it,” said De Freitas. “But I also thought it important to remember that people can experience museum fatigue. When people get tired they should be able to go outdoors.”
Then there was the issue of the right fish being in the right place. “I understood what was needed when it came to aesthetics but you couldn’t have coral fish in a place like the galley. There, you could have lion fish. The radio room (in the “shipwreck”) with small spaces and overhangs would be more suitable to crabs. It took a long time to convince the developers.”
That process earned De Freitas his nickname. In his retirement, he remains president of SAAMBR.
The next Living Legend talk will be at 4pm on Thursday by Dennis King, author and photographer of Reef Fishes and Nudibranchs and The Reef Guide, the last two of which were co-authored with Valda Fraser. For further information, call 031 328 8222