In a monumental step towards conservation, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, announced today that a historic agreement has been reached between conservation organizations and representatives from the east coast small pelagic fisheries industry. The agreement focuses on prioritizing crucial foraging grounds for African penguins in Algoa Bay.
Representatives from BirdlifeSA, WWF, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, scientists from Nelson Mandela University, and lead representatives from the Eastern and Southern Cape Pelagic Association (ESCPA) have unanimously agreed to exclude fishing in 42.17% and 93% of core penguin foraging areas around St. Croix and Bird Islands respectively. These designated areas will be off-limits for fishing activities starting from September 1, 2023.
Algoa Bay’s penguin foraging areas cover vast ocean spaces, presenting unique challenges. The Expert Review Panel on fishing closures and limitations around key penguin colonies highlighted the difficulty of replacing fish catches in these closed areas, especially around St. Croix and Dyer Islands. Despite these challenges, the diverse group of representatives demonstrated commendable compromise and collaboration, focusing on the shared goal of prioritizing a healthy and sustainable Algoa Bay ecosystem.
Minister Creecy commended the stakeholders for their dedication to finding common ground, emphasizing the significance of stakeholder-driven decisions in environmental management. She acknowledged the uniqueness of each penguin colony’s fishery and ecological dynamics, underscoring the need for colony-specific discussions, as stated in the recent Science Review Report released on August 4.
Fishing limitations have been established for several penguin colonies, including Dassen Island, Robben Island, Stoney Point, Dyer Island, St. Croix Island, and Bird Island. These limitations will be in effect for a minimum of 10 years, subject to review after six years of implementation and data collection. The transition to these limitations began with the interim closures set in September 2022, enabling both the fishing industry and the conservation sector to study the Panel’s Report comprehensively.
Minister Creecy reiterated that any consensus reached on fishing limitations would be implemented as agreed upon. This historic agreement for St. Croix and Bird Islands stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, marking a significant stride toward the conservation of one of South Africa’s most iconic marine species.
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