New Hope for African Penguins as South Africa Establishes No-Fishing Zones
In a significant move to protect the critically endangered African penguin, South African conservationists and fishing industry representatives have agreed on a legal settlement to establish no-fishing zones around key penguin breeding sites. This decision, reached after prolonged discussions, aims to curb the decline of the penguin population by restricting fishing activities near six major colonies.
For the next decade, fishing for sardines and anchovies will be prohibited within a 12-mile radius of the penguin colonies on Robben Island, near Cape Town, and Bird Island, near Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). Additional restrictions will be applied to four other colonies, as outlined in a court order that formalizes this agreement.
The debate between conservationists and the fishing industry has been ongoing, with both sides discussing the impact of commercial fishing on the penguin population's rapid decline. If current trends continue, African penguins could face extinction by 2035, as their numbers have plummeted from one million breeding pairs a century ago to fewer than 10,000 today.
Nicky Stander, who leads conservation efforts at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), remarked, “Today’s agreement marks a crucial step in our mission to prevent the extinction of the African Penguin. However, we must remain vigilant, as the challenges these birds face are complex and persistent.”
Two fishing industry associations, the South African Pelagic Fishing Industry Association and the Eastern and Southern Cape Pelagic Association, expressed support for the compromise, which will be reviewed after six years. They stated, “The belief that fishing near breeding sites is the main cause of the penguin population's decline is incorrect. We are pleased that this settlement allows us to focus resources on scientifically identifying and addressing the true causes of the decline.”
South Africa’s environment minister, Dion George, praised the agreement as a demonstration of successful collaboration between industry and conservationists, aligning with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's (DFFE) goals of protecting biodiversity while supporting sustainable fishing practices.
The agreement follows legal action by BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB against George's predecessor, Barbara Creecy, for not implementing adequate fishing restrictions around the colonies, which house 76% of the penguin population. George pursued an out-of-court resolution upon taking office.
Bob Furness, an emeritus professor from the University of Glasgow who was part of an independent panel recommending the fishing closures, noted that while the closures are a positive step, they may not be enough if other pressures on penguins, such as low sardine stock levels, persist.
Additional challenges for the penguins include climate change, land predators, and noise pollution from ship refueling near Gqeberha. Phil Trathan, a visiting professor at Southampton University and another panel member, emphasized the importance of monitoring the closures and examining industrial fishing practices for sardines and anchovies.
The environment ministry has not yet commented on whether further measures to control sardine fishing are being considered.