The Pretoria High Court ruled in favor of the critically endangered African Penguin, establishing no-take zones around six breeding colonies to secure essential foraging areas. This agreement between conservation organizations and fishery stakeholders aims to mitigate fishing threats and is part of a long-term conservation strategy leading up to 2035, when the species is predicted to be extinct if measures are not implemented. Continuous monitoring and cooperation will be crucial for these efforts.
In a landmark decision, the Pretoria High Court has issued an order favoring the critically endangered African Penguin, following a settlement agreement between BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB with commercial sardine and anchovy fishers. This agreement establishes no-take zones around six vital breeding colonies along South Africa’s coasts, aimed at preserving essential foraging areas for the species over the next decade. The closures are crucial to ensuring the survival of the African Penguin, which faces the threat of extinction due to declining populations and commercial fishing competition.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is mandated to implement these closures within two weeks, amending permit conditions for sardine and anchovy fishing. These amendments are to be renewed annually for ten years, coinciding with critical conservation deadlines set for the species, especially as scientists predict that the African Penguin could face extinction in the wild by 2035 if measures are not taken.
For six years, BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB have witnessed a sharp decline in penguin populations, prompting legal action when prior discussions yielded little progress. Their litigation aimed to enforce accountability regarding the protection obligations of the Minister. Ultimately, a three-day court hearing was circumvented by a last-minute agreement, which is now a court order setting clear guidelines for the closures, spatial boundaries for the fishing restrictions, and a scientific review after six years.
Key areas impacted by the closures include Dassen Island, which has retained its existing closure without an extension, and Robben Island, which will be further protected by a 20km closure radius shown to be effective. In the Southern Cape, substantial closures at Stony Point were established to protect critical foraging regions, amid concerns for overfishing. Meanwhile, protections around St Croix Island and Bird Island in the Eastern Cape will further shield vulnerable populations from commercial pressures and environmental threats.
Advocates from BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB celebrated this court order as a pivotal advancement in conservation efforts, emphasizing the necessity for a holistic approach to preserving marine biodiversity. The order illustrates the cooperative strength between conservationists and the fishing industry but underscores ongoing threats that necessitate continuous monitoring and collaboration to ensure the long-term viability of the African Penguin and related marine species.
The recent Pretoria High Court ruling is a milestone for the preservation of South Africa’s African Penguin population, establishing no-take zones critical for their foraging and survival. This legal victory showcases the potential for collaboration between conservation organizations and the fishing industry, but emphasizes that ongoing efforts and monitoring are essential to address the myriad of challenges facing the species. Ultimately, this sets a precedent for environmental stewardship and the proactive protection of biodiversity in South Africa.
Original Source: allafrica.com
