Settlement Establishes No-Fishing Zones to Protect Endangered African Penguins

A legal settlement in South Africa has established no-fishing zones around six major breeding colonies of the critically endangered African penguin. This includes a 20-kilometer restriction for sardine and anchovy fishing near Robben and Bird Islands. The agreement, which seeks to protect the penguin population from declining further, emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts between conservationists and the fishing industry.

Recent advancements have been made to protect the critically endangered African penguin as South African conservationists and fishing industry groups have reached a legal settlement. This agreement establishes no-fishing zones around six major breeding colonies to combat the species’ decline. Notably, sardine and anchovy fishing will be restricted for 20 kilometers around the penguin colony at Robben Island, a historically significant site, and Bird Island. Limited fishing closures will apply to four additional colonies, according to the court’s formal order.

The African penguin population faces extinction by 2035 if it continues to fall at the current rate of 7.9 percent annually, dwindling to fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs from one million in the past century. Nicky Stander from the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) remarked on the significance of the legal order, while acknowledging ongoing threats to the penguins.

The fishing industry sectors, represented by two associations, expressed support for what they termed a “middle of the road” compromise. This settlement is set for a ten-year duration with a review after six years. Industry representatives stressed that the belief that fishing is the primary threat to penguin populations is misguided and emphasized the need to allocate resources to scientifically determine the actual causes of the decline.

South Africa’s environment minister, Dion George, commended the agreement as a collaborative achievement between industries and conservationists, aligning with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s commitment to safeguarding biodiversity. Two NGOs had previously litigated against the former minister for not enacting effective fishing closures near the penguin colonies, which represent 76% of the species’ population.

Bob Furness, an academic involved in evaluating the proposed measures, acknowledged the importance of the closures while cautioning that they may not substantially alleviate existing pressures. External factors such as climate change, land predators, and shipping noise also pose significant threats to the penguin population. Monitoring of the newly established fishing closures is essential, say experts, and further evaluations of sardine and anchovy fisheries are considered critical for the penguins’ recovery. Currently, the environment ministry has not indicated whether it will implement additional sardine fishing regulations.

The recent legal settlement establishing no-fishing zones around key African penguin breeding colonies marks a pivotal step towards preventing this critically endangered species from extinction. While the fishing industry has acknowledged the importance of this compromise, experts stress that broader environmental factors also require attention. Continued monitoring and scientific evaluation of fishing practices are essential to ensure the penguins’ survival amidst various threats.

Original Source: www.theguardian.com