Conservationists and fishing industry representatives in South Africa have reached a legal agreement on no-fishing zones to protect African penguin breeding colonies. The restrictions aim to combat the penguin population’s decline, which has fallen significantly in recent decades. The agreement emphasizes the collaborative efforts between the two groups while acknowledging ongoing challenges for the penguin species due to various pressures.
Conservationists and fishing industry representatives in South Africa have come to a legal agreement establishing no-fishing zones around six major breeding colonies of the endangered African penguin. Fishing for sardines and anchovies will be prohibited within a 20-kilometer radius of notable sites, including Robben Island and Bird Island. The settlements will also feature limited fishing restrictions around four additional colonies, as confirmed by a recent court order.
The African penguin population is in steep decline, estimated to decrease at a rate of 7.9% annually, with fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining—down from a million a century ago. Nicky Stander, from the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), remarked on the agreement’s significance while acknowledging ongoing challenges faced by the penguin population.
The South African Pelagic Fishing Industry Association and the Eastern and Southern Cape Pelagic Association have expressed their approval of the compromise, which will be in effect for a decade with a review set for six years. They emphasized the necessity of using resources to identify the main factors contributing to the penguin decline, countering the belief that fishing is the primary cause.
Dion George, the environment minister, hailed this agreement as a successful collaboration between industry stakeholders and conservationists, marking progress in biodiversity preservation while ensuring the fishing industry’s sustainability. Despite the positive developments, experts caution that these measures alone may not be enough when other pressures on penguins such as climate change and land predators persist.
Phil Trathan, a visiting professor, stressed the importance of monitoring these fishing closures and the urgent need to assess the industrial fisheries for sardines and anchovies. The ministry has not yet commented on potential further restrictions for sardine fishing, leaving some uncertainty regarding future conservation efforts.
The recent legal settlement establishing no-fishing zones around key African penguin breeding colonies marks a significant advancement in conservation efforts. However, experts stress that this is just one step in addressing the myriad challenges faced by the penguins, urging ongoing monitoring and research to protect this critically endangered species effectively. Collaboration between conservationists and the fishing industry will be crucial in ensuring both biodiversity preservation and the sustainability of fishing practices.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
