Recent Research has Proven no-take zones being helpful in protecting African Penguins. Picture Courtesy: Melanie Verwoed.
(The Post News) – Recent research has indicated that no-take zones, where commercial fishing is prohibited, are playing a vital role in safeguarding African Penguins by helping to restore their critical food supply.
Although these protected areas have shown promising results, conservationists urge the South African government to expand them further to ensure the penguins long-term survival. The African Penguin’s population has reduced by 99% because of shortages of food and habitats being threatened.
Ornithologists led a study that comprised BirdLife South Africa’s Dr Alistar McInnes and Dr Richard Sherley from the University of Exeter to assess the impact of these zones surrounding six key penguin colonies, including Robben Island, Dyer Island, and St. Croix Island. These colonies had supported 76% of the global African Penguin population.
According to the study, commercial fishery no-take zones for African penguins minimise fisheries losses at the expense of conservation gains have found that no-take zones around these areas have reduced fishing pressures, therefore allowing fish populations to rebound, improving feeding conditions for penguins.
Apart from the positive developments, the researchers have come to the conclusion that the current zones are too small to fully address the penguins’ needs because some colonies are still experiencing insufficient protection. Dr. McInnes adds that while no-take zones are effective, they should be enlarged to better encompass penguin feeding regions. They have proved that they can make a significant difference in penguin survival, but they should be extended to bring more meaningful benefits.
The African Penguin is nearing the ‘Critically Endangered’ status on the IUCN Red list, with breeding pairs falling below 10 000 for the first time. Despite this, the study provides hope that the species can still be saved if no-take zones are properly enforced and expanded.
In response to these findings, SANCCOB and BirdLife South Africa have taken legal action against the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment through the Biodiversity Law Centre. Their goal is to expand no-take zones so they closely match the feeding areas of penguins, thereby lowering competition with commercial fisheries and lessening the financial impact on the fishing sector.
Conservationists have urged the South African government to take immediate action and support expanded protections to ensure the long-term survival of the African Penguins.
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