Landmark Court Order to Protect African Penguins
A landmark court order in South Africa has established no-fishing zones around six key breeding colonies of the endangered African penguin, aiming to curb the species' rapid decline. The Pretoria High Court ruling prohibits purse seine fishing vessels from catching sardines and anchovies in these zones for the next 10 years. The decision comes after conservation groups, including BirdLife South Africa and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), challenged the government and fishing industry over inadequate protections. Scientists have warned the African penguin population is shrinking by 8% annually, with extinction feared by 2035 if current trends continue.
The African penguin is a key wildlife attraction in the Western Cape with the two land-based colonies, Stony Point and Boulders Beach, visited by thousands of tourists annually. The ruling applies to critical breeding sites, including Dassen Island, Robben Island, Stony Point, St Croix Island, and Bird Island. Conservationists welcome the move but stress that sustained enforcement and monitoring will be essential. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has two weeks to implement the new permit conditions. While the fishing industry agreed to the settlement, it disputed claims that commercial fishing is the primary cause of the penguins’ decline. The impact of the ruling will be reassessed in six years, offering a chance to evaluate its effectiveness in stabilising the species' population.
Source: BBC
