South Africa Launches Digital Maps to Navigate Marine Protected Areas
Ahead of the 5th Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Day on 1 August, new digital maps have been released to help the public, including anglers and divers, better understand the location and regulations of South Africa’s MPAs. Developed by marine scientists Dr Bruce Mann and Dr Ryan Daly from the Oceanographic Research Institute, the maps simplify complex legal descriptions from the Government Gazette into accessible, colour-coded visuals now available for free online via Google Earth.
The maps cover coastal MPAs within 40 nautical miles and use a traffic light system to indicate different activity zones. Key rules for each area are summarised in bullet points, and with location services enabled, users can track their real-time position relative to MPA boundaries. The initiative, supported by the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, aims to increase public compliance through awareness and is expected to benefit both resource users and conservation authorities. The launch forms part of broader MPA Day activities promoting sustainable ocean use, biodiversity protection, and marine tourism development.
Source: Tourism News Africa
