South Africa's Newest Marine Protected Area

Prince Edward Islands is the First Southern Ocean Off-shore Reserve

Jul 1, 2009

Designation of fourth largest MPA protects a South African biodiversity hotspot, which is home to seals, whales and seabirds, from illegal fisheries and other threats

The Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area includes both Prince Edward and Marion Island, encompassing an area about the size of the state of Oklahoma. The first off-shore MPA in South Africa, it is the fourth largest in the world.

South Africa Increases Coastal Protection

With the addition of Prince Edward Islands MPA, South Africa comes closer to its goal of at least 20% of the countries coastline being under protection as by 2015. In an effort to reduce ecosystem damage, an outright fishing ban in waters within 22.2km of the islands has been declared.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), along with the South African National Parks (SANParks) and Esemvelo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife (the provincial conservation organization) share responsibility for managing this new Marine Protected Area.

The Wildlife of Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area

Known for its biodiversity, the new Marine Protected Area includes the rookeries of four species of penguin, the vulnerable Southern Rock-hopper (Eudyptes chrysocome) and Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus), the near-threatened Gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) and the King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus).

Five species of albatross, all of which are either endangered or vulnerable to extinction, are also found on Prince Edward or Marion Island. Seals of this Southern Ocean marine protected area include Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella), sub-Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis) and southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). None are endangered at this time but there are concerns that climate change will affect their Southern Ocean habitat.

The waters surrounding the Prince Edward Islands are also host at various times of the year to whale species, including Orca (Orcinus orca), the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) which is considered vulnerable to extinction, the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis).

Fishing Ban in the Prince Edward Islands May Protect Multiple Species

In addition to the total ban on fishing within the 22.2km range of the Prince Edward Islands, there will be tight controls over fishing and other activities within the Marine Reserve. Some limited fishing to monitor fish populations may be allowed within a few restricted areas.

The albatross and other seabirds are often victims of net or longline entanglement in the illegal Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), or Chilean sea bass, fishery. Beyond the concern for the entanglement of birds, there is some speculation that the Patagonian toothfish itself will soon be listed as endangered if it continues to be fished so heavily. It is one of the species the Marine Stewardship Council recommends against purchasing.

There have also been reports of pirate fisheries using dynamite to harass whales that come into the area to feed. Net entanglement, as well as harassment by illegal fisheries, are a concern for the seal colonies in the area as well.

It is hoped that the monitoring and enforcement provided by the establishment of the Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area will aid the recovery of fish stocks as it protects the birds and marine mammals of the area.

The copyright of the article South Africa's Newest Marine Protected Area in Ecosystem Preservation is owned by Dawn M. Smith. Permission to republish South Africa's Newest Marine Protected Area in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.