South Africa imposes fishing ban near habitats of endangered penguins

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Aug 2023 17:44

The country's environment minister says the decision will be reviewed every six years and will be subjected to data implementation and collection.

An African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as Black-footed Penguin, is pictured near Cape Town, in South Africa, on July 4, 2010 (AFP)

South Africa said on Friday it will impose a 10-year ban on fishing near penguin colonies in a bid to bring the feathered animal back from the brink of extinction.

South Africa announced fishing restrictions in regions near penguin habitats in an attempt to pull the animal off its critical-extinction trajectory path it is on due to irresponsible at-sea actions.

The country, along with Namibia, is home to the African penguin, a little black and white feathered bird at risk of disappearing by 2035 if no action was taken.

"I have taken a decision to implement fishing limitations in the waters around penguin colonies for a minimum of 10 years," Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said in a press conference.

Just 10,000 pairs - with the ability to mate - of the endangered species remain today, down from around one million a century ago, highlighting a steep decline in numbers, the Ministry added.

In addition to natural events, such as heavy rain wiping out its nests and spreading diseases that are impacting the animal's living ability according to experts, the bird population is also suffering high competition over limited food resources, water pollution due to shipping traffic, and the degradation of suitable nesting habitats the minister continued.

A fish ban was imposed on six spots, including Bird Island and Robben Island - home to the infamous apartheid-era prison.

The law will be reviewed every six years upon data updates, Creecy added, noting that the decision came based on expert reports and conclusions.