“We need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depended on it…Because they do!” – Sylvia Earle
These are the words of Sylvia Earle, a marine biologist and oceanographer who has dedicated her life to protecting and understanding the oceans and marine ecosystems. As she clearly states, it is critical that our oceans need extensive protection on all fronts, both through informal and formal structures. Humans rely on healthy oceans for a multitude of different activities and commodities. Healthy oceans enable high biodiversity levels, ensuring that all ocean fauna and flora have favourable living conditions and a high chance of reproduction and survival.
Our planet Earth is not called the ‘Blue Planet’ for nothing, and with the oceans covering in excess of 70% of its surface area, we cannot afford to not look after these oceans. This brings us to the question of how this is done, and to which extent is it currently being applied globally and locally within South Africa?
In this blog post we will look at one of the best formal protection tools currently available to marine protection, namely Marine Protected Areas (MPA). I was fortunate enough to recently visit the de Hoop Nature Reserve and MPA in the Western Cape province of South Africa. A place of indescribable beauty filled with unique and critical marine and terrestrial habitats. I was struck by the incredible degree to which conservation takes place within this area and the collection of conservation success stories which have occurred here. These include Bontebok breeding, the resident Cape Vulture colony and the protected Fynbos species in the reserve.
Arguably the greatest of these success stories is the haven which the MPA has become for migratory Southern Right whales who visit these shores yearly from June to November to calve and mate. If you have ever heard of de Hoop, chances are that you have heard of the abundance of Southern right whales in these waters. In my opinion, de Hoop is a wonderful blueprint of how an MPA should work and an example of the abundance of benefits that these protection measures provide. We can use this special place to better understand the theory and application of MPAs. Let us dive right in (Pun intended)!
A short history of the de Hoop Nature Reserve
I am now quickly going to put on my history teacher hat, just for a few moments while we look at the basic setup, history and establishment of de Hoop. De Hoop nature reserve was officially proclaimed in 1957, when the Cape Provincial Administration bought the Windhoek and de Hoop farms. Initially the focus was on establishing a terrestrial nature reserve, with a specific goal of breeding rare and endangered game such as the Cape Mountain Zebra and the Bontebok. Although this is still an important part of the reserve, the goals and objectives have expanded significantly to include the conservation of the unique vegetation and more recently, the important MPA.
The MPA was established around 1986 as a marine expansion of the terrestrial reserve to protect a variety of different marine animals and habitats. This includes various bird species such as Black Oystercatchers, a tapestry of tide pools teaming with marine life, the rolling sand dunes and of course the collection of whales with a specific focus on the Southern Right Whale. Since the establishment of the MPA, the number of migratory whales visiting these shores have risen to around 40% of the migrating population. The de Hoop MPA is classified as a no take MPA, meaning the collection or harvesting of any fauna and flora within the MPA is completely prohibited. This, along with the calm and shallow waters of the area have made this MPA a true haven for the whale species.
Principles of an MPA
In studying the de Hoop example of an MPA, we can conclude some important principles and criteria of an MPA. The first of these being that there must be a focus on protecting something specific. Now I know this might sound a bit obvious; however, it is critical to define exactly what is being protected in order for proper planning, implementation and monitoring to take place. The identified ‘thing’ to be protected can range from a very specific animal or plant to entire fish stocks, coral reefs or whole ecosystems, however it must be clearly defined and communicated. At de Hoop, it includes the whales, seabirds, tidal pools and sand dunes as well as a host of other fish stocks found within the water and the flora of the area. The focus is thus on the de Hoop marine ecosystem as a whole.
The second aspect of MPAs which we must understand is the degree of protection afforded to the MPA. This can range from minimally protected to fully protected and can also differ within different zones of the same MPA. The fauna and flora which has been identified to be protected always enjoys protection within the area, however the degree to which other extraction or alteration activities can take place differ. De Hoop as mentioned above is a no take zone and the whole MPA thus enjoys full protection. Table Mountain National Park MPA for example differs from this, in that it focuses on protecting various shark species, kelp forests and seabird species but is also home to many traditional fishing communities. It is thus a complex tapestry of different zonations ranging between full protection no take zones and lightly to highly controlled zones where permits are required for activities such as fishing.
All of the above takes place within a specific area, and the success of an MPA is highly dependent on a well-defined area with clear geographical borders. At de Hoop for example the MPA is defined as stretching along the 48 kilometers of coastline and going out to sea for 5 and a half kilometers. This is extremely important to prevent any confusion as to where the area is and to inform the public where specified activities are allowed or prohibited.
The last point to look at in relation to MPA principles is the legal proclamation of the MPAs. In South Africa, the establishment and management of MPAs are regulated by the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act. The proclamation of a new MPA is done through the official Government Gazette. This shows us that the declaration of an MPA is not merely just for show or for a reserve to look good but is a fully legal and institutional process. The protection afforded by the MPA is protected by law and legally requires citizens and communities to adhere to the conditions of the specific MPA.
Benefits of MPAs
Now that we have covered the basic principles of MPAs, it is time to look at a few of the valuable benefits which MPAs such as de Hoop provide us. The argument can be made that all ocean resources have an inherent value attached to them, as they are a part of our natural and cultural heritage and should therefore be protected. I do agree with this, and it is my view that we should protect all our natural resources regardless of what they can offer to humans, because it is the right thing to do. However, further to this philosophy there are benefits which we can and do enjoy from healthy ocean ecosystems. This makes protecting them even more valuable, beyond the inherent value which they already contain. I have divided these wide-ranging benefits into four main categories for the purpose of the blog. They are tourism, research, education and food stocks, all of which was observed in some way during the visit to the de Hoop MPA.
The result of a well-managed MPA usually includes reduced pollution, reduced habitat destruction, a reduction in overfishing and an overall increase in biodiversity and species abundance along with the presence of pristine ecosystems. Looking at the four groups of MPA benefits mentioned above, we can see how these results can lead to an increase in these benefits. At de Hoop we were blessed with the opportunity to partake in an interpretive marine walk, focussing specifically on the tidal pools and the host of fauna and flora found here, from small limpets to octopuses and many anemone species. A high-quality educational experience like this is made possible due to the healthy ecosystems in the absence of pollution and environmental degradation.
Tourism is a big part of the economy of MPAs. Different MPAs focusses on different activities from diving at places like the iSimangaliso MPA to see turtles and rays, to the world-famous whale trail at de Hoop and the newly refurbished de Hoop collection which consists of accommodation and a luxury restaurant in some of the old farmhouses. Through sustainable tourism, communities living around the MPA can make a good living while the ocean is protected, thus helping both people and planet.
The de Hoop MPA is also a research mecca with many scientists doing long term studies on the whale migration numbers and behaviour. The abundance of whales in these waters provide a large sample of data for scientists which can be used to better understand these animals, far beyond the borders of the de Hoop MPA. The yearly aerial surveys of the area provide invaluable information regarding the overall health and behaviour of the Southern Right whale populations and of the species as a whole. This information from our local shores helps scientists understand these species better during their visit, even though they usually call Antarctica home. This just shows the wide-ranging impact which proper research in a specific MPA can have on an entire species.
Within the de Hoop MPA we find a wealth of different fish species, ranging from sardines and anchovies to yellowtail and South Africa’s national fish the galjoen, along with many different invertebrate species. This provides abundant food for various predator species in these waters, contrary to many other areas where fish stocks have been severely depleted. The high presence of shark species like hammerheads and great whites as well as birds such as the oystercatchers and gannets at de Hoop are testament to this. This leads to an increase in the overall health of these ecosystems and an increase in all levels of biodiversity. A large advantage of MPAs for people and other marine life happens when these protected fish stocks of MPAs grow significantly, and thus spill over into areas where fishing takes place or where fish stocks have been depleted, replenishing fish stocks in these adjacent areas.
The success of MPAs in South Africa
By taking all the above into account, I think we can all agree that MPAs are an invaluable protection tool for our oceans. As with all environmental protection, we must ask the question of how effective and broadly it is applied. With regards to ocean protection, this is done by looking at the Global Biodiversity Framework which was signed by 188 governments at COP15 in Montreal during 2022. This framework states that the goal for countries in relation to environmental protection is to protect 30% of their terrestrial and marine areas by the year 2030. This 30% does not only include formal MPAs but also takes into account other protection measures, collectively known as OECMs (other effective area-based conservation measures). These OECMs also aim to protect ocean environments but in a less formal manner.
Where does South Africa stand in 2025? Currently the MPAs of the country cover around 5.4% of our marine area known as the exclusive economic zone. This is thanks to the proclamation of 20 new MPAs in 2019, increasing the percentage of South African MPAs from less than one percent to the current 5.4%. Plans are in place to increase this to 10% by 2030, along with a further 5-10% through OECMs such as areas protecting African penguins and zones that specifically only allow small scale fishing.
There is thus currently a shortfall when comparing this to the 2030 targets. Although significant strides have been made over the past few years, these still have to be increased further to continue on the current positive trajectory. I do believe that the progress that has been made should be celebrated as it is considerably further than where the country was 10 years ago, while also striving to increase and improve even further. Along with NGOs, the public and the formal protection from government, great success in ocean conservation can be achieved and the de Hoop MPA is a true testament to this. I am confident after seeing the magnificent work done at de Hoop that there is hope for our oceans and that when we use success stories such as de Hoop as a blueprint for the way forward, both people and planet can prosper.
Be filled with nature
Willem🐋