Six key breeding areas should be protected to help save African penguins after a landmark court order in South Africa.
Last year, scientists warned that the species fell about 8% per year and could become extinct within a decade.
The court implemented fishing-free zones around the breeding colony to prevent the so-called Senna fishing boats (using large networks) from catching sardines and anchovies over the next 10 years.
The order is the result of an out-of-court settlement reached before a three-day high court hearing began between conservation groups, the commercial fishing industry and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
Last year, the South African Ecology and Southern Africa Coastal Bird Conservation Foundation (Sanccob) launched a legal action, the first of its kind in South Africa.
They claim that ministers have failed to adequately protect endangered species in science groups that failed to assess the risks of African penguins through scientific groups brought by the government.
They believe that the temporary closure of the “insufficient” is allowed to be continued to be made to fishing boats around breeding colonies in the Western Cape.
The Center for Biodiversity Law, which represents these groups, said the number of penguins has dropped from 15,000 in 2018 to less than 9,000 by the end of 2023.
It said that if the current decline continues until 2035, African penguins may become extinct.
The order was issued by the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday, outlining the off-limit areas near six major African penguin breeding colonies near commercial sardines and anfish fishing boats: Darson Island, Robben Island, Stoney Island, Stoney Point, Deer Island, St. Croix Island and Bird Island.
Protectionists say the battle to save species from extinction is not over yet [AFP]
DFFE has two weeks to ensure the implementation of the license conditions and closures.
Nicky Stander, head of protection at Sanccob, said the journey is far from over.
“The threats faced by African penguins are complex and ongoing – the order itself requires monitoring, law enforcement and ongoing cooperation as well as government processes to monitor and allocate commercial purposes for the sardine and anfish population,” she said.
The anchovies and sardine fishing industry said it was pleased to reach an agreement, saying the decision was halfway between the temporary closure and the closed area required by the conservation organization.
It also added that it is wrong to think that the fishing industry is the main reason for the decline in the penguin population.
The order will last until the next 10 years, bringing it to 2035, when scientists predict penguins will become extinct.
Its progress will be reviewed six years from now.
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