The African penguin population is declining at an alarming rate and urgent intervention is needed. Government has come up with a draft Biodiversity Management Plan to save the African Penguin, and asked the public to weigh in.
‘We are at a crucial moment – the next few weeks could directly determine whether African penguins go extinct or not. This is no exaggeration, with fewer than 50 000 birds left of a species which used to number in the millions, we need to make sure that viable protections are put in place soon,’ the Two Oceans Aquarium said.
What can I do?
The public can email [email protected] with their comment on the draft before 21 August. The Two Oceans Aquarium outlined their suggestions to improve the draft and ensure it is actually effective.
‘We think the BMP is a big step in the right direction, but there are some crucial issues that we would like addressed – and YOU can help influence this policy,’ they added.
Here are the core issues we have with the draft plan:
– Actions in the BMP need clear timelines and responsible parties.
– Food shortage is a major threat to the survival of African penguins, we need fishing around penguin breeding colonies to be ended.
– Off-shore bunkering of fuel and oil should be banned near penguin colonies to prevent catastrophic oil spills.
– Penguins need to receive the highest level of protection as an endangered species in South Africa.
– The future of penguins affects many South Africans, and we would like the BMP to include greater stakeholder engagement from a wider segment of the ocean community, such as the tourism sector.
For more context, the Aquarium expands on these issues here: aquarium.co.za
Don’t let the African penguin go extinct on our watch – email your written comment on the BMP to [email protected] before 21 August.
Picture: Getaway gallery
READ MORE: New government Management Plan for penguins – but is it too late?
