23 July 2019
The first of three open days meant to provide clarity and information on the newly-proclaimed Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area (MPA) will take place in Alexandria on Monday 29 July. The venue for this information-sharing session is the Wentzel Park Community Hall between 14:00 - 19:00 PM.
The open days are an opportunity for local residents, fishermen and any other stakeholders who have queries related to the MPA or want to receive a copy of the Regulations as per the Government Gazette. Rangers and management from Addo Elephant National Park will be on hand to provide clarity on the regulations pertaining to the MPA as set out by the national government.
The other two open days are scheduled for the Sandunes Hall in Cannonville (Colchester) on Tuesday 30 July between 14:00 - 19:00 PM. In Port Elizabeth, stakeholders may want to attend the session at the Regional SANParks office – 42 Sixth Avenue in Newton Park on Wednesday 31 July, also between 14:00 - 19:00 PM.
For directions to any of the venues, please contact Zelna Breytenbach via email: zelna.breytenbach@sanparks.org
Background:
Three new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within South African National Parks (SANParks) were gazetted by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 23 May 2019. The Addo Elephant National Park MPA, Robben Island MPA (to be managed by Table Mountain National Park) and Namaqua National Park MPA form part of 20 new national MPAs. This declaration was the culmination of many years of work by South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI,) SANParks, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and DEA. These MPAs came into effect on 1 August 2019.
This new network of MPAs increase the conservation footprint of South Africa’s oceans from 0.43 to five percent and is a major achievement for conservation. The new MPAs will contribute to the conservation of our oceans, islands and coastal habitats, protect threatened species such as penguins and rebuild overexploited species such as line fish, abalone and rock lobster. They will help secure ecosystem services, support recreational, tourism and educational activities, as well as subsistence, recreational and commercial fishing. MPAs help keep ecosystems resilient in the face of climate change.
The planning towards some of these MPAs started as far back as in 2006, such as the Addo Elephant National Park MPA, by SANParks and the SANBI Offshore MPA project. Hundreds of planning and stakeholder meetings and negotiations with communities and industries such as oil and gas, mining, fisheries, and aquaculture took place. Planners and lawyers spent five years developing the shape, size and regulations for these MPAs with many compromises on all sides.
What is a Marine Protected Area?
An MPA is an area of coastline or ocean this is specifically protected for the benefit of people and nature.
They help manage part of the marine environment to rebuild fisheries populations, keep marine ecosystems working properly and protect the range of species living there, helping people to benefit from the ocean. MPAs are divided into controlled and restricted zones to allow for both protection and use of resources.
To learn more about these new and current MPAs, visit https://www.marineprotectedareas.org.za ... -the-ocean
To access the gazettes notices and regulations (Gazette no 42478 and 42479): http://www.gpwonline.co.za/Gazettes/Pag ... ettes.aspx
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Frontier Region
Enquiries:
Fayroush Ludick
Regional Manager: Communications, SANParks
Tel: 082 888 0201
Email: fayroush.ludick@sanparks.org
Media Release: First Addo Marine Protected Area Open Day in Alexandria
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Media Release: First Addo Marine Protected Area Open Day in Alexandria
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
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Lisbeth
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Re: Media Release: First Addo Marine Protected Area Open Day in Alexandria
Media Release: Addo Marine Protected Area Official Tomorrow
31 July 2019
The Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area (MPA) off comes into effect tomorrow - Thursday 1 August. It is one of three new MPAs within South African National Parks (SANParks) which were gazetted by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 23 May 2019. The other two are the Robben Island MPA (to be managed by Table Mountain National Park) and the Namaqua National Park MPA, which form part of 20 new national MPAs. This declaration was the culmination of many years of work by South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI,) SANParks, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and DEA.
An MPA is an area of coastline or ocean that is specifically protected for the benefit of people and nature. They help manage part of the marine environment to rebuild fisheries populations, keep marine ecosystems working properly and protect the range of species living there. MPAs are divided into controlled and restricted zones to allow for both protection and use of resources.
The 1 127km2 Addo MPA protects a wide range of ecosystems, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, reefs, an estuary and islands. The protection of the estuary and reefs are important for the recovery of valuable fisheries resources such as abalone and kob. It also protects important feeding areas for the 9 000 pairs of endangered African penguins breeding at St Croix Island and the 60 000 pairs of endangered Cape gannets breeding at Bird Island. Located close to the city of Port Elizabeth, the MPA will facilitate nature-based tourism and serve as an outdoor classroom for educational activities.
This new network of MPAs increases the conservation footprint of South Africa’s oceans from 0.43 to five percent and is a major achievement for conservation. The planning towards some of these MPAs started as far back as in 2006, such as the Addo Elephant National Park MPA, by SANParks and the SANBI Offshore MPA project. Hundreds of planning and stakeholder meetings and negotiations with communities and industries such as oil and gas, mining, fisheries, and aquaculture took place. Planners and lawyers spent five years developing the shape, size and regulations for these MPAs with many compromises on all sides.
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Frontier Region Communications
Enquiries:
Fayroush Ludick
Regional Manager: Communications, SANParks
Tel: 082 888 0201
Email: fayroush.ludick@sanparks.org
31 July 2019
The Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area (MPA) off comes into effect tomorrow - Thursday 1 August. It is one of three new MPAs within South African National Parks (SANParks) which were gazetted by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 23 May 2019. The other two are the Robben Island MPA (to be managed by Table Mountain National Park) and the Namaqua National Park MPA, which form part of 20 new national MPAs. This declaration was the culmination of many years of work by South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI,) SANParks, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and DEA.
An MPA is an area of coastline or ocean that is specifically protected for the benefit of people and nature. They help manage part of the marine environment to rebuild fisheries populations, keep marine ecosystems working properly and protect the range of species living there. MPAs are divided into controlled and restricted zones to allow for both protection and use of resources.
The 1 127km2 Addo MPA protects a wide range of ecosystems, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, reefs, an estuary and islands. The protection of the estuary and reefs are important for the recovery of valuable fisheries resources such as abalone and kob. It also protects important feeding areas for the 9 000 pairs of endangered African penguins breeding at St Croix Island and the 60 000 pairs of endangered Cape gannets breeding at Bird Island. Located close to the city of Port Elizabeth, the MPA will facilitate nature-based tourism and serve as an outdoor classroom for educational activities.
This new network of MPAs increases the conservation footprint of South Africa’s oceans from 0.43 to five percent and is a major achievement for conservation. The planning towards some of these MPAs started as far back as in 2006, such as the Addo Elephant National Park MPA, by SANParks and the SANBI Offshore MPA project. Hundreds of planning and stakeholder meetings and negotiations with communities and industries such as oil and gas, mining, fisheries, and aquaculture took place. Planners and lawyers spent five years developing the shape, size and regulations for these MPAs with many compromises on all sides.
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Frontier Region Communications
Enquiries:
Fayroush Ludick
Regional Manager: Communications, SANParks
Tel: 082 888 0201
Email: fayroush.ludick@sanparks.org
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge