“PENGUINS, PEOPLE and PARTNERSHIPS IN THE KOGELBERG”
WWF and CapeNature hosted a very well run, informative and enjoyable “Penguins, people and partnerships” event at Stony Point on World Environment Day.
Tim Elliot: “Three fortunate BBC Penguin-Pals members, Carol, Kim and Tim, were invited to attend an event for invested and interested people at Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay. This event focussed on the future of this important African penguin colony situated in the Kogelberg Biosphere.
Claire Mawisa, of Carte Blanche fame, enthusiastically facilitated the questions to the highly knowledgeable panel of experts. Attendees, including a multitude of journalists, then had the opportunity to ask the panel questions.
Despite the recent gains, such as the amendment of permits of the pelagic fishing industry to reflect new fishing exclusion zones around six key African Penguin breeding areas, the future of the African Penguin is deeply troubling. The numbers of penguins have dropped hugely. Unless appropriate interventions happen timeously, they will continue to do so, together with a multitude of other species that are dependent on the same food sources.
A great lunch produced by the always reliable kitchens of On The Edge, and a guided walk along the elevated walkway ended an interesting and thought provoking day.”
The specialist panel comprised:
- Craig Smith (South Africa Lead, WWF)
- Alistair McInnes (Seabird Conservation Programme Manager, Birdlife South Africa),
- Nicky Stander (Head of Conservation, SANCCOB),
- Alana Duffell-Canham (Landscape Conservation intelligence Manager, CapeNature)
The panel discussion covered aspects of the management, threats, research and rehabilitation of the African penguin. Follow the link to listen to this important session.
The panel provided insight into the new fishing closures. Research data obtained over the next six to 10 years will assess the impact of the closures on the penguins. Oil spills, ship to ship bunkering in the Algoa Bay area, noise pollution, increased shipping traffic, predation at sea and on land, climatic events as well as the competition with the pelagic fishing industry for sardines and anchovies are some of the factors impacting the African penguin. Of all the factors and threats to the existing colonies of penguins, their access to food is the biggest factor affecting their survival.
The staff of CapeNature escorted small groups of attendees along the boardwalk to highlight issues in the colony, share interesting stores and answer questions.
Some positive news is that the staff who work with the penguins report that both the adult penguins and chicks at Stony Point appear to have better body condition since the implementation of the fishing closures.
It is still early days and the research data for the next six to ten years will help to assess this accurately. These years are a vital time for the survival of this critically endangered species.
We hope the positive steps of the fishing closures have not come too late to save the African Penguin.
Carol Clark