Thanks to Pierre de Villiers of CapeNature for his very interesting and informative presentation on the MPA in Betty’s Bay.
Initially, the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998 was used to declare and regulate MPAs. Later this became function of the Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003.
It is easier to observe what happens in terrestrial protected areas, such as nature reserves, than in MPAs. Some activities in MPAs occur underwater and though they are less visible, they negatively affect the biodiversity in the MPA. Activities like illegal kelp harvesting, poaching, fishing with nets, stripping bait off the rocks, marine animal entanglement in fishing nets, line or litter and by-catches of birds in fishing nets are visible and their impact is more obvious.
Currently, shore-based angling is permitted as well as non-consumptive uses such as SCUBA, tourism business and passage by vessels. Fishing or spearfishing from vessels is not permitted. As we know too well – there is widespread illegal harvesting of abalone and rock lobster in the Betty’s Bay MPA.
The MPA in Betty’s Bay is part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. It lies between Stony Point and Jocks Bay, and extends two nautical miles out to sea.
Two of the functions of an MPA are to protect marine habitats and conserve species.
One aspect that still needs to be addressed is the conservation of all parts of the ecosystem. As the Betty’s Bay MPA is a core zone of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, it should be a “no take” zone.
The positive news is that from 2026, there are plans to update the management plan of the Betty’s Bay MPA in order to increase protection of the biodiversity. The BBC supports this plan for the MPA.
Carol Clark