The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Mrs B.E.E. Molewa today announced that the Amathole Marine Protected Area (MPA) will be promulgated tomorrow, Friday 16 September 2011, making it the 21st marine protected area along the South African coastline to be declared.
The new Amathole MPA is an important addition to South Africa’s network of coastal marine protected areas. It comprises three separate marine areas, the Gxulu, Gonubie and Kei areas and will provide formal and long-term protection to the inshore marine habitat and biodiversity of the Eastern Cape. The coastline of these areas substantially co-incides with terrestrial Nature Reserves managed by the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency who will be the Management Agency for the MPA.
According to the Gazette the purpose for declaring the Marine Protected Area is to protect and conserve the marine environment and marine biodiversity in the Amathole region; to provide a sanctuary for species impacted by boat-based exploitation; to provide benchmark areas for scientific research and monitoring aimed at the protection and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems; and to control activities in the Marine Protected Area to reduce the risks of habitat degradation.
The accompanying regulations contain strict measures to achieve the above and boats traversing the areas with fishing gear on board will need to ensure that not only is such gear completely stowed, but fishing vessels will not be able stop in the area, apart from where they launch or prepare to return to authorised launch sites. After entering the MPA vessels will also need to keep GPS records for two days to allow for effective compliance.
In this way the protection provided by the existing closed fishery areas is enhanced and more areas of rich marine biodiversity are formally included in the nation’s marine conservation estate. The MPA has received substantial support from the regional boat angling association and this is appreciated and bodes well for successful implementation.
Currently the MPA only includes sea areas (not estuaries). Shore-based angling, spearfishing and bait collecting activities will still be allowed although this will be more strictly controlled as the shore-line up to the high water mark falls within the MPA.
For more information on the Amathole MPA visit www.environment.gov.za
For media enquiries, contact:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
E-mail: ZNqayi@environment.gov.za
