Marine Protected Areas With a Focus on the De Hoop Marine Protected Area
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are crucial for safeguarding species and maintaining the balance of ecosystems. They also contribute to the sustainability of fisheries, which in turn supports livelihoods and boosts the economy. In South Africa, at least 3.6 million people depend on coastal food resources for subsistence. MPAs are managed through the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act No. 57 of 2003) and associated regulations. CapeNature oversees six of the 13 MPAs along the Western Cape coast, including the De Hoop MPA.
This no-take marine reserve spans 288 km2 and encompasses various habitats that host a diverse range of species. It has proven effective in protecting endangered shark species, with underwater video footage revealing that 11 different shark species utilise the MPA. Moreover, the abundance of sharks inside the MPA is significantly higher than outside, with six of the 11 species classified as threatened, such as the Critically Endangered Soupfin Shark and the Vulnerable Ragged Tooth Shark.
The De Hoop MPA may also play a vital role in conserving the Endangered African Penguin. Thanks to the concerted efforts of BirdLife South Africa, SANCCOB, and CapeNature, penguins have returned to the De Hoop Nature Reserve after an absence of over a decade. One of the biggest threats to African Penguins is the mismatch between their breeding colonies and the distribution of their main prey, anchovies, and sardines. Fish stocks have shifted south and east, putting them beyond reach of the main breeding colonies in the Western Cape.
Since 2021, 185 hand-reared chicks have been released at a site on De Hoop Nature Reserve that has been fenced off from land-based predators. In 2022, the first penguin pair hatched and successfully raised two chicks. The hope is that, with human-assisted access to fish on the Agulhas Bank, the colony will continue to grow over time.
Ragged-tooth-shark: The Ragged Tooth Shark (Carcharias taurus, Vulnerable) enjoys the protection of the De Hoop MPA.
African-penguin-feeding: Establishing a breeding colony at De Hoop will provide easier access to the Agulhas Bank for African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus, Endangered).
African-penguin-DHNR-decoy: These decoys should help to attract African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus, Endangered) to the De Hoop breeding site.
Related News
New nature reserve secures rare Cape Vernal Pools habitat
The Franco Three Fountains Nature Reserve is declared a protected area, marking a significant conservation turning point as the first and only reserve dedicated to safeguarding the rare and ecologically important Cape Vernal Pools (a rare and endangered type of seasonal wetland ecosystem found within the Greater Cape Floristic Region). This unique vegetation type, previously unrepresented across our conservation areas, now finds its largest protected expanse within the boundaries of this reserve.
Biodiversity crime often overlooked but its impact is devastating
Biodiversity crime is a growing and often overlooked threat that directly harms South Africa’s unique ecosystems. From the illegal plant trade in the Western Cape to poaching and even picking wildflowers in protected areas without a permit, these acts all contribute to the degradation of biodiversity and the loss of crucial natural resources.
New EPWP intake launches careers in conservation and eco-tourism in the Western Cape
CapeNature has welcomed 475 new participants into a three-year Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) cycle, emphasising its commitment to skills development, conservation, and community upliftment across the province.
A small cohort of these participants, based at Kogelberg and Stony Point Nature Reserves, were officially welcomed at an event hosted at Kogelberg and led by Western Cape Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell.
How biodiversity crime threatens the Western Cape’s people, economy, and ecosystems
Biodiversity crime may sound like something intangible compared to other crimes encountered on a daily basis in our lives, but it is a very real and growing threat to our planet’s delicate ecosystems. It includes any illegal activity that harms plants, animals, or the ecosystems they depend on from high-profile crimes like rhino poaching to illegal plant trade in the Western Cape. It can even be something as simple as picking wildflowers in a nature reserve without permission or a permit.
Young leopard dies after being caught in gin traps near Heidelberg
CapeNature can confirm the death of a young leopard following a call to assist in a rescue operation on 2 July in the Heidelberg area, near the World Heritage Site of Boosmansbos.
Officials discovered a young 13 kg male leopard, estimated to be around six months old, ensnared in two gin traps set adjacent to each other. One front paw and one hind leg were caught. Despite the best efforts of the rescue team, the leopard did not survive.
Darwin200 Young Leaders & CapeNature Launch Inspiring Documentaries
Three DARWIN200 young leaders worked hand in hand with CapeNature to produce awe-inspiring and heartwarming videos on the Cape vulture colony of Potberg, the bontebok at De Hoop Nature Reserve and the invasive carp at Groenvlei. Click read more to watch the videos.
How can I assist you today?
How can I assist you today?