CapeNature and NRF-SAIAB Team Up for Marine Conservation in De Hoop MPA
In celebration of Marine Protected Area Day, celebrated annually on August 1, CapeNature and the National Research Foundation (NRF) are proud to highlight their ongoing efforts to protect marine life through the Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP) in the Western Cape’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Between June 18 and 19, a team from CapeNature, including a marine specialist and field rangers, collaborated with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB) to perform essential maintenance on ATAP acoustic receivers in the De Hoop MPA. The team was also joined by an ATAP marine technician and a PhD student, ensuring a smooth operation.
ATAP, funded by the Department of Science and Innovation, deploys over 250 moored acoustic receivers along 2,200 kilometres of South Africa’s coastline, from St Helena Bay in the Western Cape to Ponta do Ouro at the Mozambique border. This extensive network tracks marine animals with acoustic tags, providing invaluable data on their movements and habitat use.
CapeNature’s 6.5-metre vessel, Storm Petrel, played a pivotal role in this mission, retrieving and deploying receivers in De Hoop and adjacent sites, including the Breede estuary. The operation involved a 130-kilometre round trip from Witsand in the Breede Estuary, navigating challenging conditions with a 28-knot gusting NW wind. Despite these obstacles, the team successfully visited six receiver sites on the first day, utilising innovative acoustic release technology to retrieve and replace the devices. Unfortunately, one of the acoustic releases was not retrieved. Future recovery efforts will be made for this unit.
Clever acoustic release technology allows NRF-SAIAB researchers to release the deployed receiver at each site from its anchor using surface-based technology.
The following day, the team tackled three additional offshore sites, including the Duiwenhoks Estuary and the remaining receivers in the Breede Estuary, covering 220 kilometres over the two-day operation.
The data collected through ATAP’s network helps MPA managers understand how targeted species utilise MPAs, their migration patterns, and the significance of adjacent habitats such as bays and estuaries. This evidence is crucial for conservation efforts and the expansion of protected areas.
The successful completion of this mission underscores the value of the ongoing productive partnership between CapeNature and NRF-SAIAB in advancing marine conservation. As we celebrate MPA Day, this achievement highlights South Africa’s leadership in aquatic biodiversity research and the vital role of MPAs in protecting our marine ecosystems.
Related News
Boost for freshwater biodiversity as Wilderness Nature Reserve declared
A new nature reserve has been declared in the Western Cape, marking another significant milestone for the province’s environment. The Wilderness Nature Reserve, spanning over 643 hectares, has been declared a Provincial Nature Reserve in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003).
Rocherpan clean-up kicks off MPA Day 2025 celebrations
CapeNature kicked off Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day celebrations with a community-driven beach clean-up at Rocherpan Nature Reserve on 31 July 2025. With school learners, volunteers, and the ever-popular Cubs Club mascot, Kai, lending a hand, all to highlight the link between marine and ocean protection and a public responsibility for conservation.
Winning hearts and minds through Marine Protected Areas
Our marine areas are teeming with life and a variety of protection measures are used to protect the ocean, such as precautionary fishery management principles (bag limits, size limits, catch limits and closed seasons) and shipping and pollution regulations. But at the heart of the protection efforts, are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are demarcated areas to conserve this incredible biodiversity. MPAs can form critical refugia for some more resident species, which may become extinct without protection. All species and ecosystems form part of the overall functioning marine ecosystem and its ability to sustain direct and indirect use. The need to conserve MPAs is based on scientific evidence as well as frequent public engagement and participation in active protection of these areas.
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 can I assist you today?
How can I assist you today?