Marine Protected Areas hold the key to human wellbeing

On 1 August, we celebrate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Day, a global occasion first marked in 2021 to recognise the role that MPAs play in conserving our oceans while supporting the wellbeing of people and communities. The day encourages us to appreciate the value of MPAs and the many ways they benefit both us and the extraordinary marine biodiversity they are designed to protect.

This year's theme, "Ocean Protection Needs Human Connection," reminds us that conserving our oceans is a shared responsibility. Every individual, community, business and decision-maker has a role to play in protecting the marine environment. Whether it is reducing pollution, respecting Protected Areas, supporting sustainable fisheries or making informed decisions, our collective actions shape the future health of our oceans.

This message aligns closely with the One Health approach, which recognises that the health of people, animals and ecosystems is fundamentally interconnected. The concept gained renewed international attention at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, where it was highlighted as an essential framework for improving resilience to biodiversity loss, climate change and other planetary challenges. Marine Protected Areas and MPA networks are central to this approach because healthy marine ecosystems ultimately support healthy people.

MPAs protect healthy ecosystems and the species that depend on them. In turn, these ecosystems support human wellbeing directly through food provision as species move beyond MPA boundaries into surrounding waters, and indirectly through the biodiversity economy and the memorable experiences that MPAs offer visitors.

This support is only possible because MPAs provide relatively pristine marine and estuarine environments where harvesting is restricted or prohibited. These Protected Areas serve as living reference sites, allowing scientists to monitor long-term ecological changes and better understand what healthy marine ecosystems look like. They also demonstrate how intact ecosystems are often more resilient to environmental pressures such as climate change, pollution and extreme weather events.

Beyond acting as ecological benchmarks, MPAs provide refuges for threatened and protected species, supporting conservation goals at both national and global level. Within these Protected Areas, healthy ecosystems and productive populations can reproduce, grow and replenish naturally. Many marine species then move beyond MPA boundaries into adjacent waters where sustainable harvesting is permitted. This natural process, known as “spillover”, helps support nearby fisheries, strengthens surrounding marine ecosystems and ultimately benefits coastal communities that rely on healthy fish stocks for food security and livelihoods.

These benefits are not merely theoretical. Betty's Bay MPA provides an example of how healthy ecosystems can support both biodiversity and people. The thriving marine environment and African Penguin colony attract thousands of visitors each year, generating tourism opportunities that support local businesses, including the Mooiuitsig Community Trust-run restaurant, On the Edge. The livelihoods of community members are directly linked to the continued health of the MPA and its species, demonstrating that when marine ecosystems thrive, surrounding communities can thrive too.

Yet these benefits cannot be taken for granted. No single MPA, ecosystem or species exists in isolation. Land, rivers, estuaries and oceans are all interconnected. Pollution entering freshwater systems upstream ultimately flows into estuaries and the ocean, affecting marine habitats, wildlife and the people who depend on clean water throughout the catchment.

The consequences extend well beyond environmental impacts. Millions of people visit South Africa's coastline every year to relax, explore and connect with nature. If beaches and coastal waters become polluted, it threatens not only marine biodiversity, but also tourism, recreation, public health and local economies. Clean oceans also hold significant cultural and spiritual value, with many religious traditions incorporating water into important ceremonies and practices. Protecting marine ecosystems therefore safeguards far more than just the affected species.

Recognising these connections means recognising that everyone has a role to play. Individuals, communities, businesses and governments all contribute to maintaining healthy ecosystems that, in turn, support healthy people. Partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential to reducing pollution, improving environmental practices and ensuring that the principles of One Health are reflected in everyday decisions, workplaces and communities.

The One Health approach is not only a theory; it has already demonstrated its value in the Western Cape. When rabies was detected in Cape fur seals, posing a potential risk to both species and people, animal and human health practitioners worked together to understand, monitor and mitigate the disease. Their collaborative response highlighted how protecting ecosystem health, animal health and human health requires coordinated action across multiple sectors.

As MPA Day reminds us, protecting our oceans is about more than conserving marine species. Healthy marine ecosystems underpin food security, livelihoods, tourism, recreation, cultural practices and human wellbeing. MPAs are one of our most effective tools for safeguarding these benefits, but their success depends on all of us. By working together and recognising our shared collective responsibility, we can ensure that these places continue to sustain both nature and people for generations to come.