State of Management of South AfricaÃ¢â¬â¢s ... - WWF South Africa

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STATE OF MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREAStropics. The MPAs extend three nautical miles offshore and include the most southernextension of coral reefs in South Africa, submarine canyons which support the Coelacanth,subtidal rocky reefs, long sandy beaches and rocky shores.The MPAs are important for marine conservation as they contain a high diversity of marinespecies, form sanctuaries for breeding populations of endemic fish species and are importantnesting areas for loggerhead and leatherback turtles. The MPAs are popular recreationalfishing and diving destinations and have immense economic potential through tourism. Thereis a world renowned turtle monitoring programme being implemented, and a considerableamount of research has been conducted within the MPAs.The areas included in the MPAs are also of importance to traditional fishers and inter-tidalharvesters living in and around the Park. There is a history of distrust between thecommunities and conservation authorities due to the displacement of communities from theirlands and the restriction of access to marine resources. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park hasbeen to date, subject to 14 land claims, nine of which have been settled. The slow settlementof land claims and the history of distrust between the communities and conservationauthorities present a considerable challenge for management in developing positive relationswith local communities.Threats to the marine environment and resources included: Overexploitation of intertidal invertebrates; Deep and vertical jigging; Recreational angling; Illegal development in the coastal zone, and Too many divers disturbing and damaging the reefs.The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority are responsible for the general management of thePark and have contracted EKZNW to manage the conservation aspects of the Park. Thusboth organisations are involved in the management of the MPAs. Peter Hartley, BronwynJames and Nerosha Govender from iSimangaliso Authority; Johan Gerber, Anton James,Leonard Zulu, Terrence Shozi, July Ngubane and Jennifer Olbers from EKZN Wildlife; andBruce Mann from ORI were consulted for these MPAs.8.4.2 Legal and organisational frameworkThe St Lucia MPA (initially declared in 1968) and the Maputaland MPA (initially declared in1974) were declared under the MLRA in 2000. The coordinates of the boundaries and zoneswithin were provided in the proclamation.iSimangaliso Wetland Park was declared a WHS in Government Notice No. 4477 inNovember 2000 (named Greater St Lucia Wetland Park initially). St Lucia and MaputalandMPAs are contained within iSimangaliso Wetland Park and thus have dual designation underthe MLRA and the WHCA.Pg 132
STATE OF MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREASThe proposed zones in the Integrated Management Plan (IMP) are compatible with theexisting zones regarding the use of marine living resources; however different names andtwo additional zone types were introduced in the IMP. This zonation pattern containsdescriptions of the inherent characteristics of the zones, purposes of the zones and listsextensively all the permissible and non-permissible activities. It was indicated that thiszonation pattern was still to be reviewed after comments were received from EKZNWscientific services.Management authorities reported that the combined use of the NEM:PAA, the WHCA andthe MLRA was effective for management purposes as weaknesses and gaps in the MLRAwere addressed in the other legislation. It was indicated that more clarity regarding theconditions of subsistence permits was required as there had been difficulties in enforcingthese.8.4.3 MPA designMPA DESIGN (75%)Most critical habitats were included within the boundaries of the MPAs, however because thedeep canyons are located on the offshore boundary of the MPAs, it was suggested that theboundaries be extended further offshore so to provide effective protection for these habitats.In addition, the Delgoa bioregion break is located at Cape Vidal and the extension of theMPA to include the southern portion of the Park, would offer increased protection to a sectionof the Natal bioregion, the transition area between the two bioregions and the estuary. Thesize of the MPA was adequate for maintaining ecological processes. Critical areas includedwithin the MPAs were afforded extra protection through the zonation of the MPAs under theMLRA.8.4.4 MPA management planEXISTENCE OF PLAN, OBJECTIVES AND REGULATIONS (75%)The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was managed as one integrated system. The iSimangalisoAuthority was required to develop an IMP for the Park. At the time of the assessment, an IMPhad been drafted and Conservation Operation Plans for the marine section of the Park weredrawn up using the IMP as a guide. The objectives for the Park as a whole differ to thoseunder the MLRA for the MPAs. No site specific objectives for the MPAs were provided in theproclamation under the MLRA, however specific and relevant objectives had been providedin the IMP. The IMP clearly defined the allowable and restricted activities in the differentzones in the MPAs.Pg 133
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