State of Management of South Africa’s ... - WWF South Africa

STATE OF MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREASSANParks Relations with MCM (Refer to Figure 3.3)At the time of the site visits and interviews, there was much confusion over theresponsibilities of, and relationship between MCM and SANParks. MCM and SANParks havesince (August 2009) signed a memorandum of understanding to clarify their operational,management and reporting relationship with regard to MPAs and/or marine areas. Theagreement includes Langebaan Lagoon MPA, Sixteen mile beach MPA, Malgas Island MPA,Marcus Island MPA and Jutten Island MPA (all managed as part of West Coast NationalPark, and referred to from here on as such); Table Mountain National Park MPA;Tsitsikamma National Park MPA and Bird Island MPA. This assessment is based on themanagement activities and relations prior to the signing of this agreement but theimplications of the agreement for management and the improvement thereof will bediscussed.100%MPA management teams *80%60%40%20%AdequateA few deficienciesNeeds substantialimprovementUrgent actionrequired0%communication (local) communication (head office) information exchangeInteractions between MCM and SANParksFigure 3.3: Indicators of the adequacy of relations between MCM and SANParksMCM has provided assistance to SANParks in the management of the MPAs through limitedenforcement support from FCOs and through the involvement of large patrol vessels in someof the abalone poaching operations. It was reported that information exchange andcommunication was not adequate between the agencies and that problems arose withregards to research permits and access to national parks by MCM officials, however this isexpected to improve with the implementation of the agreement. Managers indicated thatthere was regular communication between themselves and MCM but there was room forimprovement in this regard, with the exception of Bird Island MPA which reported thatcommunication was limited, ad hoc and in need of substantial improvement.Organisational Support (Refer to Figure 3.4)All managers indicated that SANParks considered the management of MPAs a priority asfunds and staff had been allocated and a Marine Working Group had been established,however it was implied that the status of marine issues was sometimes second to those ofPg 35