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 AREAS6.2 BETTY’S BAY MPA6.2.1 ContextThe Betty’s Bay MPA is situated at the western end of the Agulhas bioregion. The coastaltown of Betty’s Bay is situated adjacent to the MPA and the Kogelberg Nature Reserve(managed by CapeNature) is within close proximity to the MPA. The MPA forms part of thecore zone of the United Nations Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO)designated Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. There are diverse habitats within the MPAincluding rocky shores, exposed sandy beaches, estuaries, subtidal reefs and kelp forests.The area is productive and supports a rich diversity of fish, invertebrate and algal species aswell as populations of two Red Data species, namely the African penguin and bankcormorant. The MPA is important for the protection of abalone, west coast rock lobsters, linefish species and the African penguin.It was reported that the inshore fish species were over exploited and some had disappearedfrom the MPA or have become rare. The reduction in fish, a food source for seabirds, wasexpected to have impacted the seabird populations in the area. The abalone populations hadbeen heavily impacted in the MPA. Intertidal invertebrates were moderately exploited andimpacted by trampling.There are a variety of tourist attractions in and associated with the MPA. These include: recreational shore angling, surfing and kite-surfing, visits to the penguin colony, visits to the whaling station, swimming and bathing, hiking, boating.Threats to the MPA include: abalone poaching, overexploitation by shore anglers, overexploitation of intertidal organisms, development in the adjacent areas (increase population pressure and disturbance ofdune dynamics) accumulation of discarded fishing line and tackle, littering of beaches.6.2.2 Legal frameworkThe Betty’s Bay MPA was initially declared as the H.F. Verwoerd marine reserve. It was reproclaimedunder the MLRA in 2000 as the Betty’s Bay MPA. There are no specificPg 74
STATE OF MANAGEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MARINE PROTECTED AREASregulations for the MPA under the MLRA; however the regulations do provide that shoreangling is allowed.The manager at Betty’s Bay indicated that a dive ban in the MPA would facilitate complianceand that the MPA should be closed to shore angling. It was suggested that fines beincreased, the Green Court be reinstated and the profile of poaching raised beyond that of a‘petty crime’. There is an inconsistency in the demarcation of the MPA in the proclamation inthat the eastern boundary of the MPA was described through the use of a beacon and GPScoordinates that do not align.Issues that need to be dealt with include the agreement between MCM and the OverstrandMunicipality as it was reported that there was no proactive management of penguins outsideof the MPA and that penguins were being removed from municipal land.6.2.3 MPA designMPA DESIGN (67%)The MPA extends along the shore for 3km, between a beacon at Stony Point (westernboundary) and a beacon to the east of Jock’s Bay, and extends two nautical miles offshorefrom the high water mark. A total area of 20.14km 2 is incorporated in the MPA. The MPA wasnot zoned and was managed as a controlled zone. Shore angling was the only consumptiveactivity that was permitted.The MPA included critical areas for abalone conservation and fish spawning; however all ofthese areas were not afforded extra protection as shore-angling was permitted. The size andshape of the MPA would be considered adequate if the MPA was zoned as a no-take area.There was no zonation of activities; however this was not required due to the structure of thecoastline and the influence this had on zoning activities naturally.6.2.4 MPA Management PlanEXISTENCE OF PLAN, OBJECTIVES AND REGULATIONS (83%)A comprehensive management plan for the MPA had recently been drafted. At the time ofthe assessment it was not yet approved but was being used to guide management. The planlisted the broad objectives for MPAs under the MLRA and the generic biophysical, social andgovernance objectives provided by CapeNature that were applicable to the MPA. Themanagement plan was designed so to aid in the achievement of these objectives. Allowableand restricted activities were dealt with clearly in the plan.PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND ADEQUACY (92%)The management plan set out priorities and facilitated resource allocation. The plan did notindicate specific management actions to be taken but work plans and operational plans couldPg 75
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