The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on April 25 observed World Penguin Day to celebrate the African penguin as a beloved symbol of the country’s rich biodiversity.

The critically endangered African penguin is often at the heart of the department’s conservation and preservation efforts.

The charismatic seabird faces critical complexities such as climate change, overfishing, oil spills and maritime noise pollution. These factors have led to steep declines in breeding activity, with only 9 000 breeding pairs remaining in South Africa, the department points out.

The DFFE, together with dedicated partners, have taken bold action to reverse this trajectory, including by addressing the devastating impact of bunkering in Algoa Bay, near St Croix Island, which once hosted the world’s largest African penguin colony.

Following a pause of bunkering activity in 2023, the DFFE observed a small but encouraging recovery at St Croix Island, with the department now advancing stricter bunkering regulations to permanently restrict activities in sensitive ecological zones to safeguard penguins from further harm. 

Moreover, a landmark achievement came about on March 12 when a court settlement resolved a legal challenge brought by BirdLife South African and the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob).

The settlement, which is now an order of the court, establishes biologically meaningful no-fishing zones around six key penguin colonies – Dassen Island, Robben Island, Stony Point, Dyer Island, St Croix Island and Bird Island. These zones are home to 76% of South Africa’s penguin population.

Notably, 12-mile fishing closures around Robben Island and Bird Island will secure vital sardine and anchovy stocks for penguins over the next decade.

During this legal process, the DFFE engaged with the fishing industry to balance ecological and economic needs.

Other efforts by the department include strengthening Marine Protected Areas to bolster fishing stocks and supporting Sanccob’s rehabilitation of injured penguins, as well as investing in research to monitor and adapt conservation strategies.

The DFFE says all South Africans can join in the efforts to protect penguins as their survival reflects the health of our oceans and commitment to a sustainable future.