The Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) recently released the official report on the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA-Sharks) in South Africa. In May 2020, following public concern about shark populations along the South African coast, the Minister of (DEFF), Ms Barbara Creecy, appointed an Expert Panel to … [Read more...]
Protecting South Africa’s sardine run
With billions of spawning sardines travelling north towards Mozambique, the annual sardine run is one of the planet's biggest migrations in terms of biomass. In a report for Call to Earth, CNN reports on the event, which runs along South Africa's east coast between May and July. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual sardine run would attract tourists from across the … [Read more...]
The time to act for our oceans is now
WILDOCEANS, a programme of the WILDTRUST, is causing quite a stir on social media with the launch of their WE DON’T NEED OUR OCEANS campaign. The environmental non-profit hopes to show South Africa (and the world) what life would be like without our oceans, and subsequently place a spotlight on just how much we depend on them, as well as mobilise a regional movement for … [Read more...]
NPO’s take a stand to halt offshore oil drilling
WILDOCEANS is one of several organisations including Oceans Not Oil, South Durban Community Environmental Association and Green Connection, who have submitted comment opposing the proposed offshore exploration drilling and associated activities by oil company TOTAL. There are procedural, climatic, socio-economic and ecological concerns that WILDOCEANS have raised linked to … [Read more...]
EU commission plans green reset for agriculture
Yesterday, the European Commission published their roadmap for EU policy action on biodiversity and food for the coming decade. In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak that has brought our relationship with the natural world into sharp focus, the strategies have never been more timely. The EU Farm to Fork and 2030 Biodiversity Strategies launched today are potential game … [Read more...]
Calling on Azores government to protect threatened sharks
Last year WILDOCEANS, a programme of the WILDTRUST, joined a global movement led by ‘Sharkproject International’ in a bid to put an end to shark finning. A letter was drafted and endorsed by 57 signatory parties from academia, retail, fisheries, the NPO sector and environmental government departments from all over the world. The letter was written to spread awareness about the … [Read more...]
Marine protection expansion project moves towards 10% coverage
On World Oceans Day on the 8th of June 2018, a coalition of organisations including WILDOCEANS (a programme of the WILDTRUST), Ocean Unite, WWF South Africa, Centre for Environmental Rights and the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR), united to advance the protection of the oceans around South Africa within Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) and … [Read more...]
Wild Oceans to investigate critical shark habitat and movements
Recently the Wild Oceans Research Vessel, RV Angra Pequena, carrying a team of researchers and marine students, set sail to Protea Banks on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in order to retrieve telemetry receivers previously deployed in the area. The retrieval of these receivers will give us the ability to investigate the movements of tagged sharks and highlight the importance … [Read more...]
Report highlights need to invest in marine protected areas
South Africa’s 24 marine protected areas (MPAs) are critical for the health of future fish stock. Yet their significance is not fully appreciated. From coastal residents and fishers through to government prosecutors and judges, a lack of understanding of the importance of these areas continues to hamper efforts to manage MPAs effectively. These are among the findings … [Read more...]
82% of marine ecosystems not well managed
Oceans cover 70% of the Earth's surface, yet less than 1% of these critical systems are under any form of legal protection. The Convention on Biological Diversity's Global Biodiversity Outlook indicates that the world's marine ecosystems are in peril. Along southern Africa's east coast, the dugong is one marine mammal in urgent need of protection. If we do not act … [Read more...]
