Known as the ‘game reserves of the sea’, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are playing the critical dual roles of conserving ocean wildlife and bringing significant ecotourism potential to coastal areas. On August 1, MPA Day will be held globally, turning the spotlight to these regions, in line with the World Tourism Day (held on September 23) theme of Tourism and Green Investment.

“Tourism is a massive contributor towards our local and global economies and in a country like South Africa, which has 41 MPAs, the potential for ecotourism is just waiting to be unlocked,” said Dr Judy Mann, Founder of MPA Day, and the Executive of Strategic Projects at The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.

“By promoting MPA tourism initiatives, we’re able to empower local communities surrounding our MPAs through job creation, while educating and supporting conservation efforts and the advancement of our MPAs,” said Mann.

Ecotourism success at De Hoop

Situated in the Western Cape, the De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of South Africa’s best-known MPAs, and has blossomed into a spectacular ecotourism destination with the development of several new lodges. These include the luxury Morukuru Beach Lodge and the exclusive-use Morukuru Ocean House – under the Morukuru Family De Hoop brand – and Natural Selection’s Lekkerwater Beach Lodge.

“Guests at Morukuru Family De Hoop enjoy the unspoilt coastline, the scenic beauty of the reserve, the fynbos vegetation, as well as the abundant marine life,” explained Rinse Wassenaar, the Marketing Manager.

From July to October, the MPA offers some of the world’s best whale-watching, due to a ban on boats along the coast. The same protection extends to an array of other marine life, from dolphins to resident turtles (the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Conservation Centre also recently released five rehabilitated into the reserve). 

Morukuru Family De Hoop provides employment to 42 people and welcomes 1 700 guests per year, providing a valuable income stream to nearby communities.

Other ecotourism operators are also benefitting from the MPA, including Africansunroad, which offers nature guides and hikes, with a special focus on the 55km Whale Trail within the nature reserve.

“The protection and restoration of this natural environment has attracted significant interest from tourists with the recovery of ocean life particularly welcome,” said Gillian Louw, CEO of Africansunroad.

Other MPAs

Other popular MPAs in the Western Cape include Robben Island and the West Coast National Park. Apart from its fame as the site of the former prison housing Nelson Mandela, Robben Island is also home to South Africa’s third-largest penguin colony.

“One of the challenges for the penguin population is food scarcity due to fishing activities that take place in the buffer zone. We have partnered with multiple stakeholders to enforce environmental law around Robben Island’s waters. We are also raising awareness about the importance of MPAs to minimise illegal activities,” said Inga Sipuka, Nature Conservator at Robben Island Museum.

The Kwazulu Natal South Coast is also home to three MPAs, while further north in the province lies the renowned MPA, iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

MPA Day 2023 Event Details 

Tuesday, August 1

12h00 to 13h00 – Twitter Chat

16h00 to 17h00 – International Virtual Tour featuring various MPAs

19h00 – Webinar for Recreational Anglers

19h00pm – Speakers Night at Two Oceans Aquarium focusing on kelp forests

06h00 to 14h00: Beach walk, clean-up, surfski paddle and research sample collection at Aliwal Shoal MPA on the KZN South Coast

Activities around Aliwal Shoal MPA – Ocean Festival is hosting a number of Scottburgh-based activities from 06h00 to 14h00 including a beach walk, beach clean-up, surfski paddle, and research sample collection. For more information check out @theoceanfestival on Instagram and Facebook.

Thursday, August 3

19h00 – Leadership for Conservation in Africa online talk by Dr Judy Mann

Saturday, August 5

10h30 to 12h00 – MPA Day Rocky Shore Treasure Hunt 

https://www.aquarium.co.za/news/mpa-day-tidal-pool-treasure-hunt

*For further details, go to the Marine Protected Areas SA Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.