Management Challenges
Despite being a global leader in MPA development and management, South Africa still faces significant challenges in ensuring that its MPA estate is effectively managed.
In 2004, WWF commissioned an assessment of the state of Marine Protected Areas management in South Africa. This report revealed the following key challenges:
The WWF Honda Marine Parks Programme and the WWF CAPE Marine programme both seek to support MPA management in South Africa, and both programmes were developed to respond to the key management challenges in Marine Parks stated above.
A focussed public education and awareness drive for 2009, coined the Year of the MPA will seek to address the issue of low public awareness and support for MPAs.
- Insufficient skills and capacity in MPA management
- Lack of appropriate resources and hardware
- Lack of management plans
- Low public awareness and support for MPA
- Our network of Marine Parks is not overall representative of our overall marine heritage. While certain habitats are very well protected others (such as the West Coast and offshore areas) are totally neglected.
The WWF Honda Marine Parks Programme and the WWF CAPE Marine programme both seek to support MPA management in South Africa, and both programmes were developed to respond to the key management challenges in Marine Parks stated above.
A focussed public education and awareness drive for 2009, coined the Year of the MPA will seek to address the issue of low public awareness and support for MPAs.
Management Challenges