South Africa has protected some 18% of its coastline from fishing and unregulated activity such as diving. The World Parks Congress of 2004 held in Durban demanded that by 2015, countries must protect 20% of their marine area from fishing.

Marine and Coastal Management shares the management of its 19 marine protected areas with the South African National Parks and Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife. 

See our Information Map to see where all our MPA’s are located. Located on this page are the full set of regulations in terms of which our MPA’s are regulated.

There are specific regulations for –

• The Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area. This MPA includes all of the coastal waters around the Cape Peninsula from Mouille Point in the west to Bailey’s cottage in the east. It is situated in the transition zone between two bio-geographic provinces - the cool temperate Namaqua province lies to the west and the warm temperate south coast province to the east. This is one of the most diverse and productive stretches of coastline in South Africa. The Cape Peninsula is also rich in marine species endemic to southern Africa some of which are even endemic to this change-over region. The proximity of a large metropolitan area provides great challenges and opportunities for marine conservation. The exploitation of natural resources along the Cape Peninsula coastline is an important source of recreation, employment and food. Unfortunately, the intensity of harvesting on the peninsula has exceeded the capacity of many of the fish species to replace themselves, and many are severely overexploited. It is clear that the marine and coastal ecosystems surrounding the Cape Peninsula need to be protected from further degradation and given the chance to recover. The exploitation of over-fished species must be reduced. The shores of the Cape Peninsula are one of the great tourist attractions of Cape Town. To swim among penguins at Boulders is a world-class attraction while Coral Gardens offers some of the most spectacular temperate water SCUBA diving. The Cape of Good Hope Reserve is the most visited reserve in Africa.
  
• The Bird Island Group Marine Protected Area. These group of islands in the Algoa Bay off Port Elizabeth lies adjacent to the Greater Addo Elephant National Park and some of the most spectacular dune systems in the world. The Bird Island is home to thousands of gannets and penguins. The principal purpose of this MPA is prohibit diving in the waters around the islands to protect abalone stocks.

• The Pondoland Marine Protected Area. This MPA lies adjacent to some of the most rugged and beautiful coastlines. It is a transitional area for marine biodiversity, with elements of both tropical and temperate systems. Here there is a high rate of species turnover within similar habitat, and a high proportion of species are endemic to the region. The area also includes a range of marine and coastal habitats, with substantial estuaries being fully protected for the first time in South Africa. From a fisheries perspective, the area needs protection as many over-exploited linefish species spawn here. The inter-tidal shellfishery also needs to be brought under control, as many areas have been stripped of the larger mollusks. The Pondoland Marine Protected Area is South Africa’s largest, stretching along 90 km of coastline and extending approximately 15 km out to sea to the 1000 m isobath.

• The Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area. The Aliwal Shoal is a sub-tidal reef situated 5 km off the Kwazulu-Natal south coast near Scottburgh. The reef supports a coral community, including 15 species of hard corals and 4 species of soft corals. The diverse fish fauna is a popular attraction for SCUBA divers, fishermen and spear-fishermen. Many endangered species of endemic reef fish are found on the shoal, as well as breeding ragged-tooth sharks. The MPA serves many functions, including the conservation of the unique reef fauna, control of user-conflict and the development of a world-renowned diving site. Aliwal Shoal can be added to other great tourist attractions of KwaZulu-Natal.