A mission to save the critically endangered African penguin from going extinct has taken a fresh leap towards victory this week, after an agreement was reached between South African conservationists and fishing groups to secure legally-bound no-fishing zones around six of the penguins’ key breeding colonies.

Under the agreement, sardine and anchovy fishing will no longer be allowed for 20km around the penguin colony off Cape Town on Robben Island and Bird Island, across the bay from Gqeberha. More limited closures will also now be formalised around four other African penguin breeding colonies.

Together, the six closures will work to secure what conservationists have long been fighting for: biologically secure meaningful foraging areas for the species in each of the west coast, southern Cape, and Algoa Bay regions in a concerted effort to bring the species back from the brink of extinction.

The victory for South African conservationists has been long fought and debate has been raging for years over how much commercial fishing had contributed to the African penguin population’s decline as well as what impact fishing restrictions would have on the rescue attempts.

The landmark agreement reached this week will also ensure that the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) has to renew the closure permits each January for the next ten years. This will take the closures to the critical year 2035 – the point at which scientists predict that without successful rescue attempts made, African Penguins will be extinct in the wild.

“Taking our daily fight for conservation to court was vital to securing a future for the African Penguin,” said Dr Alistair McInnes, seabird conservation programme manager at BirdLife South Africa. “With this settlement in place, the agreed protections will lead to real change for the African Penguin as well as other marine predator species, such as Cape Gannets, Cape Cormorants, and other socio-economically important fish.”

In the five years between 2018 to 2023, breeding pairs of the African penguin dropped from 15,187 to an estimated 8,750. In March 2024, Bird Life South Africa and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) made the decision to resort to the courts. Represented by the Biodiversity Law Centre, the environmental NGOs sought to hold the Minister accountable to obligations to mitigate the threat posed by sardine and anchovy fishing to the world’s African penguin population.

Nicky Stander, head of conservation at SANCCOB, said: “Today’s order is a significant step forward in our fight to save the African penguin from extinction… However, while we celebrate today’s success, we remain acutely aware that our journey is far from over. 

“The threats facing the African penguin are complex and ongoing – and the order itself requires monitoring, enforcement, and continued cooperation from industry and the government processes which monitor and allocate sardine and anchovy populations for commercial purposes. We must continue to advocate on the basis of our scientific research and implement effective conservation strategies to ensure that African penguins will thrive in the future.”

In further efforts to support the African penguin population, SANCCOB launched its Chick Bolstering Project (CBP) to rescue, rehabilitate, and release abandoned African penguin chicks. Since 2006, over 10,000 chicks have been rescued, with an impressive 81% release rate.

SANCCOB is currently caring for another 85 African penguin chicks, preparing them for release when they are strong enough. An additional 40 eggs are being incubated, meaning more penguins will soon bolster wild populations.

With the agreement now in place, it is ensured that the chicks will be released into a thriving ecosystem.

Throughout the fight for change, the conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation has been steadfast in its provision of support to BirdLife South Africa and SANCCOB.

Jo Coumbe, communication director at Blue Marine Foundation, said: “The recent settlement is a step in the right direction and these new, effective measures will help avert a catastrophe for the African penguin. However, continued vigilance is essential. Now that an agreement has been reached, we must ensure these protections are upheld.

“If we let our guard down, the progress we’ve made could be undone.”

African Penguins are not just charismatic seabirds; they are also an economic powerhouse. With penguin tourism generating up to R2.7 billion (£118 million) annually, their extinction would deal a devastating blow to South Africa’s tourism industry and global conservation reputation.

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