Scientists and conservationists have embarked on a 24-hour dive and walk at uShaka Marine World in Durban to raise awareness for International African Penguin Awareness Day.
According to World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa, the African Penguin species, only found in southern African waters, has declined by over 90% from over a million breeding pairs estimated in the early 1900’s in South Africa to around 10 000 breeding pairs.
Scuba officer at Durban Undersea Club, Brian Hart, says the diving has helped create awareness and educate people about the African Penguin. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment recently announced the partial closure of fishing around some African Penguin breeding colonies. This announcement acknowledges the importance of island closures in enhancing successful African Penguin breeding efforts.Executive Manager at The South African Association for Marine Biological Research in uShaka, Maryke Musson, says many factors, including climate change, play a role in the decline of the African Penguin.
Musson says unpolluted ocean and environment play a major role in the survival of not only the African Penguins but all marine life. She has urged people to keep the environment and ocean clean to preserve all wildlife.
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