The Eastern Cape gets a marine Hope Spot

The Eastern Cape gets a marine Hope Spot

WORLD-renowned marine biologist, Dr Sylvia Earle, has chosen Algoa Bay as one of South Africa’s coastal areas that need protection and it will be formally launched as one of the country’s six Project Blue Hope Spots in December 2014.   Hope Spots are areas which are critical to the health of the ocean, the Earth’s blue heart, with some already formally protected and others in need of defined protection.

Algoa Bay, situated on the Eastern Cape coast of South Africa, is recognised as one of the world temperate biodiversity hotspots and known for its natural beauty and biodiversity.  The bay incorporates two island groups and is home to the world’s largest population of African Penguins.  It is a protected refuge to calving whales, large pods of bottlenose dolphins and humpback dolphins, with visiting orcas not being an uncommon sight.  The annual migration of millions of sardines gather off these shores and is announced and celebrated by Cape Gannets, game fish, dolphins and sharks alike.  The abundance is overwhelming and life prolific.  The bay is also home to a wide variety of sharks, some like the ragged tooth, pyjama and leopard shark are residential while others are frequent and regular visitors to our beautiful bay.  The area is also nursing ground to both ragged tooth, great white and smooth hammerhead sharks. 

Marine biologist, Lorien Pichegru of Raggy Charters, heads up the Algoa Bay Hope Spot and is very excited about the prospects of the project.  “Half of the world’s African Penguin population is found in Algoa Bay and the area is also an island for 70% of the world’s sea birds.  The Hope Spot would go a long way in creating more awareness about penguin conservation and will assist in the actual conservation efforts.”  Pichegru also added that each Hope Spot will have an education trust fund which will help schools and children in the neighbouring communities understand the importance of sea life.  

For more information on Hope Spots visit www.mission-blue.org or watch the stunning Algoa Bay Hope Spot video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQP1UVxO2W4