African Penguin Faces Extinction as New Research Shows Current Measures to Save them are Ineffective

african penguin

The African Penguin, with its distinctive black-and-white plumage, is a cherished symbol of South Africa’s unique coastal ecosystem and an iconic attraction for both locals and tourists alike. Yet the species – known for its playfulness and social bonds – has already lost 97% of its population and could be extinct in the wild by 2035 if current trends persist. SANCCOB and BirdLife South Africa, with the support of ocean conservation charity Blue Marine, are urging the South African government and the international community to take immediate action to save the African Penguin.

Faced with numerous threats, a primary cause of the African Penguin’s decline is a lack of available food due to competition from commercial purse-seine small pelagic fishing around its breeding colonies, which impacts the species’ survival and breeding success. And while there are existing no-take zones where fishing is prohibited to help restore fish populations that penguins feed on, primarily sardines and anchovies, new research by leading ornithologists finds that these zones are inadequate for penguin conservation.

New scientific research analyses effectiveness of current no-take zones

The study evaluated different no-take zone scenarios around six major penguin colonies that together support 76% of the global African Penguin population.

Out of the six colonies – Dassen Island, Robben Island, Stony Point, Dyer Island, St. Croix Island and Bird Island – four of these sites restrict purse-seine fishing in less than 50% of the penguins’ core feeding areas, whilst posing minimal to no economic loss to the fisheries.

In the paper, scientists including BirdLife South Africa’s Dr Alistair McInnes and the University of Exeter’s Dr Richard Sherley, recommend alternative and achievable limits that provide more substantial benefits to penguins without causing disproportionately high costs to the purse-seine fishing industry.

Landmark litigation underway

The flightless bird is now at the threshold of being classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List and breeding pairs have fallen below 10,000 for the first time in history.

SANCCOB and BirdLife South Africa have united to take legal action to enforce greater protection of the species. Launched by the Biodiversity Law Centre earlier this year, the two non-profit organisations instituted against the office of the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, to challenge the Minister’s “biologically meaningless” island closures to purse-seine fishing around key African Penguin colonies.

The legal action seeks to substitute the existing commercial fishery no-take zones with alternative zones that are better aligned to the African Penguins’ important feeding areas, while minimising the impacts on the purse-seine fishing industry. Whilst varying in extent, these zones would be effective around six major penguin colonies, to reduce competition and allow fish stocks to be replenished for penguin consumption.

International action is needed, now

South African free diver and social activist Zandi Ndhlovu, who featured on the BBC’s 100 Women 2023 list, has today launched an initiative to highlight the fragile plight of the African Penguin, encouraging those keen to support the birds to sign the OnlyOne petition created by ocean conservationists SANCCOB, BirdLife South Africa and Blue Marine.

As an apex predator, the African Penguin plays a vital role in our ecosystems both in the ocean and on land. This urgent ecological disaster also points to much broader concern for the environment, with penguins being a key indicator of the wider ecological health of our ocean. Their plight is a key step in the fight to preserve life on both land and sea.

Zandi Ndhlovu, free diver and ocean explorer, has narrated a new campaign video to raise awareness of the alarming decline of the African Penguin. She said “When diving in the ocean around Cape Town’s stunning Boulders Beach, the sight of penguins is always so beautiful and uplifting. To think of them being deprived of food, through the actions of humans, is heartbreaking. I urge the international community to sign our petition today to create a catalyst for immediate action – the South African government needs to take action now, before Africa’s only penguin is lost forever.”

Nicky Stander, Head of Conservation, SANCCOB said “The African Penguin is in a dire situation and we cannot afford to wait any longer to protect the species properly. In just over a decade, they could no longer exist, which not only has an impact on our marine ecosystem, but also on South Africa’s economy and ecotourism. These animals are beloved and quintessential to South Africa and governments, organisations, and individuals must come together to save them at all costs. Sign our petition now.”

Alistair McInnes, Seabird Conservation Programme Manager, BirdLife South Africa points out that “The main issue is their food supply and other threats at sea, which people don’t see, when people visit colonies at Stony Point or Boulders, they see the birds in large groups and don’t understand the level of threat or what’s affecting the penguin populations.”

Clare Brook, CEO, Blue Marine said “It would be a tragedy if we lost these wonderful iconic birds. And all because of greedy, thoughtless overfishing.”

  • Among other threats, commercial purse-seine fishing is depriving penguins of sardines and anchovies, their main source of food, leaving them starving and unable to breed.
  • New research finds current no-take zones – where fishing is prohibited – cover less than 50% of the penguins’ core feeding areas, indicating a limited benefit to penguin conservation.
  • Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds [SANCCOB] and BirdLife South Africa have initiated landmark litigation against the South African government, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and his Department to enforce greater protection of this endangered species.
  • Sign the OnlyOne petition to help save the African Penguin here, and watch a new campaign video narrated by ocean conservationist, Zandi Ndhlovu here.