The WILDTRUST organisation launches Ocean Protect Campaign

Posted by Olerato Ramafsi on 7 December 2022

The WILDTRUST organisation launched a new Ocean Protect Campaign just in time for the United Nations Biodiversity Conference.

The conference is scheduled to take place from 7 December 2022 – 19 December 2022 in Montreal Canada, with the aim to include all 196 countries in the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Overfishing, damaging industrial activities, habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution are not letting up and by not protecting our ocean’s ability to keep giving us everything we take, we risk a huge biodiversity crisis involving ocean collapse, and a subsequent economic catastrophe. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can help restore ocean health and resilience, as well as help the ocean mitigate the impacts of climate change, produce bigger and more fish, create jobs and feed tourism.

According to Ocean Impact, the global ocean is in crisis and urgently needs at least 30% protection by 2030. South Africa can help by doubling its current 5.4% protection of the oceans around the country as an immediate next step. Achieving 10%, or more, representative (of multiple habitats and species) protection around South Africa will help the country’s ocean and its people and is an important stepping stone to the protection needed globally (a minimum of 30% by 2030).

‘We take for granted just how much we rely on a clean, thriving ocean,’ says Lauren van Nijkerk, Campaign Lead for the WILDTRUST, a South African non-profit organisation focused on the conservation of the natural world. ‘Every second breath we take comes from the ocean, it offers us food security, tourism and jobs and it regulates our weather – we cannot afford to not protect it as much as we depend on it.’

The #whereisour10 #uphiu10 campaign which launched on social media on 1 December is in support of South Africa reaching its ocean protection goals as an urgent next step.

The campaign asks: “COULD IT BE HERE?” and outlines potential areas for these new and expanded MPAs, including:

  • Dassen Island which will help protect the endangered African penguin
  • On the outskirts of the De Hoop MPA, protecting the endangered Puffadder shy shark that only occurs in South Africa’s oceans
  • Offshore on the west coast protecting the critically endangered Soupfin shark
  • An extension of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park MPA to protect the critically endangered Leatherback turtle

Another way people can show their support of increased ocean protection is by adding their name to the Ocean Impact Appeal here, to be 1 of 100 000 voices amplifying the need to look after our ocean, which in turn will continue to look after us.

Pictures: Supplied

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