South Africa Needs Fewer, but More Effective Marine Protected Areas

South Africa’s coastline is among the most biologically diverse in the world, stretching over 3000 kilometres and hosting ecosystems that sustain fisheries, tourism, and livelihoods for millions of people. Over the past two decades, the country has made commendable progress in designating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), now covering around 5% of its waters. While this appears to align with global targets, a growing concern is emerging: South Africa risks spreading its limited conservation resources too thinly across too many sites, resulting in underperforming MPAs.