DECLARATION OF AREAS AS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

This government notice, published on 29 December 2000 by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, declares several areas as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under Section 43 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998. The document defines the precise geographic boundaries of these MPAs across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces and outlines specific stipulations regarding permitted fishing activities and restrictions on vessel use and wildlife interaction.

• The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism declared multiple areas as marine protected areas (MPAs) on 29 December 2000, utilizing authority granted under Section 43 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998.
• Several MPAs were established in the Western Cape Province, including the Castle Rock (formerly Millers Point Marine Reserve), Betty's Bay (formerly H F. Verwoerd Marine Reserve), De Hoop, Goukamma, Robberg, Langebaan Lagoon, Sixteen Mile Beach, Malgas Island, Jutten Island, Marcus Island, and Helderberg MPAs.
• In the Eastern Cape Province, the document establishes the Sardinia Bay, Dwesa-Cwebe, Hluleka, Mkambati, and Tsitsikamma MPAs.
• The province of KwaZulu-Natal includes the Trafalgar, St Lucia, and Maputaland MPAs. Both the St Lucia and Maputaland MPAs are further divided into Sanctuary Areas and Restricted Areas.
• Specific fishing exemptions are granted in certain MPAs, such as recreational shore-angling in Betty's Bay, Goukamma, and Robberg; commercial snoek fishing in Castle Rock; and the catching of West Coast rock lobster and abalone in the Sixteen Mile Beach MPA.
• Strict regulations are applied to the St Lucia and Maputaland MPAs, including a ban on carrying fish in sanctuary areas, a requirement for permits to launch vessels (except at Cape Vidal and Sodwana Bay), and a permit requirement for diving with artificial breathing apparatus or submersible craft.
• The document prohibits the fishing, collecting, killing, disturbing, or harassing of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the St Lucia and Maputaland MPAs without a permit, specifically forbidding shooting at them or approaching within 20 metres via vessel or aircraft.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2000). DECLARATION OF AREAS AS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/MPA-various.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. DECLARATION OF AREAS AS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. 2000. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/MPA-various.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=DECLARATION OF AREAS AS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS |date=29 December 2000 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/MPA-various.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2000declaration, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{DECLARATION OF AREAS AS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2000}, month = dec, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/MPA-various.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }