SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S BLUE ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

The document examines the role of marine protected areas (MPAs) in South Africa, highlighting that current protection levels (0.4% of the mainland EEZ) are insufficient to mitigate anthropogenic threats and climate change. It advocates for reaching a 10% protection target by 2020 and supporting a '30% by 2030' goal. The brief details how MPAs provide climate mitigation services, such as carbon sequestration in seagrasses and coastal buffering via mangroves and coral reefs, while supporting fisheries through the 'spillover effect'. It identifies significant challenges, including conflicts with oil and gas exploration—which occupies over 90% of the continental EEZ—and the need to resolve customary rights and restitution claims for displaced communities.

• South Africa's current MPA coverage is significantly below global targets, with only 0.4% of its mainland exclusive economic zone (EEZ) protected by a network of 23 MPAs.
• MPAs contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation by protecting carbon-sequestering habitats like seagrasses and providing coastal protection through mangroves and coral reefs during extreme storms.
• There is a direct conflict between conservation goals and the extractive industry in South Africa, as more than 90% of the continental EEZ is currently leased for oil and gas exploration.
• MPAs enhance fisheries productivity through the 'spillover effect', as evidenced by improved yields for fishers following the establishment of no-take areas in the Goukamma MPA.
• Marine conservation in South Africa is hindered by a lack of formal land claim processes for coastal communities seeking restitution for customary ocean rights, unlike the processes established for terrestrial protected areas.
• To achieve socio-ecological resilience, the document recommends that South Africa secure at least 10% of its continental EEZ in proclaimed MPAs by 2020 and support a '30% by 2030' target at the UN COP15.

APA

Harris, J., & Lombard, A. (2018). SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S BLUE ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Briefing-176.pdf

Chicago

Harris, Jean, and Amanda Lombard. SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S BLUE ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2018. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Briefing-176.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Harris |first1=Jean |last2=Lombard |first2=Amanda |title=SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S BLUE ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Briefing-176.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{harris2018socioecological, author = {Harris, Jean and Lombard, Amanda}, title = {{SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S BLUE ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Policy-Briefing-176.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }