The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department participated in this year’s World Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day celebrations, at the Helderberg MPA this past Saturday (2 August).
The event centred on the theme “Ocean protection needs human connection” and included a guided biodiversity and photography walk followed by a community beach clean-up.
Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment, highlighted the critical role of these protected areas.
“The City has several MPAs along Cape Town’s highly sensitive and dynamic coastline. These are an important part of our natural heritage and offer economic, social and environmental benefits to us all, and so they require dedicated and careful management,” he pointed out.
The City is the designated management authority for the Helderberg MPA, a vital ecological zone that lies between the Lourens River Mouth to the east and the Eerste River mouth to the west, extending 500 m offshore.
This diverse area is dominated by sandy beaches with mobile dune systems, while its offshore habitats comprise rocky reefs, kelp beds, sandy soft-sediment and pelagic environments.
Andrews further elaborated on the ongoing conservation efforts within the MPA.
“At the Helderberg MPA, the City is focused on summer and winter fish tagging, which provides us with important information on the life cycles, migration patterns and longevity of tagged fish,” he explained.
“We are also working on ensuring coastal seabirds and other coastal wildlife remain undisturbed in this area, and we ask that all visitors keep their dogs out of the MPA as well as refrain from any form of fishing in this area.”
The City’s comprehensive approach to protecting its invaluable coastline from both natural and man-made threats is mapped out in its Integrated Coastal Management Policy.
This past weekend’s guided biodiversity walk was guided on established and safe paths along the Helderberg MPA, allowing participants to experience the area’s natural beauty first-hand while learning about its ecological significance.
You must be logged in to post a comment.