30OCT2019 - NEWS - Draft penguin rescue plan makes little mention of Algoa Bay threats

Bunkering gets little mention in the government’s new draft rescue plan for the African penguin, though it is a major threat in Algoa Bay, and this needs to be amended in a revised plan, experts say

Despite the potentially catastrophic effect of an oil spill resulting from bunkering in Algoa Bay on resident endangered African penguins, it is not listed as a threat in the government’s new draft plan to save the species.

The Draft Biodiversity Management Plan for African Penguins gazetted last week by the department of environment, forestry and fisheries (Deff) also makes no reference to the government’s own proposal to install an ocean-based fin fish farm off Coega, despite the warning from local seabird specialists of the negative impact this will have on the penguin.