SA’s Marine Protected Areas Day goes world

After the Inaugural Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day on August 1 in 2021 was a roaring success, this 12 months’s instalment is ready to go world with various actions deliberate at dwelling and overseas.

South Africa has 41 MPAs, however they solely make up 41% of the nation’s ocean and coast. In the identical method a nature reserve protects terrestrial crops and animals, MPAs serve to guard the inhabitants of the ocean.

‘We’re very enthusiastic about this 12 months’s MPA Day which shall be celebrated internationally,’ stated Dr Judy Mann, Government of Strategic Tasks of the Two Oceans Aquarium Training Basis.

‘We have now new companions to affix our unimaginable crew, and we hope to make MPA Day much more accessible to its world supporters. A number of different nations shall be becoming a member of us as we work in direction of our dream of constructing MPA Day a really worldwide celebration.’

How will you rejoice MPA Day 2022?

Scientists shall be coming ashore this 12 months, to affix youth teams exploring South Africa’s MPA. There may even be an MPA Day Essay and Artwork Competitors for youngsters run by the Youth4MPAs collective.

At 7pm on Monday, 1 August the MPA Alliance will host a particular webinar with 5 main South African marine scientists to share the most recent analysis on MPAs. This 12 months may even see the launch of the Citizen Science initiative. Go to MPA Day — Marine Protected Areas South Africa for extra details about our MPAs and MPA Day or obtain the total exercise record right here.

A few of the advantages of MPA’s embody

• Offering a house to uncommon and endangered species thereby making certain marine biodiversity.
• Permitting fish shares to extend in dimension and abundance, supporting adjoining fisheries.
• Defending cultural heritage related to the ocean.
• Offering stunning areas for leisure actions, thereby selling tourism.
• Offering academic centres for environmental studying. ·
• Offering a strong basis for researching the pure world.
• Absorbing huge quantities of carbon dioxide helps to create a buffer towards local weather change.
• Making a marine wildlife financial system for sustainable job creation.

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