Marine Protected Areas Introduce Interactive Maps to Support Public Awareness and Compliance

This idea was produced by Dr Bruce Mann and Dr Ryan Daly, both of whom work at the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban, says the MPAs.

"Despite recent interest in our MPAs — particularly as we build up to the celebration of MPA Day — many anglers, divers, skippers and interested members of the public are still unsure of their exact locations and the permitted activities within them," says Dr Mann.

Dr Daly explains that, although MPA boundaries and regulations are published in the Government Gazette, these documents are often hard to access and written in complex, legal language, "In our effort to improve understanding, we created simple maps of all South Africa's coastal MPAs, which are free for anyone to access online."

According to the MPAs, the maps indicate South Africa's MPAs within 40 nautical miles of the coast. These maps, which are accessible via Google Earth, show the boundaries and zoning of each MPA using a colour-coded "traffic light" system:

• Red — no-fishing restricted zones.
• Orange — pelagic game fishing zones (no bottom fishing).
• Yellow — catch-and-release zones.
• Green — control zones allowing most recreational activities.

Since each MPA has its own specific regulations, the team has summarised the key rules in easy-to-read bullet points for each zone, accessible with a single click. Additionally, these maps can be downloaded onto a cell phone or laptop. When the device's location services are on, users can see exactly where they are in relation to each MPA zone and what activities are permitted, says the MPAs.

"We're incredibly excited about the creation and launch of these maps in time for our annual MPA Day celebration," concludes Dr Judy Mann, Founder of MPA Day, and the Executive of Strategic Projects at The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.

"These will not only serve to increase awareness about the location and zonation of our MPAs, but also to help people understand the regulations, proving beneficial for both anglers and conservation authorities. After all, the first step to compliance is knowledge, and these maps will help both resource users and conservation staff."

For more information, visit www.mpaday.org. You can also follow the Marine Protected Areas on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of Facebook