Touching hearts, reaching minds - Galvanising public action to support a marine protected area under threat

In 2007 and 2010 proposals were made to open the Tsitsikamma National Park (TNP), South Africa’s oldest Marine Protected Area (MPA), to recreational fishing for adjacent communities. In both cases the Environment Ministers... [ view full abstract ]

In 2007 and 2010 proposals were made to open the Tsitsikamma National Park (TNP), South Africa’s oldest Marine Protected Area (MPA), to recreational fishing for adjacent communities. In both cases the Environment Ministers followed scientific advice and decided that, as the marine resources of Tsitsikamma were a national asset, opening the reserve would provide short term benefits to relatively few people - but to the detriment of local communities and the people of South Africa. However in 2015, 20% of the TNP was opened to recreational shore fishing. This was done without sufficient prior public consultation and did not follow due legal process.

This action led to the formation of the Friends of Tsitsikamma, a small group determined that this disregard for due process should not go unchallenged. The group, initially made up of scientists, embarked on a legal route to challenge the decision. However, it was recognised that there was an urgent need for a public awareness campaign to highlight the issue. This led to the realisation that most South Africans are oblivious to the existence of MPAs and their value to people. This paper will describe the communication campaign that resulted in over 700 personal letters being written to oppose the opening. These were written largely by people who had been sensitised to the value of MPAs though the campaign. Lessons learnt on the best methods and messages to engage citizens in conservation action will be addressed, as will lessons learnt on addressing conflict in marine resource management.