A court in **South Africa** has decreed the ban on commercial fishing in six key breeding colonies of the **African penguins**, also known as Cape penguins, for at least a decade. This measure aims to protect this emblematic species, considered to be in **critical danger of extinction**, and adds to other **conservation actions**.
## A crucial decision for conservation efforts
The High Court of Pretoria issued this ruling in response to protection campaigns led by organizations such as **BirdLife South Africa**.
The decree prohibits commercial fishing of **sardines and anchovies** in vital areas for penguins, such as Robben Island, Dassen Island, and Stony Point Nature Reserve. These fish species are essential for the **penguins’ food**, and their reproduction is severely affected when they do not get enough food.
BirdLife South Africa celebrated the decision, calling it a **”historic victory”** in the fight to save the African penguin, whose population has decreased by 97% and could become extinct in the wild by 2035 if its decline is not halted.
## Threats and decline of the African penguin population
The decline in the numbers of **African penguins** is due to multiple factors, such as oil spills and changes in the availability of sardines and anchovies due to human activity.
These nutritional problems have led the penguins to **abandon reproduction**, further worsening their situation. In 2018, there were more than 15,100 breeding pairs, a number that dropped to 8,750 by the end of 2023, according to data from BirdLife South Africa.
## Implementation and future of the measure
The ruling sets a two-week deadline for the Ministry of Environment to implement the fishing closure in the six **protected areas**. This coordinated effort aims to **ensure the recovery of the species** and preserve its habitat.
Scientists and conservationists consider this decision as an essential step in the conservation of the African penguin and emphasize the importance of similar measures in other regions to curb the **human impact on threatened species**.
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