What if we reframe conservation as an economic benefit, rather than an obstacle?
If the African penguin were to become extinct in the wild, South Africa’s brand reputation as an environmentally healthy destination, famed for its natural assets, would suffer according to a study commissioned by The Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
The report warns that successfully conserving African Penguins requires more than island closures. It requires improved ocean health management through an ecosystem approach to fisheries, which takes into account the entire ecosystem of the species being managed, as penguin extinction could have unforeseen ecological consequences.
South Africa’s African Penguin: Conservation vs. Economy
The fight to save South Africa’s critically endangered African Penguin is caught between environmental concerns and economic interests.
- The debate centers on balancing environmental protection and economic interests.
- The pelagic fishing industry, which contributes R5.5 billion and sustains 5,100 jobs, opposes expanding no-fishing zones.
- However, penguin colonies themselves hold significant economic value, estimated between R2 billion and R4.5 billion, with tourism-related jobs ranging from 1,046 to 4,611.
A Race Against Time
The African Penguin, the first of the world’s 18 penguin species to be classified as critically endangered, faces extinction within a decade without urgent intervention. Numbers have plummeted from 300,000 in the 1950s to just 8,324 breeding pairs in 2023, driven by oil spills, climate change, seal competition, and overfishing of anchovies and pilchards.
Penguins = Tourism Gold
- Penguin tourism is largely concentrated in Simon’s Town and Betty’s Bay, with Bird Island in Algoa Bay presenting untapped potential.
- Simon’s Town colony tripled in visitors from 1995 to 2019, and international tourist percentage doubled.
- Penguins enhance South Africa’s brand reputation as a nature destination—extinction would damage this image.
Fisheries vs. Conservation
Efforts to restrict fishing near penguin colonies started in 2008 but failed to halt declines. Western Cape penguin numbers drop 1.5% annually, Eastern Cape 13% annually. Bunkering (ship-to-ship oil transfers), introduced in 2016, interferes with penguin foraging; when halted in 2023, penguin numbers briefly rebounded.
Existence value
The study authors surveyed South Africans to determine the value on simply knowing that the penguins exist or are preserved for future generations. They determined that people benefit from knowing that African penguins exist and are willing to pay for their conservation.
Legal Action & New Protections
Conservation groups sued the government over ineffective no-fishing zones. In May 2025, a settlement expanded protections at six penguin breeding islands, a long-overdue move that could boost penguin survival.
What’s Next?
Saving African Penguins requires ecosystem-wide ocean management, not just island closures. Their extinction would be a disaster for biodiversity, tourism, and South Africa’s reputation.