The Daily Maverick article titled “Minister Dion George’s African Penguin Lifeline a Slap in the Face to Conservation Experts” exposes deep frustration among conservationists over a recent announcement by South Africa’s Environment Minister Dion George. The minister used an event held on the SA Agulhas II research vessel on 22 August 2025 to sign new offshore ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering regulations, which experts widely criticize as failing to protect the critically endangered African penguin and other marine life. The article paints a picture of political theater overshadowing real conservation needs, with African penguins caught in the crossfire.
📷 The Daily Maverick
Bunkering is the controversial practice of ship-to-ship refuelling at sea, which has been linked to oil spills affecting seabirds in Algoa Bay, increased vessel noise and the catastrophic decline of critically endangered African penguin populations.
George presented the new regulations as another lifeline to secure the future of the African penguin, asserting that they would secure the survival of the African penguin.
This comes after a hard-fought settlement was reached earlier this year between conservation NGOs and the commercial fishing industry to agree on no-take fishing zones around key breeding colonies to combat the African penguin species’ decline and allow them access to more food.
The key concern with the new regulations is that Algoa Bay is exempted from crucial prohibitions related to offshore bunkering. What this means is that while the African penguins in the St Croix colony now have access to more food as a result of less competition with the pelagic fishing industry, the penguins could be deterred from this area by bunkering-related impacts.
According to attendees of the event, George also claimed that Algoa Bay was home to the world’s largest African penguin colony. However, this statement directly contradicts scientific findings and the current reality. Before bunkering began in 2015, the colony boasted between 7,000 and 8,000 breeding pairs. The population had since undergone a dramatic 85% decline to about 700 breeding pairs, a decline directly linked to bunkering.
Algoa Bay, the “only place where offshore bunkering is happening in South Africa”, is explicitly exempted from crucial prohibitions outlined in the regulations the minister signed.
Conservation organizations and researchers, has to be on alternative management plans that constitute a “real lifeline” for African penguins, recognising that unless the negative consequences of bunkering are avoided, other conservation efforts such as the hard-won no-take fishing zones will be less effective.
How you can help
Our partner, Not On Our Watch (#NOOW) have a way for you to email Minister George. They change the email each month. You don’t have to be in South Africa. Add your voice to protect the critically endangered African penguins.