Protecting critically endangered African penguins when and where help is needed most. #NotBy2035
| The main food supply for critically endangered African penguins is rapidly disappearing in a mass die-off covering almost 800 miles of coastline in South Africa. Scientists confirmed the presence of pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) in the dead fish. To put these numbers in perspective, millions of dead fish clogged a cooling water intake at the Koeberg … Read more |
| On the sandy shores of Boulders Beach, where tourists have long gathered to watch African Penguins waddle between the rocks, this year’s census brought a rare piece of good news. Researchers counted 782 breeding pairs in 2026, up from 690 the year before. That’s a 13% jump, and for a species declared Critically Endangered just … Read more |
| When Trump and Netanyahu decided to conduct an Iran “excursion” (war), we got a bad feeling for many reasons. Our first thought was that the Strait of Hormuz would likely close. Our second thought was the increased danger to the critically endangered African penguins if shipping routes changed. This was one time we didn’t want … Read more |
| Today, January 17, 2026, marks a historic turning point for our blue planet as the BBNJ Agreement (the High Seas Treaty) officially enters into force after 20 years of negotiations. For the first time, legally binding rules protect marine biodiversity on the high seas beyond national borders, which is half of our planet. While the … Read more |
| 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 … Read more |
| 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for regulations to give critically endangered African penguins a fighting chance. Earlier this year, the South African government instituted meaningful no-take fishing zones. Now the government is proposing stricter regulations for ship-to-ship fuel transfers, a source of oil and noise that threatens fragile marine ecosystems. Ship-to-ship … Read more |
| The South African Constitution requires the government to protect endangered species from extinction. In theory, that’s a forward-thinking attitude. In practice, it is not easy to hold the government accountable. After years of deadlock between conservationists and commercial fisheries, South Africa has finally taken a decisive step to protect its critically endangered African penguins. An … Read more |
| Dr. Dion George, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, has requested public feedback on proposed regulations for the environmental management of offshore oil bunkering. These regulations aim to decrease the risks of bunkering to the marine environment, especially the endangered African Penguin species. Bunkering, which involves supplying fuel for ships, poses risks such … Read more |