Prince Edward Island Marine Protected Area - Prince Edward Island Sanctuary Zone

To contribute to a national and global representative system of marine protected areas, by providing protection for unique species, habitats and ecosystem processes including foraging grounds and shelf areas with increased nutrients; to provide scientific reference points that can Inform the management of the area and to be able to understand better the impacts of Climate Change on the whole Southern Ocean; to facilitate integrated and ecologically sustainable management of marine resources of the area; and to reduce the ecological impacts of fisheries and other extractive industries including effects on by-catch species such as albatrosses and petrels.

Species of Concern: penguins, albatrosses, petrels, seals, orca, Patagonian toothfish

Restrictions

1. No person may fish, or attempt to fish.
2. No person or vessel may enter the Sanctuary Area except under conditions of force majeur. A vessel that is anchoring in or traversing the Sanctuary Area, must stow all fishing gear.

Allowed

The following vessels may enter the Sanctuary Area:
a) South African government vessels;
b) any fishing vessel authorised to fish in the Marine Protected Area in terms of the Act, but only for the purpose of anchoring at designated anchoring sites detailed in Annexure 3 to the regulations; and
c) Any foreign vessel undertaking research or other scheduled operations or emergency operations, authorised in terms of the Act or any other South African legislation.