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Conservation and law enforcement within the Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area (MPA) received a boost on Wednesday with the launch of its new patrol boat.
SANParks said that the patrol boat was purchased with a more than R1 million donation in June from the Oak Foundation, a group of philanthropic organisations in various countries.
The new anti-poaching vessel, a Gemini Marine Waverider 880, was named “Mzingeli” meaning “hunter”.
SANParks said the patrol boat will aid rangers’ work in conserving and protecting the 114 000-hectare marine component of AENP, which covers a wide range of ecosystems, including sandy beaches, rocky shores, reefs, an estuary and islands.
“It also protects important feeding areas for the 3 000 pairs of endangered African penguins breeding in Algoa Bay and the 90 000 pairs of endangered Cape gannets breeding at Bird Island,” said spokesperson JP Louw.
He said a small, yet dedicated team of marine rangers are tasked with the MPA’s safety, security and conservation.
“They provide an ever-vigilant presence in the area, as team members alternate between being based on Bird Island and on vessels in and around the MPA.
“Since their establishment, they have made a number of arrests, confiscated numerous vessels and fishing equipment and issued various fines for marine-related crimes,” Louw said.
