Crossroads of conservation and

With fishing restrictions eased, Africa's first marine protected area is now a test case for balancing healthy

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When the Tsitsikamma marine protected area (MPA) was proclaimed in 1964, it became Africa's first marine sanctuary. In 2020, it became a strict no-take zone and a global example of marine protection, allowing fish stocks and ecosystems to recover and flourish.

But for generations before that, indigenous communities had fished the Tsitsikamma's rocky coastline and sandy beaches, relying on angling for food, trade, income and a deep cultural connection to the sea. The closure cut them off from a way of life.

"Angling is such an important part of our indigenous life," said Henrico Bruiners, a third-generation angler and former chairperson of the Tsitsikamma Angling Forum.

"It's not only about providing food. It's also about our identity, our community and our connection to nature. And it's often a space where families come together."

In 2016, after decades of protest by the indigenous anglers, 20% of the MPA was opened to controlled fishing by permanent residents of the Kou-Kamma Local Municipality under strict regulations.

Today, under the new Vision 2040 strategy for South African National Parks (SANParks), which frames national parks as "mega living landscapes" blending conservation with economic activity and community wellbeing, the Tsitsikamma MPA has become a test case for reconciling environmental protection with local access.