These parts of the South African ocean – home to ancient coral and sea slugs that can fight cancer – will now be protected

Date: October 29, 2018

Source: Business Insider South Africa
Author: Jay Caboz

South Africa has launched 20 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), that together cover an area two and a half times the size of the Kruger National Park, some 50,000 square kilometres.

After it was signed off last week by cabinet, 5% of South Africa’s waters are now protected areas, compared to 0.4% previously. This means that fishing won’t be allowed in these areas.

After decades of heavy fishing, the hope is that MPAs will allow ecosystems and the creatures and plants living in them to recover. They provide safe spaces in which fish can breed undisturbed.

The new protected areas will include some of the most unique oceanscapes Africa has to offer.

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