01-08-2025
Free digital maps for ocean lovers
South Africans will celebrate the fifth annual Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day with an innovative and free new tool digital MPA maps this this Friday.
These easy-to-read maps have been released to help anglers and the public navigate MPAs. On the mid-South Coast in particular, Aliwal Shoal is particularly well-known.
Dr Bruce Mann and Dr Ryan Daly, both of whom work at the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban, breathed life into this concept.
'Despite recent interest in our MPAs, particularly as we build up to the celebration of MPA Day, many anglers, divers, skippers and the general public are still unsure of the MPAs exact locations and the permitted activities within them,' said Mann.
Daly explained that although MPA boundaries and regulations are published in the government gazette, these documents are often hard to access and comprehend.
'In our effort to improve understanding, we created simple maps of all South Africa's coastal MPAs, which are free for anyone to access online,' said Daly.
The maps also show the boundaries and zoning of each MPA using a colour-coded 'traffic light' system.
Red means no-fishing restricted zones, orange means pelagic game fishing zones (no bottom fishing), yellow means catch-and-release zones and green means control zones allowing most recreational activities.
Dr Judy Mann, founder of MPA Day and the executive of Strategic Projects at The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, said that these maps will not only serve to increase awareness about the location and zonation of MPAs, but also to help people understand the regulations, proving beneficial for both anglers and conservation authorities.
'After all, the first step to compliance is knowledge, and these maps will help both resource users and conservation staff.'
To access and download these maps, visit or
The MPA Day team encourages one and all to celebrate this day on August 1 through shared stories, talks, online and ocean-based activities.
MPA Day initially began in South Africa and is now celebrated worldwide, showcasing its benefits not just for ocean health and marine life, but humans too.
This includes protecting breeding and nursery areas to ensure fishery sustainability, increased climate resilience, job creation and tourism and vital research and education.
To find out more about MPA Day events and activities near you, visit @MPASouthAfrica on Facebook.
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