Saving Seabirds in Southern Africa

The MV Treasure clean-up
In 2000, when the MV Treasure sank spilling bunker oil in Table Bay, with disastrous effects for the Cape Town coastline and affecting two islands that are the breeding ground for 80 per cent of the African penguin population, IFAW played a central role in coordinating the effort to rescue and rehabilitate oiled birds. With SANCCOB and a number of other environmental organisations, IFAW facilitated, coordinated and funded clean-up efforts which saved some 20 000 African penguins. 

Support of MCM Marine Week, 2004
In September 2004 IFAW supported Marine and Coastal Management’s Marine Week, which focused on seal entanglement and marine pollution. We funded the production of an awareness poster that was prominently displayed throughout Cape Town. We also supported MCM’s schools’ education programme and employed the services of a educationist to explain issues of entanglement and pollution. More than 1,700 learners were reached.

Hermanus Education Programme
Also in September 2004, and prior to the Hermanus Whale Festival, IFAW ran a two week schools’ programme at the Hermanus Whale Museum. An educationist was employed to explain, among other issues, entanglement and pollution and the need for a clean marine environment. Seventeen schools participated.

Projects Underway

Support of the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area and Special Area Proposal
With the support of IFAW, and through a negotiated process with the South African Departments of Environmental Affairs & Tourism and Transport, consultants Bruce Russell and Sue Lane have formulated a proposal for acceptance by the South African government and submission by the Government to the IMO.  Under the proposal, a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) and Special Area (SA) would be designated in an area off the South African coast, and a working group would be established to review and update oil discharge monitoring and control systems.

The effect of the proposed PSSA and SA designation, and the review and updating of oil discharge monitoring, control and record keeping systems on ships which travel in the designated areas, would be to assist to control the impact of shipping on vulnerable biological resources, particularly on the survival of certain threatened seabird populations.

It is envisaged that if the IMO supports the declaration of the proposed PSSA and SA, and the establishment of the working group to review and update oil discharge monitoring and control systems, IFAW SA will play an active role in assessing the activities of the working group. IFAW SA will assist to lobby the South African government to make changes to national legislation and policy to make it consistent with the IMO declaration of the PSSA and SA.

Lobbying for ratification of Conventions

Approximately 50 international Conventions of relevance to the marine environment are in existence globally, which deal with issues such as the discharge of oil from ships and liability of ship owners and operators for deliberate or accidental oil spills.  As at 1 February 2005, South Africa is Party to many of these Conventions, but not to some, which in the view of IFAW, are vital to securing the safety of South Africa’s marine resources, and minimising the impacts of marine pollution. With WWF-SA and BirdLife SA, IFAW SA has been lobbying the South African Government to ratify a number of Conventions that are seen to be particularly important.

IFAW is very excited to celebrate, with WWF-SA and Birdife-SA, the 2004 ratification of the 1992 CLC and Fund Conventions, which impose liability of up to R3-billion on ship owners whose vessels cause oil pollution damage.   IFAW will now lobby for ratification of a number of other conventions, to ensure comprehensive international law protection for South Africa’s marine resources. These are:

• The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 (the OPRC Convention)
• The Nuclear Convention
• The International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances at Sea, 1996 (the HNS Convention)
• The Bunkers Convention
• The Protocol to the International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, 1969 (the Intervention Convention)

New Campaign

In the second half of 2005, IFAW South Africa will be launching a public awareness campaign to draw attention to the effects of oil pollution on South Africa’s coastal resources, including vulnerable bird species.  IFAW will seek to enter partnerships with Government on public awareness drives, with a view to highlighting marine degradation related to oil.