South Africa

Algoa Bay Whale Heritage Area

Information

Boat-based wildlife tours

Celebratory events or festivals

Description

Algoa Bay is located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The harbour city of Port Elizabeth is situated adjacent to the bay, as is the new Coega deep water port facility. The St Croix Islands, home to a great number of bird species, are also located within the bay. The designated area includes Algoa Bay in its entirety and the Cape Recife Nature Reserve, where the annual whale festival is held. Several geographic features are associated with Algoa Bay, a shallow offshore reef, upwellings and inshore meanders due to the Agulhas Current which provides rich nutrients for several species during the all year round, such as Bryde’s and Minke whales, feeding on sardines and anchovies that are rounded up by Long-beaked common dolphins or African penguins.

During the reproductive season, the warm shallow waters provide shelter and ideal conditions for southern right whales and humpback whales mate, and nursery their calves. Algoa Bay was named the ‘Bottlenose Dolphin Capital of the World’ for having the largest pods and most frequent sightings. There are also frequent sightings of rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, often with new-born calves which suggests that this species is calving in the area. The two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) -Bird Island group and the proposed Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) MPA play an important role in conserving cetaceans. Algoa Bay is arguably one of the most outstanding marine environments because of its unique ideal conditions.

Algoa Bay is also considered a Hope Spot due to special conservation areas that are critical to the health of the ocean in this area.

Motivation

I have grown up in and round Algoa Bay and nowhere else have I witnessed the sheer amount of marine life and different species in one boat trip. There are cetacean species in the bay all year round. Algoa Bay is also home to the largest colony of African Penguins in the world. The foraging activities of these penguins provide feeding opportunities for dolphins and whales all year round. In 2016 Algoa Bay was named the Bottlenose Dolphin capital of the world for having the largest pods and most frequent sightings. It is not uncommon to come across a pod of over six hundred Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins in Algoa Bay. We also have frequent sightings of rare Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins in the shallower areas of the bay, often with newborn calves which leads us to believe that this species is calving in our bay. I could spend days writing about the beauty of Algoa Bay, from the colourful soft corals on the sea to the high rolling Alexandria Dune fields but this should give you an understanding of the marine life that calls the bag home.

There is a passionate community of people who are trying to protect Algoa Bay. We as a collective believe that Algoa Bay Being declared a Whale Heritage Site will aid in the protection of the Area. We want to preserve the bay rather than try to restore it in the future.

We also believe that if the youth in our community become proud of the presence of the cetacean species in our Bay they will then one day advocate the protection of cetaceans.

Boundary Map

Species or habitats

Algoa Bay is home to 13 species of cetacean, including humpback whales, Southern right whales, Bryde's whales, fin whales, sei whales, minke whales, pygmy sperm whales, sperm whales, killer whales, false killer whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.

Humpback whales appear from June to December, while Southern right whales can be seen from July to October. Bryde’s and minke whales are in the bay year-round. There are frequent sightings of rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the shallower areas of the bay, often with newborn calves, which suggests this species is calving in the bay.

Area Features

Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphin - Species

Stability

Unknow

Threats

There are two current threats to the primary cetacean habitat in Algoa Bay:

1. Increased shipping traffic from a new ship to ship bunkering operation that has commenced within the bay. The number of ships entering the bay has increased drastically over the last three years with the onset of the new ship to ship bunkering operation in Algoa Bay. This increase in shipping traffic increases the probability of cetaceans falling victim to ship strikes within the site. In addition to these there is a considerable amount of acoustic pollution (shipping noise) present which can interfere with the communication and navigation of cetacean species. Oil spills from ship to ship bunkering threaten the colony of endangered African Penguins on St Croix island in Algoa Bay. This in turn threatens cetacean species that rely on them to feed without expending too much energy. If the African Penguins disappear there will be a detrimental impact on cetaceans within Algoa Bay and its surrounding areas.

2. Fishing nets (both in use and ones that have been discarded).

Actions taken for protection

1. Raggy Charters, in partnership with Ronelle Friend from Algoa Bay Conservation, is currently trying to ensure that the new Ship to Ship Bunkering operation is properly regulated and that an Environmental impact assessment is conducted for the operation.

2. Nelson Mandela Universities' Zoology department has carried out numerous studies in Algoa Bay on how overfishing affects the Penguin Population and in turn, cetacean species.

3. The South African Government, together with South African National Parks and the Department of environmental affairs and the department of Agriculture and Fisheries has declared a large portion of Algoa Bay as a Marine Protected Area known as the Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area.

4.Local tour operators, researchers, and conservation initiatives, as a collective, hold at least three gatherings a year to share ideas and identify the conservation issues in Algoa Bay and plan efforts to rectify these issues.

Community Importance

Algoa Bay is home to a bounty of biodiversity of marine animals, from large whales, seals and penguins to corals and ancient stromatolites. The presence of cetaceans indicates a healthy and diverse marine ecosystem in Algoa Bay. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance and provides ecological services, such as nutrient cycling, water purification, and habitat maintenance. This thriving ecosystem in Algoa Bay can enhance the resilience of the region against environmental disturbances. Supporting the local economy through whale watching tours generates income for local businesses, job opportunities, and boosts the overall economy of the region.

These species provide educational opportunities for researchers, scientists, and marine enthusiasts to study their behaviour, migration patterns, and overall ecology, leading to a better understanding of the marine environment.

The presence of these charismatic species has a positive impact on people's emotional well-being. It can evoke feelings of wonder and connection with nature, providing a sense of admiration and protection. Protecting cetaceans and their habitats is essential for the long-term health and prosperity of the marine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it.

Wildlife Watching Guidelines

Operators abide by the guidelines stipulated in the Boat based Whale Watching (BBWW) Permit. This permit is issued by the department of Environmental Affairs. This permit stipulates regulations on: Performance monitoring, acts and government gazettes that operators need to abide by, submission of information such as sightings and number of passengers for every cruise, the area of operation, vessel requirements and specifications, prohibited actions and regulations of how to approach wildlife.

In addition to the regulations stipulated by the BBWW permit, operators also need to comply with safety regulations provided by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). These include an annual survey of the vessel, spot checks on the water and vessel manning requirements.

These guidelines were developed by the South African Government, more specifically: the Department of Environmental Affairs, the department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). These regulations were compiled by government officials consulting researchers and experts in their field as well as through communication through local communities and operators.

Recommendations:

- Cetaceans not being visited should be given as much clearance as possible (at least 300m).

- Only permitted vessels can approach cetaceans to a distance closer than 300m.

- On a permitted trip whales may be approached to 50m but no closer.

- If a whale calf is present they may not be approached closer than 300m.

- Dolphins may be approached up to 25m but no closer (except Endangered humpback dolphins, >50m).

- If a dolphin calf is present, you must remain at least 50 m away.

- If there is already a vessel with the animals, the second vessel must wait at least 100m away for dolphins and at least 200m away for whale

- Be considerate and co-operative towards other vessels. Keep good contact and co-ordinate viewings.

- The maximum time you can spend at a close encounter is 20 min for all cetaceans.

If there are multiple vessels this encounter time should drop to 15 min per operator.

- Individual cetaceans, or groups of cetaceans, should not be visited more than twice a day by the same operator and should have a minimum of a 3-hours break between visits.

- Humpback dolphins can only be approached to 50 m.

- Once a pod of humpback dolphins has been encountered there must be a three-hour gap before those animals are re-encountered by any vessel.

Fact 1

Indian ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) has been recognized as a species since taxonomic division of the genus Sousa in 2014. Previously this species was lumped with the Indo-pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) but animals occurring in the Indian Ocean from South Africa to India are now recognized as taxonomically distinct from those that occur further east, based on genetics, skeletal morphology, external morphology and colour.

Fact 2

Dorsal fin shape can vary, but always sits on top of a very broad base, or hump. This hump is more pronounced in Indian Ocean and Atlantic species.

Fact 3

In general, the pink coloration of adults and/or the presence of a hump under the dorsal fin will make humpback dolphins easy to distinguish from any other medium to large dolphin in their range.

Minke whale - Species

Stability

Difficult to assess globally due their diffuse distribution. Some populations have been dropping.

Threats

There are two current threats to the primary cetacean habitat in Algoa Bay:

1. Increased shipping traffic from a new ship to ship bunkering operation that has commenced within the bay. The number of ships entering the bay has increased drastically over the last three years with the onset of the new ship to ship bunkering operation in Algoa Bay. This increase in shipping traffic increases the probability of cetaceans falling victim to ship strikes within the site. In addition to these there is a considerable amount of acoustic pollution (shipping noise) present which can interfere with the communication and navigation of cetacean species. Oil spills from ship to ship bunkering threaten the colony of endangered African Penguins on St Croix island in Algoa Bay. This in turn threatens cetacean species that rely on them to feed without expending too much energy. If the African Penguins disappear there will be a detrimental impact on cetaceans within Algoa Bay and its surrounding areas.

2. Fishing nets (both in use and ones that have been discarded).

Actions taken for protection

1. Raggy Charters, in partnership with Ronelle Friend from Algoa Bay Conservation, is currently trying to ensure that the new Ship to Ship Bunkering operation is properly regulated and that an Environmental impact assessment is conducted for the operation.

2. Nelson Mandela Universities' Zoology department has carried out numerous studies in Algoa Bay on how overfishing affects the Penguin Population and in turn, cetacean species.

3. The South African Government, together with South African National Parks and the Department of environmental affairs and the department of Agriculture and Fisheries has declared a large portion of Algoa Bay as a Marine Protected Area known as the Addo 4.Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area.

Local tour operators, researchers, and conservation initiatives, as a collective, hold at least three gatherings a year to share ideas and identify the conservation issues in Algoa Bay and plan efforts to rectify these issues.