Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot – One of South Africa's most famous diving sites, the main tourist attraction, Marine Reserve (MPA), is 50 km south of Durban and 5 km from the Umkomas coast on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Originally designated as part of South Africa's hopeful spot in 2014, Mission Blue will announce the reboot of Aliwal shawl as the desired location in February 2025. A world-renowned oceanographer, Dr. Sylvia Earl has established the Mission Blue NPO to protect the oceans from pollution, climate change and other threats. The Spot of Hope was created as one of the initiatives to achieve this by establishing special locations scientifically identified as important for marine health, defended by local conservatories.
Congratulations to Russel Symcox, a local resident and founder of Wild Alliance Africa. He will be at the helm as the new champion to continue protecting the Aliwal Shoal Hope spot of biodiversity. Symcox and his wife, local conservationist Olivia, were both part of the first launch of Hope Spot in 2014, and have been defending the causes of marine conservation for more than a decade.
Dr. Sylvia Earl, founder of Mission Blue, said: “South Africa as a country is committed to protecting 30% of its land and 30% of its oceans, so we look forward to seeing the Hope Spot Initiative's Mission Blue work with the government and of course the people to achieve that goal.”
As an internationally recognized location of conservation, the spot of hope is key to attracting ecotourism to the community. Dr. Vusumuzi Sibiya, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) – a district-wide entity mandated by attracting visitors and investors to the area – said: Businesses and tourism operators are taking advantage of this newly launched tourism site by tagging their desired locations for marketing and communication. ”
This rocky reef of the Indian Ocean is located along the inner edge of the Agluhas current, a tropical flow supporting a rich variety of marine life. Coral reefs are geologically formed from submerged fossil dunes, with an incredible diversity of tropical, sub-heated, and warm marine species, including coral, reefs, fish, turtles, idolphins and shark species.
“We are honored to be awarded the role of Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot Champion and look forward to finding ways to expose the wonders and importance of this spot of hope to the local community,” commented Russell Sincox. “It is important to find ways to collectively celebrate this MPA and showcase every sector of our community the incredible benefits of marine conservation. That's why we are united in Aliwal's shallow MPA and a vision for the spot of hope.”
He also acknowledged the input of many other dedicated individuals who have been involved in Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot since its launch. Among them are Dr. Tony Libovink, Dr. Bruce Mann, Dr. Judy Mann, Dr. Walter Bernadyn, Ivan Van Healden, Ezemebo KZN Wildlife Sam Nrov, Odette Williams and Krance Conservancy, as well as several community members.
The southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, where Aliwal shawls were discovered, is also famous for its annual sardine run that usually occurs in the winter months. Known as “the biggest shallow water on Earth,” this epic event travels along the coast and sees it attracting a variety of predators, including dolphins, sharks and seabirds.
Additionally, the water around Aliwalschor serves as a travel route for tens of thousands of humpback whales and occasionally southern right whales that can be seen from June to November. Aliwal Shoal is not only a popular place for divers, but also a popular place for surfers and ocean paddlers. This marine ecosystem and the diverse species it supports are essential for both tourism and the local economy.
The region also faces significant pressure from human activities such as overfishing, illegal fishing and poaching that continue to undermine conservation efforts, but commercial and industrial pollution puts the health of the local estuary and marine ecosystems at risk.
To mitigate these threats, Aliwal Shoal (MPA) was founded in 1991 and later expanded in 2018. This MPA includes no-take zones and restricted zones to protect the rich ecosystem. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of law enforcement in the area despite the establishment of protected areas such as the Greenpoint Coastal Restriction Zone (GPIRZ) and the Crown Offshore Restriction Zone (CORZ). The Aliwal Shoal MPA forms part of the annual MPA Day celebration on August 1st. This is a global event that recognizes the important role of MPA in marine conservation for both people and nature.
Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot aims to strengthen conservation efforts in this ecologically important region, ensuring that its diverse marine life is preserved for future generations. With its focus on maintaining extraordinary biodiversity, the reboot of Aliwal Shoal as a mission blue hope spot highlights the need for continued cooperation between governments, conservation organizations and communities, protecting this invaluable marine treasure for future generations.
To join Aliwal Hope Spot or to find out more about partnership opportunities, contact russel@wildallianceafrica.org.
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