Overview
- Published November 17 in the Journal of Applied Ecology, the University of St Andrews–led research introduces “overlap intensity” to quantify the number of penguins exposed to simultaneous fishing activity.
- Tracking from Robben and Dassen Islands shows that in 2016, a low fish biomass year, about 20% of penguins foraged where purse‑seine vessels were active, compared with roughly 4% in higher‑biomass years.
- The competition centers on sardines and anchovies targeted by purse‑seine nets, with risk peaking during chick‑rearing when adults must secure food efficiently.
- African penguin numbers have fallen by nearly 80% over three decades, and the species was listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2024.
- The findings align with a recent South African high‑court settlement and government action that reinstated no‑fishing zones around Robben Island, providing evidence to support dynamic, ecosystem‑based closures.