Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are essential to our ocean biodiversity - they are where marine species breed. In South Africa, there are 42 MPAs, a little known fact.
The idea for MPA Day was conceived among South African friends and colleagues interested in ocean conservation, under the auspices of a new civic lobby group, the MPA Alliance. We had absolutely zero budget, but wanted to make an impact.
Our objectives were to create a public campaign that would highlight these “game reserves of the sea”, to create awareness, educate the public, and galvanise people to appreciate and protect MPAs, with the ultimate aim of treasuring and protecting our marine heritage before we lose it.
The initial, smaller MPA Day was celebrated on August 1, 2021, with a social media and PR campaign, but it was our campaign for MPA Day on August 1, 2022, that made a notable impact.