Assessing South Africa’s marine protected area quality and progress towards conservation goals: An application of The MPA Guide framework

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a widely used area-based conservation tool for preventing or reversing the loss of marine biodiversity and sustaining the social-ecological systems that it underpins. Global targets for ocean protection typically track the extent of ocean area within MPAs. However, understanding the effectiveness of protection is crucial, as the level of protection and associated benefits for biodiversity and human wellbeing can vary among different types of MPAs. In South Africa, 41 MPAs currently protect 5.4 % of the country’s mainland exclusive economic zone (EEZ), each with varied conservation goals and unique zonation. We evaluated all 41 MPAs using the MPA Guide assessment framework to clarify levels of protection, expected conservation outcomes, and meaningful progress towards meeting national protection targets. We also compared types of site-specific management goals to the assessed level of protection for each MPA to understand whether MPAs are likely to achieve their stated goals. We found that all MPAs are at least Implemented, with most coverage Fully or Highly Protected (70.1 % of total MPA area; 3.8 % of EEZ). We also found that 40 MPAs have levels of protection that are likely to support all types of site-specific management goals. Our results indicate that South Africa’s MPA network has strong potential to deliver positive conservation benefits if MPA funding and capacity constraints, as well as other socio-economic factors, are addressed. Future protection initiatives should consider these factors prior to anticipated MPA expansion. •First national assessment of marine protected area quality in South Africa.•South Africa’s MPAs are implemented and have high levels of protection.•South Africa’s MPA levels of protection align with conservation objectives.•MPA conservation benefits are likely with improved funding and capacity.