As fish populations dive off the Western Cape of South Africa, endangered African penguins are finding their numbers dwindling as food becomes scarce.

Predators such as sharks, orcas and seals have made a meal of critically endangered penguins as they grapple with their own food shortages. This all points to human agency. Overfishing, pollution and harvesting of eggs have all piled pressure onto the species and their entry into uncharted waters could plunge their numbers into the abyss.

The government has been proactive in trying to arrest the situation, including introducing more marine protected areas and trying to better manage fishing quota allocations.

Twenty-two new marine protected areas are meant to replenish fish stocks so that all species can live healthily and thrive, with sustainability.

(Editor: Li Yunqi)

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