South African trawler owners and operators have co-developed ten seabed management areas (SMAs) that the industry voluntarily will comply with, following more than two years of engagement with a team of seabed habitat experts.
The ten SMAs have been identified through habitat mapping, scientific analysis and expert review. Portions of most SMAs are located within the trawl ring fence, but SADSTIA and SECIFA members have voluntarily committed not to fish in these areas. Together with formal marine protected areas (MPAs), the SMAs constitute a network of protected seabed areas that balance environmental protection with the continued operation of a well-managed and regulated fishery.
This has been an extensive collaborative process involving marine scientists and fisheries managers from SADSTIA, the South East Coast Inshore Fishing Association (SECIFA), the fisheries observer agency CapMarine, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, the South African Environmental Observation Network and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Technical work was partially supported by the Mission Atlantic Project and a PhD was also produced that advanced the identification, mapping and management of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). Efforts were focused on protecting VMEs within parts of historically trawled areas.
The ten SMAs represent 1.3% of the total trawl footprint, requiring redistribution of only 0.02% of fishing effort. This minimal impact on operations demonstrates that effective conservation can be achieved without significantly disrupting fishing activities.
Members of SADSTIA and SECIFA initially adopted seven SMAs through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which took effect on 1st January 2025. The remaining three SMAs have been added to the MoU and the permit conditions of the deep-sea and inshore trawl fisheries are being updated to accommodate the ten SMAs. They are expected to improve management of 18 out of 21 VME types (86%) and enhance protection for 12 out of 18 priority marine ecosystem types (67%) relevant to the trawl fishery.
According to Johann Augustyn, SADSTIA Executive Secretary, the adoption of the MoU reflects SADSTIA and SECIFA members’ commitment to evidence-based decision-making and responsible fishing practices. He said the process involved iterative discussions, data review and expert input, allowing both scientists and industry participants to engage constructively on the location, sensitivity and practical implications of protecting specific seabed areas.
‘This has been a genuine collaborative effort,’ he said, commenting that by voluntarily protecting sensitive seabed habitats , SADSTIA and SECIFA members are contributing to long-term ecosystem resilience and demonstrating that collaborative, science-led approaches can deliver meaningful environmental gains..
‘The agreement demonstrates what can be achieved when environmental scientists and fishing operators work together in good faith, using the best available science to guide decisions.’
