The Mission Blue South Africa Initiative – Catalyzing and Advancing the Hope Spot Network

February 21, 2025

Cover image: Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot. Credit: Allen Walker

The South African coastline is home to seven Hope Spots. Six of these – False Bay, Cape Whale Coast, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Algoa Bay, and Aliwal Shoal – were designated in 2014, while Maputaland, a transboundary Hope Spot spanning both South Africa and Mozambique, was designated in 2024.These areas host an important array of species and habitats, including the Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis), the only endemic seahorse species in South Africa; the largest gannetry in the world, with 250,000 breeding pairs; one of the most important nursery areas for the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis); as well as abundant kelp forests and colorful coral reefs.

In 2024, Mission Blue received generous funding to launch The South Africa Initiative, which aims to catalyze and strengthen the South African Hope Spot network. The initiative’s main objectives are to establish robust conservation networks, amplify marine conservation through targeted support, facilitate community engagement, and advance conservation actions with catalytic funding.

As part of the initiative, we have identified and onboarded dedicated Hope Spot Champions for the Cape Whale Coast, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Algoa Bay, and Aliwal Shoal. Through extensive engagement with local stakeholders, each location is now being Championed by passionate and committed organizations.

To celebrate the progress made for the South African Hope Spot network, Mission Blue is relaunching these Hope Spots to highlight their extraordinary biodiversity and to showcase the inspiring, impactful work of the Champions. We hope you follow along with us over the next few weeks to learn more about our South African Hope Spots.

A key component of the initiative has been providing catalytic funding to organizations working within the Hope Spots through a micro-grants program. To date, 12 grants have been awarded across the network, supporting a diverse range of projects by groups including Wild Alliance Africa, Ocean Pledge, Associação Natura Moçambique, ORCA Foundation,  SeaTheBiggerPicture Ocean Initiative, Plett Shark Spotters, Thonga Trails, National Sea Rescue Organisation (NSRI), South African Shark Conservancy, SANParks, Ocean Life Science and Conserve Eden. These initiatives include fostering the next generation of ocean ambassadors, conducting population surveys for Critically Endangered ray species, enhancing whale disentanglement protocols, revitalizing education and outreach centers, and offering personal development opportunities for youth pursuing careers in marine conservation.

The initiative has also enabled Mission Blue to host a number of stakeholder workshops and community events, such as snorkels and paddle outs bringing local communities together to celebrate these Hope Spots.

In addition, Mission Blue has supported and engaged in several important campaigns, including the African Penguin Awareness Campaign, whose population has decreased from 1.5–3 million individuals in the early 1900s to just over 8,000 breeding pairs in 2023.

The Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of MPAs for both nature and people. Hope Spot Champions from around the world helped take the campaign global for the first time.

The Mission Blue team is excited to build on the momentum of the South Africa Initiative and foster lasting relationships across the Hope Spots. By strengthening collaboration, we aim to create a unified network that is inspired to safeguard South Africa’s marine habitats.