Ocean Stories

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.…

Cover image: Allen Walker Photography. 
Durban, South Africa – Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot, one of South Africa’s most famous dive sites and a Marine Protected Area (MPA), is located just 50 km south of Durban and 5 km off the coast of Umkomaas on the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast.
Originally designated in 2014 as part of a suite of South African Hope Spots, Mission Blue is pleased to announce the re-launch in February 2025 of Aliwal Shoal as a Hope Spot. Congratulations to Russel Symcox, local resident and Founder of Wild Alliance Africa, who will take the helm as the new Champion to continue protecting the biodiverse Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot. Symcox and his wife, Olivia, a renowned local conservationist, were both part of the initial launch of the Hope Spot in 2014, and have been championing the cause of ocean protection for more than a decade. …

Cover image: Blue stingray, Helen Walne. 
Knysna, South Africa – On South Africa’s Western Cape lies the Knysna Hope Spot, a unique region containing an important estuary, the marine coastline and offshore waters. Spanning the region from Buffel’s Bay to Sparrebosch and including the Goukamma Marine Protected Area (MPA), this biodiverse marine, coastal and estuarine system plays a pivotal role as an essential breeding ground for coastal fish species, along with the endangered Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis), South Africa’s only endemic seahorse species.
International marine conservation organization Mission Blue originally designated Knysna a Hope Spot in 2014 as part of a suite of South African Hope Spots. Today, Mission Blue is re-launching the Knysna Hope Spot by recognizing a new pair of Hope Spot Champions, welcoming Jessica Seath, Estuarine Ecologist at the Knysna Estuary Research Foundation (KERF), and Alan Whitfield, retired Chief Scientist at the South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity as Champions. …

Cover image: Robberg Nature Reserve, Mission Blue.
Plettenberg, South Africa – Located along South Africa’s Southern Cape is the Plett Hope Spot, encompassing a sheltered ocean bay and linking Robberg Peninsula Marine Protected Area (MPA) to the edge of the oldest MPA in South Africa,  the Tsitsikamma. This spectacular stretch of coastline is home to a remarkable array of marine species, including the endangered humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) and colonies of iconic Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus). With its diverse ecosystems, including rocky reefs, sandy beaches, estuaries, and coastal forests, Plettenberg Bay is a vital hub for marine biodiversity.
On land, the Plett area spans from Kranshoek to Nature’s Valley in the east. The region’s importance is further underscored by its designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a Whale Heritage Area, and as one of South Africa’s Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSA).…

Cover image © Sustainable Seas Trust
Algoa Bay, South Africa – Algoa Bay on South Africa’s Eastern Cape is one of the country’s largest bays, opening into the Indian Ocean. It is home to several of the world’s largest breeding colonies of critically endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), the largest pods of bottlenose dolphins in the world and the famous sardine run, the largest migration of the planet. Bounded in the west by Cape Recife and in the east by Cape Padrone, Algoa Bay is a highly productive marine ecosystem due to the presence of the Benguela Upwelling system, which brings cold, nutrient-rich water into the area and supports a wealth of biodiversity. Rare species from both warm and cold currents co-exist in the bay.…

Cover image © Stefan Andrews
Western Australia, November 5, 2024 – After over 30 years of advocacy and three years of consultation, the South Coast Marine Park is now a reality. Spanning 1,000 kilometers of Western Australia’s southern coastline, the new marine park encompasses two Mission Blue Hope Spots.
Australia’s Great Southern Reef, a vast network of interconnected marine ecosystems, is home to thousands of unique marine species, including marine mammals, sharks, kelp forests and many invertebrates. This is the first sanctuary protection for the ecologically rich environment of the southern coastline of Western Australia.
The new protected area includes four interconnected marine parks—Mamang Maambakoort, Wudjari, Western Bight, and Mirning—jointly managed with Traditional Owners. This co-management model ensures conservation efforts respect both traditional knowledge and modern science, and honor the deep cultural environmental ties of Indigenous communities to these waters.…

Featured image: African penguins. Credit: Steve Benjamin.

The beloved black-and-white African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) needs your help! Endemic to the southern African coastline, the African penguin’s population has plummeted from 1.5–3 million individuals in the early 1900s to just over 8,000 breeding pairs in 2023. This dramatic decline is due to overfishing and environmental impacts which has caused populations of fish to crash, leaving the penguins struggling for food. Recently uplisted to Critically Endangered, the African penguin is at risk of becoming functionally extinct in the wild by 2035 unless urgent action is taken now.
How can you help this species in need? Join Mission Blue and become part of the ‘Not on Our Watch (NOOW)‘ campaign, which is appealing to the public and supporting organizations across the globe to raise awareness of the dire situation the species faces.…

Cover image © Andy Mann
PONTA DELGADA, AZORES, PORTUGAL — The Autonomous Region of the Azores is making waves in marine conservation by establishing the largest network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the North Atlantic. This historic initiative safeguards 30% of the marine environment surrounding the Azores Archipelago, covering an impressive 287,000 square kilometers.
Mission Blue recognized the waters of the Azores Archipelago as a Hope Spot in 2021, advocating for a coherent network of marine protected areas extending from the surface to the deep seafloor. The Azores Archipelago began their efforts with marine protection in the 1980s, evolving through joint collaboration among government, universities, and local communities. The Blue Azores program, launched in 2019 from a partnership between the Regional Government of the Azores, the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute, and the University of the Azores, has contributed to significant advances in marine conservation in the region.…

Featured image: Fin whales, Edmaktub.org
(VILANOVA I AL GELTRÚ, SPAIN) –
The Vilanova i la Geltrú Coastal Waters Hope Spot encompasses a strip of coastal waters 12 to 15 miles wide (1944 km²) on the Catalan coast southwest of Barcelona. Recently, acoustic research findings have revealed that these waters may be an important feeding ground for fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Mediterranean.

International marine conservation nonprofit Mission Blue is pleased to recognize the Vilanova i la Geltrú Coastal Waters as a Hope Spot. Professor Michel André, Director of the Laboratory of Applied Bioacoustics (LAB-UPC), Founder and President of The Sense of Silence Foundation, and Dr. Marisa Zaragozá, Director of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech) campus of Vilanova i la Geltrú (UPC), are recognized as the Hope Spot Champions. …

Cover image © Callie Broaddus
[PANAMA CITY, PANAMA] On September 12, 2024, the Minister of the Environment of Panama, Juan Carlos Navarro, signed a Ministerial Decree No. DM-0631-2024, (Gaceta No. 30122-A, 19 September 2024) designating the Saboga National Wildlife Refuge, an almost 86 square kilometer area including 10 islands and islets of the Pearl Islands Archipelago.
The Pearl Islands Archipelago is a collection of over 240 islands and islets and 3,188 beaches, located in the Gulf of Panama, approximately 48 kilometers off the Pacific Coast of Panama. This Archipelago has an impressive marine species richness and diversity that has yet to be fully discovered, studied, and recognized for its importance within the Latin American region and around the globe. It provides, at least currently or historically, a breeding ground for four sea turtle species: hawksbill, green, leatherback, and olive ridley sea turtles.…