The population of African penguins on St. Croix Island in Algoa Bay has significantly declined since South Africa began allowing ships in the area to refuel at sea.
Recently, a scientific study revealed that the African penguin, already at risk of extinction, is being driven away from its natural habitat off the southeastern coast of South Africa due to noise from ship refueling.
African penguins at risk of extinction due to noise pollution. (Photo: AP).
According to the study results, the population of African penguins on St. Croix Island in Algoa Bay, which was once the largest breeding colony in the world, has sharply decreased since South Africa started allowing ships in the region to refuel at sea, a process known as bunkering, six years ago.
Located along a busy shipping route on the eastern coast of South Africa, Algoa Bay is rich in marine life and birds, where southern right whales can safely roam the waters.
Ms. Lorien Pichegru, Acting Director of the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research at Nelson Mandela University, stated: “We have observed that the already high noise levels have now doubled.”
Scientists have found that increased noise levels affect marine animals’ ability to forage, communicate, or navigate properly.
Ms. Pichegru added: “This year, we only have 1,200 breeding pairs of penguins at St. Croix (compared to 8,500 pairs in 2016), a nearly 85% decline since we began breeding in South Africa. I can count the dead birds on the beach of the bay every month.”
The new study, published on August 10 in the peer-reviewed journal “Science of the Total Environment”, is the first to explore the impact of maritime traffic noise pollution on a seabird species and the consequences of offshore drilling activities on underwater noise levels.
The research from Nelson Mandela University utilized vessel identification tool data to estimate underwater noise from ships representing the ambient underwater noise in the area.
In 2019, oil-covered penguins were found in Algoa Bay following an oil spill from the bunkering process between ships, prompting conservationists to call for a ban on fish farming in the bay.
Ms. Pichegru noted that penguins on St. Croix Island have been struggling to breed due to numerous challenges, including industrial fishing for scarce prey.
“Bunkering does not kill all the penguins; it is just something that causes the entire ecosystem to collapse, and then the penguins cannot adapt to that,” Ms. Pichegru explained.
