Knowledge and attitudes of South African stakeholders regarding conservation of the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

The population of the African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) (AP) has declined by more than 97% in the last century and continues to face a wide range of threats. The most prominent threat remains food shortages due to a variable distribution of anchovy (Engraulis capensis) and sardine (Sardinops sagax) in the environment and competition with purse seine fisheries. South Africa is home to 77% of the total population of African penguins and has developed a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the species that guides conservation actions with the objective of halting the decline. The AP-BMP has highlighted the need for coordinated research action between seabird working groups. Even though the species breeds across only two provinces in South Africa, it holds a wide range of intersecting social, political, environmental, and economic issues, therefore, constituting a comprehensive group of stakeholders in African penguin conservation. The main objective of this study was to assess the variable knowledge and attitudes among different stakeholders involved in the conservation, management, and policy of AP’s. Stakeholders included members of the public at varying distances from colonies, fishers and specialist stakeholders involved in research and policy pertaining to African penguin management. A survey of 376 people, using online and in-person questionnaires was conducted between August and October 2021. Four stakeholder groups were surveyed: people living within five kilometres of two land-based AP colonies and those living further away; people involved in the fishing industry and people with specialist knowledge of AP’s. The surveys collected demographic information, knowledge and general attitudes on AP conservation and attitudes towards fishing measures. The specialist survey gathered attitudes towards the current strategies in place to halt the decline and the challenges and priorities needed to conserve the African penguin. A mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) analysis was performed on the data. Bivariate analysis (X2) was used for the knowledge response and qualitative and descriptive analysis including content analysis was used to dissect attitudes and open-ended questions. High knowledge was reported in 33.5% (n= 119 out of 236) of the study population and significant differences were reported for people living more than 5km from colonies and for the age, income, and distance categories and people who observed penguins in the wild. Approximately 66.4% (n= 250 out of 376) of the study population reported an interest in learning more. Positive attitudes were reported in 83.1% (n = 295 out of 355) of the population. However, only 56.3% (200 out of 355) of the study population reported positive attitudes pertaining to conservation laws and policies, the regulatory authorities, and marine protected areas. The least positive attitudes toward conservation laws and policies and MPA were noted by fishers 37.4% (n= 9 out of 23). Total allowable bycatch and area restrictions were viewed as the most negative fishing measure implemented in the fishing industry and closed seasons and monitoring and or record-keeping were most favoured by fishers. Researchers and policymakers differed on whether there was sufficient knowledge on the current state of the decline. However, all felt more action is needed to halt the decline and only 52.3% (n= 11 out of 21) felt the AP-BMP goal to increase breeding pairs by >5% above the 2018 estimate is achievable. The major priorities listed by specialist stakeholders were MPAs, fisheries regulations, AP health studies and the highest political intervention, followed by reduced human interference, stakeholder participation, further research, environmental education, climate change mitigation and the improvement of breeding colonies. A moderate proportion of the study population were aware of the conservation issues pertaining to the African penguin. The mode of information and its access to the population are good but domain-specific initiatives may be adopted to improve knowledge and attitudes and likely influence conservation behaviour. Despite the limitations, the findings of this study present valuable information about the knowledge and attitudes among local and specialist stakeholder groups of African penguin conservation and can be used to guide policy and management.