Offshore refuelling deepens fears for S. Africa’s penguin haven

Mid-way along the Europe-Asia sea route, the bay's deep-water port was an obvious choice for South Africa's first offshore bunkering operation.

Since 2016, mostly cargo ships have pulled in for ship-to-ship (STS) refuelling, allowing them to carry more freight, bypass port fees and save time.

But conservationists, ecotour operators and nature lovers are alarmed about the long-term impact in a marine biodiversity hotspot and major foreign tourist magnet. | A colony of penguins is seen on St. Croix island in Algoa Bay.

They claim the bunkering takes place too close to foraging and breeding grounds, disrupting the ecosystem and exposing sea animals to oil spills. | A school of dolphins is seen is seen swimming outside St. Croix island in Algoa Bay outside Port Elizabeth.

They claim the bunkering takes place too close to foraging and breeding grounds, disrupting the ecosystem and exposing sea animals to oil spills. | Volunteers feed baby African penguins rescued from Algoa Bay at the SANCCOB Seabird rehabilitation centre in Port Elizabeth.

The risk has been highlighted by the catastrophic oil spill which began earlier this month into a protected marine park off the pristine coastline of Mauritius, after a bulk carrier ran aground on July 25.

Scientists are also studying whether the noise, pollution and increased ship traffic could affect the marine animals.

Algoa Bay - an inlet off the city of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province - is home to myriad species of seabirds, including just under half the global population of African penguins, classed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. | A volunteer feeds a baby African penguin rescued from Algoa Bay

African penguins, distinct by their bray-like call and black horseshoe marking across their chest, only breed in South Africa and Namibia but are found in Mozambique too.

Over three decades, their numbers have fallen by more than 60 percent due to climate change, oil spills, human activity, overfishing and habitat destruction, experts say.

In Algoa Bay, the population has also fallen sharply - from 10,900 breeding pairs in 2015, to 6,100 in 2019, according to figures from South Africa's Environmental Affairs department.

Parts of Algoa Bay last year were declared a Marine Protected Area. The 2019 university report on the Eastern Cape coastline, centred around the bay, also highlighted that it was a foraging area for seabirds, sharks, cetaceans and turtles, on the migration route for loggerhead and leatherback turtles and home to the world's largest Cape gannet colony.

However, scientists and conservationists say they have observed changes in animal behaviour which they suspect are a consequence of bunkering activity - even without spillage. | A volunteer moves a baby African penguin rescued from Algoa Bay at the SANCCOB Seabird rehabilitation centre in Port Elizabeth.