Budding photographers get a shot at exposure

IN GEARING up to celebrate the inaugural Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day in Africa, a competition will be held for photographers of all ages and skill levels to show off their creative images.

The MPA Day Alliance, with partners including the Two Oceans Aquarium Trust, Dyer Island Conservation Trust and Wild Oceans, will mark the day on August 1.

Participating photographers will have a chance to win prizes in one of three categories:

Scenery: photos of beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and other scenic shots, above or below the water.

Creatures: photos of marine and estuary wildlife large and small, above or below the water.

Activities: photos of friends and family enjoying activities in MPAs – hiking, surfing, diving, snorkelling, kayaking etc.

In South Africa, all MPAs are ultimately managed by the government which has agreements with MPA management authorities such as SANParks, CapeNature, the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, KZN Wildlife, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and the City of Cape Town.

Most South African MPAs are attached to a national park or nature reserve, and that management authority then also manages the attached MPA, with funding channelled through the Department of Environmental Affairs.

The MPAs in Cape Town include the Table Mountain National Park in a transition zone between the south

Western Cape bio-region and the Agulhas bio-region, which supports a rich diversity of marine species.

It is a culturally significant area containing fish traps, numerous wrecks and traditional fishing communities.

The MPA Day Alliance said it will also host a live webinar from several areas around the coast.

Starting at 2pm, the event will feature MPAs, their history, ecosystems, historical and traditional significance, and the people who love, make use of, and protect these areas.

To enter the competition and find out more about it, visit https:// www.saambr.org.za/wp-content/ uploads/2021/07/MPA-Day-Photo-Competition-2021.pdf | Mercury Correspondent