Namibia Restoration Project

Despite being Africa’s second largest marine reserve, the lack of management plan for the Namibian Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) makes it redundant. The reserve is at risk of diamond mining, overfishing, pollution, port development, untested phosphate extraction and, disturbingly, live marine mammal harvesting.

Blue Marine has partnered with the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) to ensure that this incredible area is managed sustainably and that it receives the protection it so badly needs. The NIMPA boasts the highest variety of habitats found anywhere along the coast, including lagoons, wetlands, salt pans, rocky shores, reefs, sandy beaches, kelp beds and several small islands. These islands are used as spawning grounds for the entire Namibian breeding population of Cape gannets and almost all of Namibia’s endangered African penguins. The NIMPA is also home to endemic dolphins, six different species of whale and almost 70% of the global population of Cape fur seals. It is truly an area of outstanding marine biodiversity.

The NIMPA was proclaimed as a protected site in 2009. However, since then, no staff or budget have been allocated to its development and no management plan was ever ratified. Blue Marine is supporting the NNF to kickstart the revival of this reserve by bringing together stakeholders to agree on a way to leverage funds and resources that will enable the government to prioritise its management for the benefit of Namibia and its people.