The designated Management Authority for this MPA is Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife who share in the vision of the project which seeks to improve the natural environment in and around the uThukela MPA, through a series of interventions that will make the region more resilient in the face of the devastating impacts that come with climate change.
Over the course of the 5-year project, WILDTRUST will hand over several assets to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife including three 4x4 vehicles and a Kawasaki side-by-side 4x4. A Ski Boat called the “Karambizi” which is a Carry Cat 760 and a Feral Marine Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat 8.2M called “Makaira” are both equipped with GPS navigation systems and VHF Marine Radios. The “Karambizi” can also accommodate a Gantry with a winch for lifting and lowering equipment in and out of the vessel.
The home base for the three vehicles namely, an Isuzu D-MAX 4x2 single cab, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Hilux 4x4 double cab, and Kawasaki Mule 4x4, will be the Umlalazi Nature Reserve. The “Karambizi” will be stationed at the Richards Bay Port and the “Makaira” at Harold Johnson Nature Reserve. The “Karambizi” will mainly be used for far offshore compliance work and the “Makaira” for closer inshore work. The “Makaira” has also been fitted out to take divers out to sea for research purposes. Both vessels are registered as category “B” allowing them to be used as far as 40Nm offshore.
Both onshore and offshore compliance patrols will also cover among other things the monitoring of fish catches and record keeping thereof for scientific purposes.
These asset donations from WILDTRUST will make a positive impact on the daily activities of the Ezemvelo team and on the effectiveness of the MPA. The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife interventions linked to this project include infrastructure preservation, training, surveillance, and enforcement which will help ensure the restoration of the uThukela MPA's biodiversity while delivering benefits to communities living along the stretch of coastline.
