Four of seven seabirds that are endemic to the Benguela ecosystem (African Penguin Spheniscus demersus, Cape Gannet
Morus capensis, Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis, Bank Cormorant P. neglectus) compete with fisheries for prey and
have an IUCN classification of Endangered. Prey depletion and food resource limitations have been ...
Four of seven seabirds that are endemic to the Benguela ecosystem (African Penguin Spheniscus demersus, Cape Gannet
Morus capensis, Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis, Bank Cormorant P. neglectus) compete with fisheries for prey and
have an IUCN classification of Endangered. Prey depletion and food resource limitations have been major drivers of recent
large population decreases of each of these species. As populations decrease, colony sizes also dwindle rendering them
susceptible to Allee effects and higher probabilities of extinction. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain colonies at sizes that
minimise their probability of extinction. Means to ensure an adequate availability of food to achieve this goal include closing
important seabird foraging areas (often adjacent to key colonies) to relevant fishing, implementing ecosystem thresholds below
which such fishing is disallowed (which are also expected to benefit forage resources) and, should there be an altered
distribution of prey, attempting to establish seabird colonies close to the new location of forage resources.
