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Honda South Africa and BP Boost Marine Conservation in Southern Cape
Honda South Africa and BP recently combined support to purchase a brand new patrol rig - a 5.1 metre ribEXTREME inflatable mounted with two 50 hp four-stroke Honda outboard engines - for the Goukamma Marine Protected Area (MPA) near Knysna. This initiative was facilitated through the WWF Sanlam Marine Programme, which runs a comprehensive marine conservation programme throughout South Africa. Says Dr Rob Little, Director of Conservation at WWF, "This is a great example of corporations becoming involved in the conservation of our rich marine heritage. Goukamma is one of our most important MPAs and is critical to our management of inshore fish stocks, and yet it has operated without a boat for the past 4 years." Goukamma MPA hosts nationally important stocks of inshore reef fish such as Red Roman, Red Stumpnose and Black Musselcracker. MPAs function not only to conserve marine biodiversity, but also serve as important replenishment zones for commercially important species. The healthy stocks of these fish species within MPAs spill over into adjacent areas either through direct migration or export of larvae and eggs in oceanic currents. The Goukamma MPA is managed by Cape Nature. Says Allisdair MacDonald, Business Unit Manager for the Garden Route, "We are extremely grateful for this support from the business sector. The acquistion of this boat will enable Cape Nature to combat boat-based poaching of marine resources within the Goukamma Marine Protected Area more effectively than was previously the case". Says Hiroaki Shibata, Managing Director, Honda South Africa: "At Honda South Africa we take our responsibility to the environment seriously. For almost 40 years, Honda outboards have been at the forefront of demonstrating that ultra-low emission levels are not only possible, but the right thing to do to protect the waterways we enjoy and the air that we breathe. "This joint venture with WWF South Africa, is the first South African marine orientated contribution towards our environmental responsibility and we are proud to be associated with WWF and Cape Nature on this project," adds Mr Shibata. Little concludes: "The days of sitting back and expecting others to look after our environment are over. We all need to find ways in which we can become involved and contribute. Our thanks go to Honda and BP for taking the lead on this important issue." 
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