Dear Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah,

Within a single generation the African penguins could go extinct. As penguins are experiencing a catastrophic decline humans and the environment are just making it worse. 

As humans are living their daily lives these African penguins are facing multiple problems, one being over-fishing. African Penguins main source of food is small pelagic fish l, but many people are reducing their food supply by fishing for small pelagic fish in their locations. Another issue is Habitat destruction due to climate change and rising water temperatures.

To help the African penguin population I request that we make important changes that help reduce these impacts. First I’d like to enforce the law of “No Fishing Zones” to help reduce the issues of a deduced food supply. I would also like to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen coral resilience to help stop climate change and rising water temperatures.

In the article from the San Diego Zoo it states, “African penguins are Critically Endangered, in large part because they struggle to access sufficient fish for them to eat and to feed their chicks.”... “a legal settlement on no-fishing zones around six of the penguins’ major breeding colonies.” Additionally in another source from IFAW it states, “Climate change also plays a role in these food shortages, with rising water temperatures and shifts in ocean currents”.

Adding these changes matter because the African population is rapidly decreasing and if this species were to disappear other animals in the ecosystem would weaken, and there would be a significant economic collapse.

Sincerely,
Melissa Barber