From Cape Town to Sodwana Bay, big organisations, smaller NGOs, teachers, conservationists, and everyday ocean lovers will be hosting and joining in this year’s epic MPA Day celebrations.
South Africa (31 July 2025) – MPA Day, held every year on 1 August, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and their essential role in ocean conservation, sustainable development, and community well-being.
From the start of MPA Day and beyond, schools, communities, non-profits, and conservation entities will be hosting a range of awareness events that celebrate these ‘nature reserves of the sea’.
There are already more than 80 events planned across 25 countries, involving 92 partners, with plenty of activities being hosted in South Africa, the birthplace of MPA Day!
“We are thrilled with the level of support being shown for the 5th annual MPA Day, with more and more events being planned in the run-up to 1 August,” commented Dr Judy Mann, Founder of MPA Day, and the Executive of Strategic Projects at The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.
“With MPA Day being celebrated in 25 countries, it is now truly a global event, and we sincerely hope the message of protecting our ocean resonates far and wide because healthy people need a healthy ocean, so we need action, on a global scale, now.”
Here are some exciting MPA Day activities to look forward to in South Africa:
1. Virtual Tour of South Africa’s MPAs and more
No matter where you are, you can still be a part of MPA Day. Join the team for a virtual tour of South Africa’s MPAs, from mangroves in KZN to the rocky shores and estuaries of the Cape, and of course, the ever-popular penguins. This virtual tour is not to be missed.
Venue: Online
Date: 1 August 2025
Time: 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Register here: https://events.dailymaverick.co.za/events/2025/08/01/marine-protected-areas-day-virtual-tour
2. Importance of MPAs and Beach Clean-up with Kai the Mascot
CapeNature invites you to a special event that combines education, action, and fun for all ages. Together with CapeNature’s Cubs Club mascot Kai, they’ll explore why MPAs matter and take hands-on steps to protect our shores through a community beach cleanup.
Venue: Rocherpan Nature Reserve, Western Cape
Date: 31 July 2025
3. Guardians of the Deep & SANParks Honorary Rangers – Table Mountain National Park Marine Unit Open Day
Celebrate MPA Day with the Table Mountain National Park Marine Unit in Kommetjie, alongside Project Marine Watch – Guardians of the Deep NPC, SANParks and the SANParks Honorary Rangers.
Venue: Kommetjie, Western Cape
Date: 1 August 2025
Time: 9am to 12pm
4. One Ocean, One Connection: Art, Ocean, and Community across Continents
Collaboration between Fondazione Worldrise ETS (Italy), the Plum Foundation, and Nature’s Valley Trust connects two coastal areas – Nature’s Valley and Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve through a vibrant, community-driven mural project. In South Africa, a mural will be created in the Kurland community at a new Centre for Learning and Skills Development.
Venue: Kurland Community Centre for Learning and Skills Development, Western Cape
Date: 1 August 2025
5. Wild Coast Warriors, a film screening
Join the Two Oceans Aquarium for a special screening of Wild Coast Warriors, an inspiring documentary about coastal communities who stood up to protect the Wild Coast. Witness how culture, law, and activism came together to defend the ocean for future generations. Book your tickets here.
Venue: Two Oceans Aquarium, Western Cape
Date: 1 August
Time: 6.30pm for 7pm
6. Biodiversity & Photography Walk – followed by a Beach Clean Up
The City of Cape Town’s Smart Living Programme, in collaboration with local partners, will be hosting a Biodiversity & Photography Walk followed by a Beach Clean-up at Helderberg MPA.
Venue: Helderberg MPA, Lourens River Mouth, Cape Town, Western Cape
Date: 2 August 2025
Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm
7. Ocean Pledge and Cape RADD: Snorkelling for the sea
Ocean Pledge and Cape RADD will host an exciting snorkelling event for students. This hands-on experience will introduce young ocean enthusiasts to the incredible marine life along South Africa’s coast while inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards.
Venue: Windmill Beach, Simon’s Town, Western Cape
Date: 9 August
Time: 10am
8. Two Oceans Aquarium Rocky Shore Explore
Discover the magic of our local rock pools and meet some of the incredible animals that call our shoreline home. A Rocky Shore Explore is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to adventure through rock pools and discover some of the incredible animals and plant life that inhabit our diverse coastline.
Venue: Dalebrook, Kalk Bay, Western Cape
Date: 2 August
Time: 1pm
9. WildTrust & Youth4MPAs – Oceans for All Alliance (OFAA) Ocean Connection Workshop
WILDTRUST and Youth4MPAs will host an interactive and engaging workshop to help young people connect with the ocean in a meaningful way. It includes fun activities such as breathwork, movement, mindfulness, and ocean safety awareness, helping children learn how to care for themselves, others, and the marine environment.
Venue: Thompson’s Beach, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal
Date: 1 August 2025
Time: 9.30am to 3pm
10. Thonga Trails and Adventure Mania Marine Beach
Thonga Trails and Adventure Mania invite you to spend the day celebrating, learning, and giving back on the beaches of Sodwana Bay, one of South Africa’s most cherished marine zones. Starting with a Strava MPA Run, the day includes a Sea School, beach clean-up, Thonga Volley Cup Challenge, concluding with prizegiving and live music.
Venue: Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
Date: 1 August 2025
Time: 6am to 6pm
11. Wild Alliance Africa Beach Walk, Surfski Paddle, Research Sample Collection, Clean-Up & Marine Life Observations
The 2025 MPA Day walk will bring together scientists, ocean advocates, residents, and conservation partners to engage with the Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot® in meaningful, hands-on ways. A 30km coastal walk from Happy Wanderers Beach to Illovo River will see a team engaging beachgoers about MPAs, recording wildlife sightings, and collecting sand and water samples for research on pollution, microplastics, and ocean health.
Offshore, surfski paddlers will mirror the route, observing marine life, while marine scientists conduct a boat-based dive in the Aliwal Shoal MPA to document biodiversity and gather key ocean data. Litter collected will be sorted and used for community education. Live updates will be shared throughout the day, and local youth will join for a beach clean-up and biodiversity count to learn about ocean conservation.
Venue: Happy Wanderers Beach to Illovo River, Aliwal Shoal, South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal
Date: 1 August 2025
Time: 6am to 3pm
12. From Shore to Sea: Turning Trash into Treasure
The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) will celebrate MPA Day by rolling up our sleeves alongside Dwesa-Cwebe schools for a beach cleanup, using the Dirty Dozen Cleanup® app – a tool designed for individuals, families, and groups to monitor and record marine litter. Collected plastic items will be transformed into recycled sea creature art back at school, sparking creativity and storytelling. The marine masterpieces will be showcased at the Dwesa Environmental Centre on 15 August 2025, where guests and partners will be invited to gather for an unforgettable MPA Day event.
Venue: Dwesa-Cwebe, Willowvale, Eastern Cape
Date: 1 August 2025
Time: 9am to 5pm
13. Explore the Depths: A Global Showcase of Marine Remote Imagery
Join the MPA Day committee for an immersive experience showcasing cutting-edge marine remote imagery research from South Africa’s MPAs and around the world. Explore a series of engaging presentations in the museum’s classroom venue, featuring the work of researchers and international collaborators.
Venue: East London Museum, Eastern Cape
Date: 2 August 2025
Time: 9.30am to 12pm
14. Rocky Shore Explore in Boknes and Kleinemonde in the Eastern Cape
Join local marine biologists and Marine Sciences teachers as they explore the Shores of Boknes and Kleinemonde. And pop into Kleinemonde’s Lily Rose restaurant to see the new MPA Day display. See the local Port Alfred press for details.
Venue: Boknes and Kleinemonde Beaches, Eastern Cape
Date: 2, 3, 8 and 9 August 2025
Time: See the local press for details
While we have tried to keep the information as up-to-date as possible, please check out the FULL list of MPA Day events in South Africa and across the globe at www.mpaday.org for more details.
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