It’s the fourth year of MPA Day and excitement is brewing as more people around the world are taking part in this celebration of our precious “game reserves of the sea”, happening on Thursday, 1 August.
Back on 1 August 2021, MPA Day was held by the first time, to raise awareness about South Africa’s 42 marine protected areas, which are crucial breeding grounds and biodiversity hotspots for marine species.
MPA Day was initially organised by a small group of people passionate about ocean conservation, under the leadership of Dr Judy Mann-Lang. The group later became known as the MPA Alliance. In 2023, over a dozen countries took part in the awareness day. In 2024, even more people from more countries are expected to join the activities. You can, too!
Here’s how you can participate:
Join the celebration of our natural and marine heritage by celebrating MPA Day on 1 August.
MPA Day webinars and virtual tours
Join the MPA Day team from 9am to 11am SAST for the MPA Guide webinar by Protect Baltic. The MPA Guide is an essential resource that you can use to enhance marine protection efforts worldwide. This event is designed for marine conservationists, policymakers, researchers, and anyone passionate about ocean conservation. There will be three speakers on the day.
- Register for free here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../316f6e61-9e40-468c...
Then from 1pm to 2pm SAST, Professor Peter Jones will give a seminar, organised by the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research- CMR.
- You can join here: https://mandela.zoom.us/j/9251......
- Meeting ID: 925 1604 4289
- Passcode: 366336
From 2pm to 3pm SAST, a virtual tour of marine protected areas from South Africa to Sweden, organised by ShareScreen Africa and Flow Communications will take place. This is certain to be a big highlight of the day!
- Register here:
https://mpaday.mediaserver.co....
At 3pm SAST, the Sea Change Project will be hosting a webinar titled: "Why communities are key for MPAs".
- Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/regist...
The final activity of the day will take place from 7pm to 8pm SAST. ShareScreen Africa and the MPA Day team will present a webinar titled Making MPAs work.
- Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meetin...
MPA Day around the world
Click on this interactive map to discover what activities are taking place around the globe on MPA Day. https://arcg.is/1e9nHa0 This is a fantastic resource to show children at home and in the classrooms.
Get tweeting!
Members of the MPA Day Alliance will be hosting a Twitter/X chat on MPA Day.
From 12pm – 1pm SAST, fun questions will be shared and you can take part in the conversation. Be sure to use the official hashtag #MPADay and follow @MPAsSA1 on X.
For more information about #MPADay please click here: https://mpaday.org/
