Marine Witness: Criminal Court Training

South Africa has 42 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), covering 5% of its coastal waters, safeguarding rich marine biodiversity, including over 3,800 species found nowhere else. Sharks and rays are among the species benefiting from these protections. However, effective conservation depends on strong enforcement, compliance, and expert testimony in criminal cases. Weak testimony often leads to failed prosecutions. To address this, the GreenLaw Foundation is appointing legal experts to conduct practical workshops, training scientists and officials in courtroom procedures, evidence presentation, and litigation processes through mock trials. These workshops foster teamwork, critical thinking, and legal proficiency. In South Africa’s unique legal landscape, improved trial readiness will strengthen convictions, impose better sanctions, and deter environmental crimes, enhancing protections for sharks, rays, and broader marine ecosystems.