WWF honours leading South African marine scientist
WWF South Africa has conferred its prestigious Living Planet Award 2026 on Cape Town-based marine scientist Professor Lynne Shannon for her ongoing work on fishing, climate change and environmental impacts on marine ecosystems.
Prof Shannon is attached to the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town and is Deputy Director of the Marine and Antarctic Research for Innovation and Sustainability (UCT-MARiS) Centre.
Prof Shannon received the award at WWF’s annual general meeting today.
Prof Shannon is a leading authority on sustainable ocean management practices and the development of ecological models of the Benguela marine ecosystem. Her ecosystem modelling work has also been pivotal in providing information towards the management of the pelagic fishery and African penguin populations.
In its citation, WWF said: “In a world grappling with rapid biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, her work stands at the forefront of efforts to implement transformative change. Recognised internationally for her groundbreaking contributions, she is reshaping the dialogue around sustainable development, with implications reaching far beyond South Africa.”
Much of her work underpins the strong scientific base of WWF’s Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (WWF-SASSI), with whom she has played a pivotal role, serving on the panel for fishery assessments.
“She has been a staunch supporter, promoter, and active contributor to WWF’s marine programmes and a stalwart for advancing ecosystem approaches sometimes in the face of fierce opposition, often in male-dominated environments,” the citation said.
Prof Shannon’s work on African penguins examines their role within the broader Benguela marine food web, particularly their dependence on sardine and anchovy populations. This significant contribution to penguin research demonstrates how the fate of African penguin is inextricably linked to the health of South Africa’s marine ecosystem and fisheries, and provides the scientific evidence needed to balance conservation and sustainable resource use.
Last year at a ceremony in Paris, Prof Shannon became the first South African to receive the Prince Albert Grand Medal in Oceanography for her lifetime contributions to marine science.
WWF CEO Dr Morné du Plessis commented: “Prof Shannon was selected for this year’s award for her scientific excellence in pursuit of more effective marine conservation efforts and her role in supporting the work of WWF-SASSI.”
Caption for image, from left: Valli Moosa (WWF board chair), Prof Lynne Shannon, Dr Morne du Plessis (WWF CEO) and Pavitray Pillay (WWF Manager Business Development and Marketing).
