Anchovies Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardines Sardinops sagax are important food items for African penguins. In recent years these resources have become more scarce. The prevailing reasons are shifting in location of fish populations, reduction of fish biomass in certain areas, increasing competition with other predators for more limited foods and competition with purse-seine fisheries. Without the availability of food, many African penguins have not been able to successfully bring enough food home for their chicks to survive. In addition, juveniles that are recently sent to sea by their parents are not successful at catching enough fish. The study of their food availability is vital in assisting survival of African penguins.-Pamela Schaller