Mozambique has declared its first Marine Protected Area (MPA) that now links with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to create Africa’s first transfrontier marine conservation area.
This now extends along 300 kms of unbroken coastline and pristine beaches from Maputo Bay in Mozambique to Cape St Lucia, the southern boundary of the iSimangaliso Park in South Africa.
The Mozambique MPA of 678kms² includes Inhaca and Portugese islands, the Maputo Special Reserve, and stretches three nautical miles into the sea.
Southern Mozambique is a vital nursery for commercially important fish stocks with fish, larvae and eggs carried in south-flowing currents into South Africa’s iSimangaliso. “Protection of these will benefit both countries and iSimangaliso directly” said Zaloumis. Park CEO and Chairman of the Ponta do Oura/Kosi Bay TFCA Task Team.
The long-term vision for the marine components is to create Africa’s first trans -boundary marine World Heritage Site. Mozambique has placed its new MPA on it’s tentative list, the first step towards formal application for listing with UNESCO whose technical team will evaluate the proposal.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999.
The Ponta do Ouro-Kosi Bay Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area is one of five such initiatives – coastal and interior – under the Lubombo TFCA that aim to consolidate the unique biodiversity of the Maputaland Centre of Endemism and link the elephant populations of both countries.
Mozambique Tourism Minister Mr Fernando Sumbana said “this was a vital step in protecting marine turtles that nest in high densities along the pristine beaches of the Maputo Special Reserve, other rare or endangered species, marine mammals and ecosystems.”
Activities like semi-industrial and industrial fishing, fishing on the coral reefs, fishing with explosives, driving of motorised vehicles on the beach and building other than approved developments are now prohibited.
For more information re: Reserva Marinha Parcial da Ponta do Ouro contact:
Dr Bartolomeu Soto
Director: Ministry of Tourism
Unidade de Coordenancao das Areas de Conservacao Transfronteira
Tel: + 258 (82) 302 362/303 616
Mobile: + 258 (82) 302 9300
Email: bsoto
For more information re: iSimangaliso Wetland Park contact
Andrew Zaloumis
Chief Executive Officer
iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority
Tel: + 27 (35) 250 1633
Mobile: + 27 (82) 788 3000
Email: andrew
