Coral Reef Monitoring and Management in Mozambique

Abstract

Mozambique possesses the third longest coastline along the Western Indian Ocean, extending 2700 km, much of which adjoins areas of coral reefs. The northernmost section of the coast extends for 770 km from the Rovuma River in the north (10º 20’ S) to Pebane in the south (17º 20’ S). In this section coral reefs constitute an almost continuous fringing reef on the eastern shores of the islands and the more exposed sections of the mainland coast. The central section of the coast between Pebane (17º 20’ S) and Bazaruto Island (21º 10’ S), a distance of about 950 km, is classified as a swamp coast. Twenty-four rivers discharge into the Indian Ocean along this section, each with an estuary supporting well established mangrove stands. The coastal waters are shallow and this, combined with the sediment loading from the rivers, causes high turbidity levels. As a consequence, coral reef formation in this area is severely limited. The southern section stretches for 850 km from Bazaruto Island southwards to Ponta do Ouro (26º 50’ S). The coastline is characterized by high dunes, north facing bights and barrier lakes. The distribution of reefs along the coast and near-shore islands is patchy and the reefs are more sparsely inhabited by corals.