Mozambique-South Africa Create Joint Marine Park

Mozambique and South Africa have joined forces to create Africa's first and largest transfrontier marine conservation area. South Africa's World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park has been merged with Mozambique's Ponto de Ouro Marine Protected Area creating more than 300km of unbroken coastline from St Lucia in the south to Mozambique's Maputo Special Reserve which reaches three nautical miles out to sea. Mozambique has applied for its protected area to be declared a World Heritage Site and if approved it will result in Africa’s first Marine World Heritage Site to cross national boundaries.

The marine park sets the standard for biodiversity of marine ecology in the region and is one of eight key biodiversity sites in the world. The area is a key breeding area for leatherback turtles in Africa, an important feeding area for migratory birds including and flamingos, the home to over 400 species of fish and some of the highest latitude coral reefs in the world. The Mozambique tourism minister, Fernando Sumbana stated the marine parks key role in: "protecting marine turtles …, other rare or endangered species, marine mammals and ecosystems".

The conservation of the park’s wildlife is top focus with banned activities including commercial fishing, fishing on coral reefs and fishing with explosives as well as driving on the beaches. The conservation area will continue to attract visitors on Mozambique holidays with opportunities for wildlife spotting and strictly controlled recreational fishing and scuba diving activities.

2 by 2 Holidays are specialists in Mozambique holidays and other destinations in southern Africa.
 

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