Mozambique has just announced the creation of Africa’s largest coastal marine reserve by establishing a 10-island archipelago in a bid to protect all forms of marine life in the region.

Florêncio Marerua, WWF Mozambique’s Country Director:

This is a great response to the appeal by local communities to help them protect their resources. This is a very important step in our effort to achieve the conservation and sustainable management of Mozambique’s marine and coastal resources, as this adds a globally significant area to the network of marine protected areas along the country’s coast. It is particularly exciting that both the government authorities and local communities recognize the benefits of conserving these resources.

The protected area covers more than 10 500 square kilometres off the coast of northern Mozambique, and it took the WWF eight years to make it happen. The area has for a long time been under threat from over fishing and unauthorised tourism.

The WWF reports:

Located in the northern region of the country, between Nampula and Zambezia Provinces, the declaration of the Primeiras and Segundas environment protection area represents the second major conservation area to be declared within the last two years.

The archipelago includes the most robust and diverse coral community in Mozambique. It is rich in mangroves, marine life, deep underwater canyons and large seagrass beds. Due to cold nutrient-rich upwellings, the archipelago is spared coral bleaching, a common problem in other coral-rich areas, making these some of the most globally productive and important reefs on the planet.

John Tanzer, Director of WWF’s Global Marine Programme, was also very pleased with the Mozambican government’s commitment to conservation:

This declaration by the Government shows they understand and care about the need for conservation of marine resources to support sustainable use by their communities. Protecting the rich natural resources of this magnificent area will make a major contribution to the long-term food security and livelihoods of the people of the region. It is also a significant contribution by Mozambique to safeguarding the future of the world’s marine environment more generally, and deserves recognition and congratulations to all concerned who worked together to make it possible.

The area holds economic importance, but due to the over fishing some species are on the “brink of collapse”, said the WWF.

[Source: WWF]