Just south of the city of Quelimane stretching about 200 kms south to the Marromeu National Reserve is another possibility for an MPA. This stretch of coast includes the massive Zambezi Delta, which is fed by the nutrient-rich Zambezi River, and is home to the most extensive mangrove system on Africa’s east coast.





The stretch of coast is also identified as an IUCN Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) and is part of the earth’s 36 biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial ecoregions. Mozambique ranks 13th worldwide for total mangrove coverage, containing approximately 2.3 per cent of all mangroves on Earth. This stretch of coast holds Africa’s second-largest mangrove system, so conservation of this coastal area is particularly important.


 The Zambezi River delta, which stretches almost 200 km along the coast and as far as 50 km inland, contains over 155,000 ha of mangroves and accounts for roughly 40 percent of the approximately 400,000 ha of mangroves in Mozambique. The protective underwater roots of mangrove forests are critical for breeding and growth of many estuarine and marine species. 


Nursery habitats provided by mangroves enable fish and shrimp (Indian, giant tiger, western king, green tiger) and shrimp (speckled and Karuma) to mature, which supports numerous smallscale and industrial fisheries at Sofala Bank, the country’s largest and richest fishing ground.  More than 340 fish species, primarily demersal, have been recorded from the Zambezi River delta and Sofala Bank.96 This stretch of coast is also particularly important for sea turtles – in particular green and loggerhead, but also olive Ridley, hawksbill and leatherback – and wintering humpback whales.


 Harvesting of mangrove trees for timber to use in construction, or as fuel, or as food for animals is a threat. Additional pressure comes from tourism developers, coastal construction, and farmers looking to clear mangrove forest for shrimp nurseries or rice production. Climate change and rising sea levels also pose a threat to mangroves, but in many large river delta systems, accretion promotes new mangrove growth in tidal areas while population pressures on back mangrove forests offset any net gains in forest cover. The largest sugar production area in Mozambique is located near the delta, which also puts pressure on the system.





Given the importance of this stretch of coast to the commercial fishing industry in Mozambique, the blue economy potential is significant. 

Protecting nurseries for fish and prawn is critical for the sustainability of the Sofala fishing industry, and thus partnering with industry for MPA management would make good sense. 

Also, if harnessed, credits or payments for carbon sequestration could bring in much needed revenue for local communities to conserve and plant more mangrove forests (see Section III on financing marine conservation). As mentioned earlier, mangroves are perhaps the most efficient ecosystem for carbon sequestration. Debt for nature swaps to create an MPA for this stretch of coast might also be considered.


 The authors are not aware of any marine of coastal tourism potential on this stretch of mangrove and delta coast.The authors did not come across any information on donors currently dedicated to working on marine conservation activities in this area, except for those working in and around Marromeu. USAID provided support to the USFS under the USAID Mozambique Global Climate Change Sustainable Landscape Program in 2014 for the “The Zambezi River Delta Mangrove Carbon Project: 


A Pilot Baseline Assessment for REDD+ Reporting and Monitoring.”98 Ad-hoc donor activities we have come across in this area are around mangrove conservation.Major threats to this part of the Sofala Bank include habitat loss, particularly mangrove forest clearing, IUU, overfishing and the bycatch of turtles, sharks and other species in the fishing nets of semi-industrial and industrial fishermen. Dredging of the Sofala Bay due to high sediment drifting and an active commercial port and pollution from run-off into the bay are also key threats to the marine biodiversity in the area. 


Cyclones are also particularly acute in this area of Mozambique, with 30 cyclones being recorded between 1958 and 2008.Major threats to this part of the Sofala Bank include habitat loss, particularly mangrove forest clearing, IUU, overfishing and the bycatch of turtles, sharks and other species in the fishing nets of semi-industrial and industrial fishermen. Dredging of the Sofala Bay due to high sediment drifting and an active commercial port and pollution from run-off into the bay are also key threats to the marine biodiversity in the area. 


As with the proposed Zambezi and Cherronga coast MPA, harnessing carbon credits for the mangroves in the region we think also holds potential. Similar to the Nacala area, significant potential exists to engage the private sector operators through the Beira port as well as the local fishing industry. The World Bank provided a cyclone-recovery grant support to RARE to support artisanal fisheries management in the proposed Beira MPA. Ad hoc assistance and support around the fisheries sector have been provided.


 The USAID SPEED+ project worked with WCS to finalize a proposed list of Key Biodiversity Areas, which included this proposed Beira MPA seascape as a KBA. The designation of this site as KBA would not only help justify the establishment of stronger management and conservation measures, but also help to preserve a globally important population of leatherback turtles as well as other marine biodiversity in the area.