Global Environment Outlook 3 (GEO 3)

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COASTAL AND MARINE AREAS

coastal band 60-km wide between Senegal and Cameroon, and large-scale urban growth has occurred from Accra to the Niger Delta, an environmentally sensitive portion of the African coastline. The coastal zone is also receiving increasing numbers of tourists — in South Africa, for example, the industry grew at 7 per cent a year during the late 1990s (SADC 2000). According to FAO (1998), 38 per cent of Africa’s coastal ecosystems are under high levels of threat from development-related activities. The exceptional demand for infrastructure development often results in uncoordinated and poorly planned or sited construction which can in turn cause habitat loss, destabilization or mining of dunes for construction materials, and draining of coastal wetlands. Economic costs are further inflated as governments and investors have to spend large budgets on mitigation and rehabilitation. The demand for fisheries resources is also increasing. The marine fisheries of Africa have developed significantly over the past 30 years, and most demersal stocks are now thought to be fully exploited (FAO 1996, FAO 1997). The fishery sector contributes more than 5 per cent to GDP in Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal and Seychelles, and the shrimp fishery on the Sofala Bank in Mozambique contributes 40 per cent of the country’s foreign exchange (FAO 1997). From 1973 to 1990, fisheries supplied some 20 per cent of the animal protein intake of the population of sub-Saharan Africa. However, per capita fish catch (see figure) has been fairly static since 1972, except in Southern Africa where it has fallen sharply (FAO 1996, FAO 1997). The Cape rock lobster and abalone catches have declined steadily since the 1950s, causing concern over the sustainability of these populations and leading to the setting of annual catch limits (FAO 1997). In Southern Africa, declining catches, together with a decrease in the mean sizes of fish caught, have led to calls for the protection of line fish stocks. Today fisheries management measures include minimum size limits, bag limits, use of appropriate fishing gear, closed seasons, control agreements with foreign fleets and establishment of marine reserves. In Western Africa, a Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme aims to develop social and human capital in fisheries- dependent communities, whilst enhancing natural habitats in those communities.

Addressing coastal and marine degradation

The Convention for the Protection, Management, and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region (Nairobi Convention) of 1985 is a UNEP Regional Seas Programme initiative, under which the erosion- associated impacts on ecosystems and species are dealt with proactively. Although all affected countries are party to the convention, it is not legally binding, and has received insufficient funding for application of many of the activities. National efforts to regulate coastal development include the introduction of integrated coastal management policies, requirements for environmental impact assessments to be conducted, and establishment of marine national parks. The Indian Ocean Commission has facilitated the development of a Regional Sustainable Development Policy and a coral reef monitoring and action programme. In Central and Southern Africa, most countries have, or are preparing, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans. Africa is the top regional recipient of GEF biodiversity funds, about one-third of which are directed towards projects in coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Annual fish catch per capita (kg): Africa

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

Eastern Africa Central Africa

Northern Africa Southern Africa

Western Africa Western Indian Ocean

region

Coastal and marine pollution The waters of the Western Indian Ocean are major sea routes for an estimated 470 million tonnes of oil every year (Salm 1996). More than 100 million tonnes of oil are transported annually through the Red Sea alone (World Bank 1996). This level of shipping incurs a high risk of disastrous oil spills. Furthermore, oil tankers frequently empty ballast and wash engines on the high seas, causing residues of degraded oil to end up on the shore. Port petroleum and oil handling activities also pose threats to the marine and coastal environment. Accidental leakage from ships, refineries and transport systems are common, especially in Mombasa. Clean-up and disposal of oily wastes is difficult and expensive. Several oil spills off the South African coast have affected African penguins and other marine life. In response, national and regional oil spill contingency plans have been established in several African regions.

In Africa and most of its sub- regions, the per capita fish catch has stagnated for some 30 years — but in Southern Africa it has fallen sharply Note: fish catch includes marine and freshwater catches but excludes crustaceans and molluscs Source: compiled from Fishstat 2001 and United Nations Population Division 2001