Page 7 - Mozambique Report

Coastal habitat Country Profile The Republic of Mozambique
Mozambique’s coastal habitat consists of fisheries, mangroves, coral reefs, salt marshes and sea
grass beds. Mangroves occupy a total of 396,080 ha along the shorelines and estuaries and are
crucial to the coastal communities. Coral reefs cover an estimated area of 1,890 km and play an
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important role supporting the communities in food production, boosting tourism and as a source of
income (Spalding et al., 2001) (Bjerner & Johansson, 2001) (Pereira, 2003) (Schleyer et al., 1999).
They are a source of food and shelter for different types of marine species and are responsible for
about 70 per cent of fish catches.

Seagrass beds, provide a unique role in increasing and intensifying the growth of marine ecosystem
and marine biodiversity. The thirteen species of seagrasses found in Mozambique include Cymodocea
rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Halodule minor, Halodule uninervis, Halodule wrightii, Halophila
ovalis among others. seagrasses are vital in stabilizing effects on the shorelines, provision of food

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