Page 9 - Mozambique Report

These practices harvest both adult and juvenile with no discrimination between species causing more
destruction of habitats. Cutting of mangrove forest is a major cause of deforestation in Mozambique.
And because of the interlinkage between mangrove, seagrass and other coastal habitants any pressure
on them causes devastating effects on the ecosystem

Impact of destructive f?shing gear on endangered species Country Profile
Marine species; Dugongs, in Mozambique are found in Maputo and Inhambane Bays with the largest
population in Eastern Africa found in Bazaruto Bay (Guissamulo 1993, Muir et al. 2004). However, recent The Republic of Mozambique
observations indicate that Bazaruto Bay dugong population is declining due to over-fishing in the main
channels (Muir et al. 2004). Dolphins, whales and seals A total of seven species of dolphins inhabit the
littoral waters off Mozambique. The most common species in inshore waters are Indo-pacific bottlenose
and humpback dolphins (Muir et al. 2004). From the seven species of whales recorded in Mozambican
waters, Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are
common waters. Mozambique hosts five species of marine turtle including the green (Chelonia mydas),
olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and
leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) (Louro et al. 2006, Costa et al. 2007).

Endangered species are depleted by destructive and non-selective fishing gears, for example bottom
trawls, beach seining entanglements in gillnets (Guissamulo and Cockcroft 1997) and this causes
destruction of ecosystems that support them. Marine mammals are also vulnerable to the destruction
of habitat, accidental and intentional catches and pollution (Guissamulo 1993). Little is known about
the extent of marine mammal bycatch in Mozambique.

The opportunities
Mangrove restoration activities

There are many benefits associated with the restoration of mangrove forests. These include carbon
sequestration, fish production and storm protection with benefits to human health and wellbeing (Narayan,
Foley, Haskell, Cooley, & Hyman, 2017). In addition, mangrove forests provide a nutrient-rich environment,
they act as shelter for juvenile fish and marine invertebrates and also play an important role as nursery and
feeding ground of many important commercial species of fish, prawns and crustaceans. Other ecosystem
services provided include construction material, firewood, charcoal. Mangrove also act as a natural
barrier or stabilizer of the coastline by preventing erosion and sedimentation. They also help to contribute
to detoxification and depuration of waste waters, and protect inland areas from weather extremes such as
storm surge and extreme high tide events (Bandeira et al., 2009; Paula et al., 2014).

Target 14.2: Protect and restore ecosystems

UN definition: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid
significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their
restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

Status: The proportion of the national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based
2
approaches is 2.23 per cent or 12,821 km
Source: (UN Stats 2019)

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