Page 6 - South Africa Report

The Republic of South Africa

Key Country indicators
Location

South Africa geographical Land area is (1,000 sq. km) 1,213 and has a population of (millions) 55.0
(The little green data book, World Bank 2017). The South Africa’s ecosystem is divided into two: the
Country Profile
western and eastern ecosystems. The west coast stretches from the Orange River bordering Namibia
which has a higher productivity of commercial fisheries and the Ponta do Ouro in the eastern of
Mozambique, which is less productive but has a diversity of species including both Endemic and
The Republic of South Africa
Indo-Pacific species. The coastline supports a wide range of coastal ecosystem like kelp beds, mixed
shores, sandy and rocky ecosystem, estuaries and seagrass.

Population (million) 55.0

GDP US $ (trillion) 314.8
GNI
Total land area 1,213 km 2

Length of coastline 3,623 km
Exclusive Economic Zone

Continental shelf 1 071 883 km 2
Mangrove 30.5 km 2
Coral reef

Marine protected area %13.4 of territorial
waters

Source: (World Bank, 2017)
Marine resources
Mangroves

There are about six species of mangrove in South Africa and these mangroves are limited to Eastern
coastline. They stretch from Mozambique at Kosi Bay to Nahoon Estuary of East London. Mangrove
cover between 1660 ha and 3000 ha of land (Ward and Steinke 1982, FAO 2007). Rhizophora
mucronate, Xylocarpus granatum, Bruiguiera gymnorhiza, Lumnitezera racemose, Ceriops tagal and
Avecenia marina. The dominant of these species is the Avecenia marina which occurs mainly in the
Mhlathuze estuary (Taylor and others 2004, Raijkaran and others, 2004).

Salt Marshes

These cover a total of 212344ha of which 2517ha (20 per cent) occur in the WIO region. Extensive
salt marshes occur in St. Lucia, Mhlathuze and in Richards Bay. They are spread and distributed
supratidal, intertidal and subtropical regions of the country. There are few common species of salt
marshes which include: Cordgrass Spartina maritima, the Glasswort Sarcocorna tegetaria and the

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