The De Hoop Marine Protected Area lies between Arniston and the mouth of the Breede River on the south coast of South Africa adjacent to the De Hoop Nature Reserve. The MPA is 51 kilometres long, and extends 5 nautical miles to sea. The whole MPA is a restricted area (No Take zone) and is part of the migratory route and calving area for Southern right whales. The area protects habitats for several economically important inshore reef fish species, and ensures the retention of marine biomass in this part of the coast. The limestone coastline is includes archaeological sites and middens that date back centuries. The MPA is close to the Breede River estuary and, provides protection for species like cob (Argyrosomus spp.) that breed in the estuary and then return to the ocean.
History
The MPA was proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohammed Valli Moosa, in Government Gazette No. 21948 of 29 December 2000 in terms section 43 of the Marine Natural Resources Act, 18 of 1998. The area was previously established as a nature reserve in 1985.
Purpose
A marine protected area is defined by the IUCN as "A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values".
Extent
The length of the protected shoreline is 51 km, and the area of protected ocean is 288.9 km2
Zonation
The whole of De Hoop MPA is zoned as a restricted area (no-take zone).
Boundaries
The northern boundary is the high water mark
The eastern boundary is a line at 114° true bearing from a beacon near Stilbaai Point at S34°27.13'; E020°052.25' The western boundary is a line at 150° true bearing from a beacon between Rys Point and Skipskop at S34°34.94'; E020°21.89' The seaward (southern) boundary is a series of straight lines joining the following points in sequence, which are all approximately three nautical miles from the shore: S34°28.378'; E020°55.653' S34°28.385'; E020°55.397' S34°30.378'; E020°53.904' S34°31.295'; E020°51.277' S34°31.088'; E020°48.865' S34°30.416'; E020°45.593' S34°29.850'; E020°41.128' S34°30.438'; E020°34.900' S34°32.329'; E020°29.699' S34°37.600'; E020°23.757'
Restricted areas
The whole MPA is a restricted area.
Management
The marine protected areas of South Africa are the responsibility of the national government, which has management agreements with a variety of MPA management authorities, in this case, the MPA is adjacent to the De Hoop Nature Reserve and is managed by CapeNature with funding from the SA Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for issuing permits, quotas and law enforcement.
Geography
General topography
Geology
Hydrography
Bathymetry
Climate of the South-western Cape
The climate of the South-western Cape is markedly different from the rest of South Africa, which is a summer rainfall region, receiving most of its rainfall during the summer months of December to February. The South-western Cape has a Mediterranean type climate, with most of its rainfall during the winter months from June to September.
During the summer the dominant factor determining the weather in the region is a high pressure zone, known as the South Atlantic High, located over the South Atlantic ocean to the west of the Cape coast. Winds circulating in an anticlockwise direction from such a system reach the Cape from the south-east, producing periods of up to several days of high winds and mostly clear skies. These winds keep the region relatively cool. Because of its south facing aspect De Hoop is exposed to these winds.
Winter in the South-western Cape is characterised by disturbances in the circumpolar westerly winds, resulting in a series of eastward moving depressions. These bring cool cloudy weather and rain from the north west. The south westerly winds over the South Atlantic produce the prevailing south-westerly swell typical of the winter months, which beat on the exposed coastline.
Sea conditions
Ecology
The MPA is in the warm temperate Agulhas ecoregion to the east of Cape Point which extends eastwards to the Mbashe River. There are a large proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline.