The Pondoland Marine Protected Area is an inshore conservation region in the territorial waters of South Africa.
History
The MPA was proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, in Government Gazette No. 26431 of 4 June 2004 in terms Section 43 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998.
The MPA is named for the local Pondo people, and provides protection for threatened line fish.
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 MPA is adjacent to the Mkhambathi Nature Reserve on the part of the South African east coast known as the "Wild Coast" – south of Port Edward and north of Port St Johns. It is approximately 90 km long with about 1380 km2 of protected ocean, and lies between the Mzamba River in the north and the Umzimvubu River in the south, extending 10 km out to sea. The central restricted zone is about 40 km long with an area of about 643 km2.
Boundaries
The MPA includes the water column, the seabed, and the air-space to an altitude of 1000 m above sea level in the area bounded by: Western boundary: The high water mark between S31°06.6′, E030°10.5′ at the southern head of the Mzamba River, and S31°37.4′, E029°33.2′ at the northern head of the Mzimvubu River, including the banks of the tidal portions of the Mnyameni, Sikombe, Mtentu, Msikaba, Mkweni, Mboyti, Mzintlava, Mntafufu and Nkodusweni Rivers Northern boundary: A line bearing 128° from S31°06.8′, E030°10.5′ at the southern head of the Mzamba River, to S31°11.2′, E030°17.4′ at the 1000 m depth contour. Southern boundary: A line bearing 128° from S31°37.4′, E029°33.2′ at the northern head of the Mzimvubu River, to S31°41.7′ E029°39.8′ at the 1000 m depth contour, and Eastern boundary: A line approximating the 1000 m isobath, from S31°11.2′, E030°17.4′ to S31°15.3°, E030°13.7′ to S31°19.4′, E030°10.4′ to S31°22.9′, E030°06.1′ to S31°26.4′, E030°02.1′ to S31°30.65, E029°57.5′ to S31°34.7′, E029°54.5′ to S31°37.5′, E029°50.1′ to S31°40.7′, E029°45.6′ to S31°41.7′, E029°39.8′
Zonation
The MPA has several restricted (No take) and controlled zones in the offshore, inshore and estuarine areas.
Restricted areas
There are one offshore restricted zone, four inshore restricted zones, and two estuarine restricted zones.
The first offshore controlled zone is the part of the MPA to the north-east of a line bearing 128° from S31°13.2′, E030°04.1′ at the southern head of the Sikombe River. to S31°18.2′, E030°11.6′ at the 1000 m depth contour, excluding estuaries and the inter-tidal zone.
The second offshore controlled zone is the part of the MPA to the south-west of a line bearing 128° from S31°27.95′, E029°44.1′ at the northern head of the Mboyti River, to S31°34.7′, E029°54.5′ at the 1000 m depth contour, excluding estuaries and the inter-tidal zone.
Inshore restricted zone 1 is between the high-water mark and the 10 m depth contour from S31°10.3′, 030°07.5′ to S31°12.5′, E030°05.2′ at Red Hill, excluding estuaries.
Inshore restricted zone 2 is between the high-water mark and the 10 m depth contour from S31°14.8′, 030°02.9′ at the Mtentu River mouth to S31°16.8′, E030°01.2′ at Mgwegwe North, excluding estuaries.
Inshore restricted zone 3 is between the high-water mark and the 10 m depth contour from S31°17.6′, 030°00.6′ at Mgwegwe South to S31°19.3′, E029°58.0′ at the Msikaba River mouth, excluding estuaries.
Inshore restricted zone 4 is between the high-water mark and the 10 m depth contour from S31°25.4′, 029°51.2′ at the Lupatama River mouth to S31°27.0′, E029°45.3′ at the Mkozi river mouth, excluding estuaries.
The tidal parts of the Msikaba and Mtentu Rivers are estuarine restricted zones.
Controlled areas
There are two offshore controlled zones, five inshore controlled zones, and seven estuarine controlled zones.
The offshore restricted zone is the part of the MPA to the south-west of a line bearing 128° from S31°13.2′, E030°04.1′ at the southern head of the Sikombe River to S31°18.2′, E030°11.6′ at the 1000 m depth contour, and to the north-east of a line bearing 128° from S31°27.9′, E029°44.1′ at the northern head of the Mboyti River to S31°34.75′, E029°54.5′ at the 1000 m depth contour, excluding estuaries and the inter-tidal zone.