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Biological significance of harbours as coastal habitats in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Author(s) -
FORBES A. T.,
DEMETRIADES N. T.,
CYRUS D. P.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-0755(199612)6:4<331::aid-aqc198>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - harbour , habitat , dredging , mangrove , estuary , bay , intertidal zone , geography , seawall , fishery , natural (archaeology) , habitat destruction , marine habitats , ecology , environmental protection , oceanography , biology , archaeology , geology , computer science , programming language
1. There has been increasing concern in South Africa in recent years regarding the biological status of estuaries in the region. 2. Loss of estuarine habitat in KwaZulu‐Natal through sedimentation and increasing frequency of mouth closure has to some extent been mitigated by the development of harbours at Richards Bay and Durban which, despite extensive dredging, now support the major areas of sheltered intertidal habitat in the province. 3. Despite physical environmental degradation, recent work has demonstrated the biological significance of the harbours as sheltered marine habitats and nursery areas. This has coincided with increasing levels of environmental awareness amongst the harbour authorities and the declaration of the surviving mangroves of Durban Bay as a Natural Heritage Site. 4. While normal harbour function will remain a priority, environmental impacts associated with engineering developments are becoming a significant factor in the decision making process. ©1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.