Management

uMhlanga lagoon is 26 ha in extent linked to a fresh water vegetated wetland which is both spring and stormwater fed.

The reserve was established to conserve and maintain the land, lagoon and its natural systems. The majority of the reserve is well forested with both dune and coastal forests, providing suitable habitat for blue and red duikers, bushbuck and bushpigs and a magnificent variety of forest birds.

Beachwood Nature Reserve is 50 ha in extent falling in the Greater Durban Area (Ethikwini Municipality) located on the northern bank of the Umgeni River, between the M 4 highway and the coast.

The reserve is dominated by white and black mangroves and various salt tolerant species of grasses, reeds and rushes. There is a extensive board walk system through the mangroves, which allows for a large number of educational tours and walks.

Mpenjati is 82 ha in extent, and encompasses the mouth of the Mpenjati River and adjacent north and south banks.

The area is mainly dominated by coastal grassland and wetlands, while the remainder of the area is made up of coastal dune and forest as well as palm veld. The Reserve is one of the few extensive protected wetland areas on the southern coast.

uMlalazi is 1200 hectares and mainly dominated by beaches and dunes, which are a major physical feature of the reserve reaching a approximate height of 30m on the shore edge.

Several ecosystem types namely tidal marsh, flood plain, reed, mangrove forest ,acacia thicket and esturine which encompasses the remainder of the reserve, which provides excellent habitat for a diverse range of plant, fish and animal life.

Amatikulu Nature Reserve measures 2100.3 ha located on the southern bank of the Amatikulu river. The reserve is bordered by a unbroken strip of sandy beaches and coastal dunes which are transformed into a series of undulating sandy hills as one moves further into the reserve.

The reserve is dominated by grasslands, bush thickets, riverine and swamp forests which supports a diverse mammal, amphibian and reptile population.

The Richards Bay Sanctuary developed through the creation of a berm in 1975 to divide the Richards Bay Harbour and protect the natural sanctuary area on the southern side. The sanctuary is 1200 ha in extent and situated on the Mhlatuze river and encoporates the Mhlatuzie estuary which is relatively unspoilt and unpolluted, with area large communities of white, black and red mangroves and swamp forests.

The estuary remains one of the most important estuarine habitats along the Zululand coast. Although not nearly the size of St Lucia to the north, it is no less dynamic or important as a nursery area for fish, crustaceans and other marine/aquatic organisms, with large Zostera beds.

Maphelane Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1978 to protect the Coastal and swamp forest from uncontrolled utilization. The reserve is 9600 Ha in extent and lies on the southern bank of the St Lucia Estuary mouth which forms the southern boundary of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.

The reserve is boarded on the eastern side by sandy beaches and coastal dunes, the area is dominated by coastal and swamp forests and provides ideal habitat for a large population of red duiker and bushbuck, the beaches between the mouth of the Umfolozi and Cape St Lucia light house are nesting areas for both the logger and leather back turtles.

14 years ago the USA based Centre for Marine Conservation initiated the International Coastal Cleanup, it started small and has grown to such an extent that in 2004 there were a 100 countries participating equating to 500 000 volunteers, and combined they removed 8.2 million tones of human generated trash from 35 000 kms of coastline.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife joined the International Coastal Cleanup for the first time in 1996. This was regarded as a pilot project, with 460 people removing 9 tones of litter from 33 kms of beach and included 5 divers who collected 7 kgs of litter from our reefs. This programme has grown dramatically from year to year and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife now cater on an annual basis for 10 000 volunteers

The International Coastal Cleanup has become one of the largest volunteer efforts on behalf of the marine environment in this Province. This year 8 855 dedicated volunteers participated and our marine environment is cleaner by having 26 031 kgs of litter removed from our beaches, reefs, estuaries, streams, rivers and catchments.

This is an annual event that is co ordinated and facilitated by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife staff and Honorary Officers and is focused on cleaning the Durban Bay as well as raising awareness about the effects of pollution on the marine environment. This year 1776 enthusiastic learners participated from 41 schools in the Greater Durban area and combined they collected 1925 bags of rubbish, which was estimated at 10 tonnes.

This is a two year programme funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The programme budget is R 14.2 million, which is focused on coastal management, with the majority of the activities being :

• Beach cleaning

• Maintenance

• Alien plant control and monitoring.

This project is part of the “National Alternative Livelihoods” programme and provides employment for over 551 community members during the year, in the area between Mozambique in the north, to Ballito in the south. One of the main priorities of this programme is to provide capacity building so that permanent employment can be obtained in the future. ( Pictures needed )

The World Wildlife Green Trust Fund provides a budget of R 187 000 which enables Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to monitor and record nesting populations of loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles along the 56 kilometers of beach, north and south of Bhanga Nek. 16 local community members have been trained as monitors and are employed over the nesting period (October – March) to gather this valuable data. Over the 2006/2007 monitoring period 2672 loggerhead and 353 leatherback turtles were recorded as having nested.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s marine division has a dedicated and highly trained group of 283 honorary officers (Volunteers) comprising 14 committees, that are stationed along our 620Km’s of coastline. Our Honorary Officers supplement and support KZN Wildlife staff in carrying out their management goals and objectives and play a vital role in developing and implementing awareness programmes, aimed at promoting an understanding of the marine environment.

• Fishcare Awareness Programme (Distribution of awareness materials)
• Attending shows & Expos
• Adopt a Beach
• Beachwood Mangroves Open Day
• Marine Permit Audit
• International Beach Cleanup
• Educational Presentations & field visits
• Alien plant eradication
• Game counts

The youth development programme was initiated in 2004 in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and was aimed at exposing the youth of the surrounding communities to the marine environment. Through a structured mentorship programme linked to the St Lucia Honorary officer groups, the children were exposed to basic marine protected area management, marine ecology, awareness and monitoring programmes.

This programme is run entirely through sponsorship and at present R 200 000 has been raised which provides T shirts, transport and catering costs for the youth participating in these programmes. The response from the children has been excellent and at present approximately 85 youth are actively involved.

This programme is now being implemented by the Durban and Ballito staff and honorary officer groups and the aim is for the remainder of the 14 honorary officer committees along our 620Km’s of coastline to all have youth development programmes in place.

It is through this programme that the coastal section hopes to:

• Actively introduce youth to the marine environment through practical hands on awareness programmes.
• To encourage youth to become marine conservation ambassadors within their communities.
• To develop a strong pool of marine conservationists who have a sound knowledge and interest in marine biodiversity management. Who could be recruited into the honorary officer movement and or consider career options within this field.
• To act as facilitators and coordinators in seeking sponsorship and or funding for youth to study in the field of conservation or natural science fields.

The Subsistence Fisheries Programme is being managed and implemented on a National basis by Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) and funded by the Norwegien Government. This programme is managed through a dedicated Subsistence Fisheries Management Unit (SFMU), which controls issues of a National concern and supports and co ordinates the activities of Provincial and Local structures.

Within Kwa Zulu Natal the implementation and management of the Subsistence Fisheries Programme has been devolved to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife who work very closely with and are supported by the National Subsistence Fisheries Management Unit.

Management In Kwa Zulu Natal

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife formed a Subsistence Fisheries Unit in 2001 To implement the Subsistence Fisheries Programme within Kwa Zulu Natal. This is a dedicated full time unit based at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s regional offices in Durban, comprising: 1 x manager; 1 x administration coordinator; 1 x data capture clerk and 4 x field extension officers.

• Development of a multi-tiered management structure for subsistence fisheries in KZN.

• A provincial Subsistence Fisheries Management Committee chaired by a senior EKZNW official and on which the national agency MCM is represented. This acts to steer and manage the process in KZN and guides the activities of the SFIU. It has regional representation from EKZNW.

• The development of a KZN Subsistence Fisheries Management Implementation Plan. This details actions, management decisions, roles and role-players for the establishment of local co-management structures

• Communication and consultation with all subsistence fishing communities to inform fishers of the new legislation and initiate the process of involving fishers in co-management.

• Identification of communities with subsistence and small-scale commercial fishers, using the SFTG definitions. There are 19 qualifying communities along the KZN coast.

• A total of 43 Local Subsistence Co-management Committees (LSCC’s) have now been established for the different resource user groups in the majority of these fishing communities.

• Training of management staff, extension staff, community monitors, and LSCC’s. This covered co-management principles, legislative frameworks, sustainable fisheries and facilitation skills, as appropriate for the different role-players.

• Fishery Management Plans have been completed and approved by Marine & Coastal Management for 5 subsistence and 2 small-scale fisheries. Draft Plans have been prepared for the remaining 2 fisheries.

• Establishment of a Subsistence Fisheries Monitoring Programme. Community monitors have been trained to record off-take and utilisation patterns, and assist with stock surveys. Presently there are 38 community monitors and 4 supervisors employed.

• An integrated database has been designed for the capture of the catch data being collected by the monitors. A Data Technician has been employed to capture and assist in basic analysis of data collected from the community monitors and stock surveys. The Data Technician has undergone computer training.

• The permit application process has been developed and implemented in 10 of the subsistence fisheries so far.

The marine division has formed a dedicated and highly trained dive team, comprising 12 commercial class 3 & 4 divers and 3 zulu speaking tranees divers. These staff members are stationed along our 620Km’s of coastline and over and above their normal management functions, they play a vital role in the offshore compliance, awareness and monitoring programmes within and outside our marine protected areas, these being:

• Enforcement of the Marine Living Resources Act.

• Promtion of voluntary compliance and awareness in the diving industry.

• Monitoring and data collection.