Protea Banks Marine Protected Area

Protea Banks Marine Protected Area
Protea Banks Marine Protected Area
	Protea Banks MPA location
Location	KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, South Africa
Nearest city	Shelly Beach, KwaZulu-Natal
Coordinates	30°50.3′S 30°57.1′E
Area	1,200 km2 (460 sq mi)
Established	2004
Governing body	??

The Protea Banks Marine Protected Area is a marine conservation area on the continental shelf edge off the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Seven species of shark are known to aggregate in this area, including hammerheads, ragged-tooth and giant guitarsharks. Several undescribed species of fish, corals and comb jellies have been observed. The Sardine Run occurs in this area and the new MPA is expected to support a tourism economy. Sharks are fully protected throughout the MPA because of their ecotourism value. Three submarine canyons and a spawning area for commercial linefish will be protected[1]

History

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".[2]

Extent

The MPA extends from the Mzimkulu River in the north to the Mpenjati Estuary in the south.[1] The Protea Banks Marine Protected Area in KwaZulu-Natal is an offshore marine protected area in the 20 m to 3000 m depth range. It is adjacent to the much smaller Trafalgar Marine Protected Area. The MPA includes the sea bed, water column and subsoil within the boundaries.[3]

Area of sea protected by the MPA is about 1200 km²[1]

Boundaries

The Protea Banks Marine Protected Area boundaries are:[3]

Northern boundary: S30°30’, E30°42’ to S31°30’, E30°42’
Eastern boundary: S31°30’, E30°42’ to S31°30’, S30°58.672’
Southern boundary: S31°30’, S30°58.672’ to S30°18’, E30°58.672’
Western boundary: S30°18’, E30°58.672’ to S30°19.587’, E30°56.660’ along the eastern boundary of the Trafalgar MPA, to S30°20.233’, E30°56.660’ to S30°30’, E30°42’

Zonation

Restricted areas

Protea offshore restricted zone:[4]

Panhandle northern boundary A S30°56.660′ E30°19.587′ to B S30°56.660′ E30°20.233′ to H S30°56.660′ E30°34.000′
Offshore western boundary H S30°56.660′ E30°34.000′ to G S30°42.000′ E30°34.000′
Offshore northern boundary G S30°42.000′ E30°34.000′ to D S30°42.000′ E31°30.000′
Eastern boundary D S30°42.000′ E31°30.000′ to E S30°58.672′ E31°30.000′
Southern boundary E S30°58.672′ E31°30.000′ to F S30°58.672′ E30°18.512′
Panhandle western boundary F S30°58.672′ E30°18.512′ to A S30°56.660′ E30°19.587′, which is the offshore boundary of the existing Trafalgar Marine Protected Area

Controlled areas

Protea offshore controlled-pelagic zone (the central portion of the Protea Banks Marine Protected Area) is within the boundaries:[4]

Northern boundary: I S30°49.000′ E30°28.000′ to J S30°49.000′ E30°34.000′
Eastern boundary: J S30°49.000′ E30°34.000′ to K S30°55.300′ E30°34.000′
Southern boundary: K S30°55.300′ E30°34.000′ to L S30°55.300′ E30°28.000′
Western boundary: L S30°55.300′ E30°28.000′ to I S30°49.000′ E30°28.000′

Protea offshore controlled zone (the remaining section of the Protea Banks Marine Protected Area) is within the boundaries:[4]

Northern boundary: G S30°42.000′ E30°34.000′ to C S30°42.000′ E30°30.000′
Western boundary: C S30°42.000′ E30°30.000′ to B S30°56.660′ E30°20.233′
Southern boundary: B S30°56.660′ E30°20.233′ to H S30°56.660′ E30°34.000′
Eastern boundary of southern panhandle: H S30°56.660′ E30°34.000′ to K S30°55.300′ E30°34.000′
Northern boundary of southern panhandle: K S30°55.300′ E30°34.000′ to L S30°55.300′ E30°28.000′
Eastern boundary of middle section: L S30°55.300′ E30°28.000′ to I S30°49.000′ E30°28.000′
Southern boundary of northern panhandle: I S30°49.000′ E30°28.000′ to J S30°49.000′ E30°34.000′
Eastern boundary of northern panhandle: J S30°49.000′ E30°34.000′ to G S30°42.000′ E30°34.000′

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, which manage the MPAs with funding from the SA Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).[2]

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for issuing permits, quotas and law enforcement.[5]

Use

Activities requiring a permit

Fishing

List of game and bait fish families that may be caught in the Controlled-Pelagic Zone of the Protea Marine Protected Area. All species in the listed families may be caught.

Pelagic gamefish species:[4]

Carangidae – kingfish, garrick, yellowtail, queenfish, etc.
Coryphaenidae – Dorado/dolphin fish
Istiophoridae – Sailfish and marlin
Pomatomidae – Shad/elf
Rachycentridae – Prodigal son/Cobia
Scombridae – Tunas, mackerels, wahoo, etc.
Sphyraenidae – Barracudas
Xiphiidae – Swordfish/broadbill

Pelagic baitfish species (includes carangids and scombrids as indicated above):[4]

Atherinidae – silversides
Belonidae – garfish
Chirocentridae – wolf herring/slimy
Clupeidae – red-eyes, sardines, etc.
Engraulidae – anchovies, glass-noses/bonies, etc.
Exocoetidae - flyingfishes
Hemiramphidae – halfbeaks
Scomberesocidae - sauries

Scuba diving

Named dive sites

Prohibited activities

Geography

Ecology

Marine bioregions of the South African Exclusive Economic Zone: Protea Banks Marine Protected Area is in the Natal bioregion.

(describe position, biodiversity and endemism of the region) The MPA is in the warm temperate Natal inshore marine bioregion to the east of the Mbashe River which extends northeastwards to Cape Vidal. There are a moderate proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline.[6]

Three major habitats exist in the sea in this region, distinguished by the nature of the substrate. The substrate, or base material, is important in that it provides a base to which an organism can anchor itself, which is vitally important for those organisms which need to stay in one particular kind of place. Rocky shores and reefs provide a firm fixed substrate for the attachment of plants and animals. Sandy beaches and bottoms are a relatively unstable substrate and cannot anchor many of the benthic organisms. Finally there is open water, above the substrate and clear of the benthos, where the organisms must drift or swim. Mixed habitats are also frequently found, which are a combination of those mentioned above.[7] There are no significant estuarine habitats in the MPA.

Rocky shores and reefs There are rocky reefs and mixed rocky and sandy bottoms. For many marine organisms the substrate is another type of marine organism, and it is common for several layers to co-exist. Examples of this are red bait pods, which are usually encrusted with sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, anemones, and gastropods, and abalone, which are usually covered by similar seaweeds to those found on the surrounding rocks, usually with a variety of other organisms living on the seaweeds.[7]^:Ch.2

The type of rock of the reef is of some importance, as it influences the range of possibilities for the local topography, which in turn influences the range of habitats provided, and therefore the diversity of inhabitants. Sandstone and other sedimentary rocks erode and weather very differently, and depending on the direction of dip and strike, and steepness of the dip, may produce reefs which are relatively flat to very high profile and full of small crevices. These features may be at varying angles to the shoreline and wave fronts. There are fewer large holes, tunnels and crevices in sandstone reefs, but often many deep but low near-horizontal crevices.

Sedimentary bottoms (including silt, mud, sand, shelly, pebble and gravel bottoms) Sedimentary bottoms at first glance appear to be fairly barren areas, as they lack the stability to support many of the spectacular reef based species, and the variety of large organisms is relatively low. The sediment is continually being moved around by currents and wave action, to a greater or lesser degree depending on weather conditions and exposure of the area. This means that sessile organisms must be specifically adapted to areas of relatively loose substrate to thrive in them, and the variety of species found on an unconsolidated sedimentary bottom will depend on all these factors. Sedimentary bottoms have one important compensation for their instability, animals can burrow into the sand and move up and down within its layers, which can provide feeding opportunities and protection from predation. Other species can dig themselves holes in which to shelter, or may feed by filtering water drawn through the tunnel, or by extending body parts adapted to this function into the water above the sand.[7]^:Ch.3

The open sea

Marine species diversity

Animals

Seaweeds

Endemism

The MPA is in the warm temperate Natal inshore marine bioregion to the east of the Mbashe River which extends northeastwards to Cape Vidal. There are a moderate proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline.[6]

Alien invasive species

Threats

Slipways and harbours in the MPA

gollark: But how will we find ocelots to enslave for the carpeted capacitors powering GTech's data centres?!

gollark: * config

gollark: Clearly the lizards in power don't want you to see the sponge conifg.

gollark: Last year it was quite frequently 10 or so.

gollark: AlexDevs, this is discrimination against gollarks!

References

"Protea Banks MPA". www.marineprotectedareas.org.za. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
"Marine Protected Areas". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
"R128 Draft Notice Declaring the Protea Banks Marine Protected Area under Section 22A of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003)" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. Pretoria: Government Printer. 608 (39646). 3 February 2016.
"R100 Draft Regulations for the management of the Protea Banks Marine Protected Area" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. Pretoria: Government Printer. 608 (39646). 3 February 2016.
"Marine Protected Area". Retrieved 26 May 2018.
Sink, K.; Harris, J.; Lombard, A. (October 2004). Appendix 1. South African marine bioregions (PDF). South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Technical Report Vol. 4 Marine Component DRAFT (Report). pp. 97–109.
Branch, G.M.; Branch, M.L. (1985). The Living Shores of Southern Africa (3rd impression ed.). Cape Town: C. Struik. ISBN 0 86977 115 9.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[Protea_Banks-1] "Protea Banks MPA". www.marineprotectedareas.org.za. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

[WWF-2] "Marine Protected Areas". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 24 May 2018.

[Gazette_39646_PB2-3] "R128 Draft Notice Declaring the Protea Banks Marine Protected Area under Section 22A of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003)" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. Pretoria: Government Printer. 608 (39646). 3 February 2016.

[Gazette_39646_PB-4] "R100 Draft Regulations for the management of the Protea Banks Marine Protected Area" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. Pretoria: Government Printer. 608 (39646). 3 February 2016.

[SANParks-5] "Marine Protected Area". Retrieved 26 May 2018.

[Sink_et_al_2004-6] Sink, K.; Harris, J.; Lombard, A. (October 2004). Appendix 1. South African marine bioregions (PDF). South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Technical Report Vol. 4 Marine Component DRAFT (Report). pp. 97–109.

[Branch_1985-7] Branch, G.M.; Branch, M.L. (1985). The Living Shores of Southern Africa (3rd impression ed.). Cape Town: C. Struik. ISBN 0 86977 115 9.

Marine protected areas of South Africa
Coastal MPAs	Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area Betty's Bay Marine Protected Area Bird Island Marine Protected Area De Hoop Marine Protected Area Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area Goukamma Marine Protected Area Helderberg Marine Protected Area Hluleka Marine Protected Area iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area Jutten Island Marine Protected Area Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area Malgas Island Marine Protected Area Marcus Island Marine Protected Area Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area Pondoland Marine Protected Area Robben Island Marine Protected Area Robberg Marine Protected Area Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area Sixteen Mile Beach Marine Protected Area Stilbaai Marine Protected Area Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area Trafalgar Marine Protected Area Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary
Offshore MPAs	Agulhas Bank Complex Marine Protected Area Agulhas Front Marine Protected Area Agulhas Muds Marine Protected Area Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area Benguela Bank Marine Protected Area Benguela Muds Marine Protected Area Browns Bank Complex Marine Protected Area Browns Bank Corals Marine Protected Area Cape Canyon Marine Protected Area Childs Bank Marine Protected Area iSimangaliso Offshore Marine Protected Area Namaqua Fossil Forest Marine Protected Area Orange Shelf Edge Marine Protected Area Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area Protea Banks Marine Protected Area Southeast Atlantic Seamounts Marine Protected Area Southwest Indian Seamounts Marine Protected Area Port Elizabeth Corals Marine Protected Area uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area
Management organisations	CapeNature City of Cape Town Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Department of Environmental Affairs Department of Science and Technology Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality South African National Parks
Research organisations	Council for Geoscience iNaturalist Iziko South African Museum National Research Foundation Nelson Mandela University Oceanographic Research Institute Rhodes University South African Association for Marine Biological Research South African Environmental Observation Network South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity South African National Biodiversity Institute University of KwaZulu-Natal University of Cape Town
Key people	Kerry Sink
MPA species lists	List of marine animals of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay List of seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
Related	African Coelacanth Ecosystem Program Biodiversity of South Africa Marine biodiversity of South Africa Environmental impact of recreational diving Low impact diving International Union for Conservation of Nature Marine ecoregions of the South African exclusive economic zone Marine protected area Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998 National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004 National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 24 of 2008 National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003 Protected areas of South Africa Scuba diving tourism SeaKeys World Wide Fund for Nature
Categories: Marine protected areas of South Africa Commons Index Outline

Marine biodiversity of South Africa
National species lists	List of comb jellies of South Africa List of echinoderms of South Africa List of marine and coastal birds of South Africa List of marine bristleworms of South Africa List of marine bryozoans of South Africa List of marine cnidarians of South Africa List of marine crustaceans of South Africa List of sea spiders of South Africa List of marine fishes of South Africa List of marine bony fishes of South Africa List of marine spiny-finned fishes of South Africa List of marine Perciform fishes of South Africa List of marine fishes of the suborder Percoidei of South Africa List of marine flatworms of South Africa List of marine mammals of South Africa List of marine molluscs of South Africa List of marine gastropods of South Africa List of marine heterobranch gastropods of South Africa List of marine reptiles of South Africa List of seaweeds of South Africa List of red seaweeds of South Africa List of sponges of South Africa
Regional and MPA species lists	List of marine animals of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay List of seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
Research	National Biodiversity Assessment Reef Atlas Project SeaKeys South African Environmental Observation Network South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity South African National Biodiversity Institute
Citizen science databases	iNaturalist iSpot FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology Virtual Museum
Researchers	Kerry Sink
Taxonomists	Robert Anderson J. L. Barnard K. H. Barnard John J. Bolton George M. Branch Jennifer Day (biologist) Wayne Florence Terrence Gosliner Charles L. Griffiths P. Heemstra Brian Kensley N. A. H. Millard H. Milne-Edwards T. Samaai J. L. B. Smith H. Stegenga
Related	African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme Marine ecoregions of the South African exclusive economic zone Marine protected areas of South Africa South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity South African National Biodiversity Institute South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative
Categories: Marine biodiversity of South Africa Commons