Introduction

Mozambique, a country located in Southern Africa, boasts an extensive coastline of approximately 2,470 km along the Indian Ocean. Despite its vastness, much of the coastline remains unexplored, and human activities have put the coastal ecosystem at risk. This article aims to provide an overview of Mozambique’s coastline, from its extension and dynamics to its fish production and projection.

Coastal Extension and Dynamics

Mozambique’s coastline stretches for 2,470 km, influenced by the Agulhas Current, which supports a rich diversity of marine life. The coastline is home to the Primeiras and Segundas Environmental Protection Area (PSEPA), one of the largest marine and coastal reserves in Africa, spanning approximately 260 km. However, the coastline faces challenges such as destructive fishing practices, which devastate marine ecosystems and threaten biodiversity, and climate change, which causes ocean acidification and affects coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.

Marine Diversity

Mozambique’s coastline is known for its rich marine diversity, including over 2,000 species of fish, such as tuna and swordfish, five species of sea turtles, including the green turtle and leatherback turtle and loggerhead turtle, cetaceans, such as whales and dolphins, including humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins, mollusks, such as squid, octopus, and shellfish, crustaceans, such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, and algae, including green, brown, and red algae, Mozambique is one of the strongholds of the dugong, a large marine mammal that grazes on seagrass beds, the country also has whale shark tourism and marine birds, including the African penguin, the white-breasted cormorant, and the reef heron. 

Fish Production and Projection

Mozambique’s fish production has shown significant growth, with a 10.3% increase in the first half of 2024, reaching 240,398 tons, representing 46% of the total objective of 522,671 tons. Artisanal fishing remains the primary source of production, with 225,285 tons, a 9.2% increase compared to the previous year. The province of Zambézia stands out, contributing approximately 25% of the total. The fishing sector is crucial for Mozambique’s economy and food security, providing around 76% of the country’s fish production. However, the main beneficiaries of Mozambique’s fish production are European countries, which import shrimp and fish, and Asian countries, which import mainly fish and seafood.

Conclusion

Mozambique’s coastline presents a remarkable diversity of marine resources, which, if well-explored, could increase the country’s food security and commercial production. However, the challenge of coastal protection remains, and it is essential for the population and government to create a comprehensive coastal protection program and promote sustainable fishing practices that benefit local communities. To achieve this, the government and private sector should invest in fish processing and marketing infrastructure, promote eco-tourism, and support small-scale fishing communities.