Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area

Marine conservation area on the south coast of South Africa
Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area is located in South Africa
Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area
Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (South Africa)

The Tstsikamma Marine Protected Area is a marine protected area on the south coast of South Africa, in both the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. It is on the coast of the Tsitsikamma National Park, and is one of the oldest MPAs in the country. The MPA provides protection for marine habitat and wildlife, including birds and threatened and endangered fish species. [1]

The MPA is in near pristine condition, and is a suitable area for research on endangered fish species. It was designated as a Marine Protected Area in 1964.[1] The length of the protected shoreline is 60 km, and the area of protected ocean is 186 km2.[1]

The MPA is managed by SANParks.[1]

History

The MPA was proclaimed by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohammed Valli Moosa, in Government Gazette No. 21948 of 29 December 2000 in terms section 43 of the Marine Natural Resources Act, 18 of 1998.[2]

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".[3]

Extent

The length of the protected shoreline is 60 km, and the area of protected ocean is 186 km2.[1]

Zonation

The entire MPA is zoned as a restricted (no-take) area.[1]

Boundaries

  • Northern boundary is the high-water mark between Die Punt, Nature's Valley, at S33°59.0' E023°34.561' (west), and the right bank of the Grootrivier at S34°03.6', E024°11.665, (east)
  • Eastern boundary is a line from the right bank of the Grootrivier at S34°03.6', E024°11.665, running due south to a point three nautical miles offshore at S34°06.6', E024°11.665
  • Southern boundary is a straight line from S34°06.6', E024°11.665, approximately parallel to the shore, to a point three nautical miles from the high-water mark at S34°01.817', E023°38.857E measured along a line running due south from the right bank of the mouth of the Bloukrans River, and then due north to a point 0.5 nautical miles from the high-water mark at S33°59.317', E023°38.857', and then along a straight line roughly parallel to the shoreline to a point at S33°59.5', E023°34.561' due south of Die Punt, Nature's Valley.
  • The western boundary is a line from the high-water mark at Die Punt, Natures Valley, at S33°59.0' E023°34.561' due south to a point about 0.5 nautical miles offshore at S33°59.5', E023°34.561' The northern boundary of the MPA is the southern boundary of the Tsitsikamma National Park[2]

Restricted areas

The whole MPA is a restricted zone.[3]

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, in this case, South African National Parks (SANParks), which manages the MPA with funding from the SA Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).[3][4]

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

Use

Activities requiring a permit

Scuba diving

A permit is required to scuba dive in any MPA in South Africa. These permits are valid for a year and are available at some branches of the Post Office.[6] Temporary permits, valid for a month, may be available at dive shops or from dive boat operators who operate in an MPA. A personal recreational scuba diving permit is valid in all South African MPAs where recreational diving is allowed. The business permit to operate recreational scuba business operations in an MPA is restricted to a specific MPA. Diving for commercial or scientific purposes is also subject to permit. There is an office at the Storms River mouth slipway where dives can be organised.

Named dive sites
View of the dive site at Storms River Mouth from across the river. The slipway and restaurant are visible slightly left of centre, where the road ends.

The MPA has several rocky reef recreational dive sites which have been identified by position and named. Some of them are listed here:[7]

  • Storm's River Mouth, 34°01.355′S 23°53.928′E / 34.022583°S 23.898800°E / -34.022583; 23.898800
  • The Knoll, just off the cliffs east of the Storms River mouth
  • Rheeders' Reef, 34°01′44″S 23°55′42″E / 34.02901°S 23.92825°E / -34.02901; 23.92825
  • Middle Bank, offshore from Storms River mouth

Prohibited activities

Geography

General topography

The coastline is fairly straight, and is generally very steep from a relatively flat coastal region between the inland mountains and the sea. Much of the shoreline can best be described as cliffs. The Storms River gorge is roughly perpendicular to the coastline, and very narrow — the sides are approximately vertical. A boat trip or hike up the gorge will show a section through the coastal formations.

Geology

The rock formations are heavily folded sandstones and shales of the Table Mountain series. The coastline formation to the west of the river mouth is the Silurian Tchando formation, which is typically fine to coarse grained brown sandstone and shale, and inland and across the river to the east, mostly Ordovician Peninsula sandstone. Offshore formations may include Devonian Gydo shales and siltstones. Folding is roughly parallel to the coastline, and dip is frequently near vertical, even overfolded in places. Resistance to weathering is also very variable, with some extremely resistant quartzitic sandstone, and some very friable shales. As a result, there are areas with distinct ridges, often roughly parallel to the shoreline.

Hydrography

Bathymetry

Climate of the southern Cape

Seasonal variations in sea conditions

Ecology

Marine bioregions of the South African Exclusive Economic Zone: The Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area is in the Agulhas bioregion.

The MPA is in the warm temperate Agulhas inshore marine bioregion to the east of Cape Point which extends eastwards to the Mbashe River. The Mbashe River was chosen as the most appropriate boundary between the subtropical Natal province to the north, and the warm temperate Agulhas region to the south, but change is gradual between these regions. Upwelling on the south coast of South Africa is largely driven by the Agulhas current and the continental shelf. This form of upwelling forces cold deep water up onto the continental shelf, but not necessarily above the thermocline. In the region east of the Agulhas bank, wind enhanced upwelling, occurring mainly in summer, augments the current driven upwelling bringing the colder deeper waters to the surface. This enhances biological productivity by supply of nutrients to the euphotic zone (where plants have sufficient light to flourish) which fuels phytoplankton production, and rocky shores that are supplied with the nutrient rich water support rich algal biomass. There are a large proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline.[8][9]

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 kelp or many of the other benthic organisms. Finally there is open water, above the substrate and clear of the kelp forest, where the organisms must drift or swim. Mixed habitats are also frequently found, which are a combination of those mentioned above.[10] 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.[10]: 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.

Sandy beaches and bottoms (including shelly, pebble and gravel bottoms) Sandy 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 sand is continually being moved around by 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 a sandy or gravel bottom will depend on all these factors. Sandy 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.[10]: Ch.3 

The open sea


Marine species diversity

Animals

Myxinidae

  • Eptatretus hexatrema, (Müller, 1836), sixgill hagfish[11]

Hexanchidae

  • Notorynchus cepedianus, (Péron, 1807), broadnose sevengill shark[11]

Squalidae

  • Squalus megalops, (W. J. Macleay, 1881), bluntnose spiny dogfish[11]

Rhincodontidae

Carcharhinidae

Scylioshinidae

Sphrynidae

Lamnidae

Odontaspididae

Pristidae

Torpedinidae

Rhinobatidae

Mylobatidae

Mobulidae

  • Mobula birostris, (Walbaum, 1792), recorded as syn,Manta birostris, (Walbaum, 1792), manta ray[11]
  • Mobula mobular, (Bonnaterre, 1788) recorded as syn. Mobula diabolus, (Shaw, 1804), devil ray[11]

Dasyatidae

Eliopidae

Anguillidae

Congridae

Ophichthidae

Clupeidae

Engraulidae

Gonorhynchidae

Aritidae

Plotosidae

Stomidae

Synodontidae

Myctophidae

Gadidae

Merlucciidae

Moridae

Bregmacerotidae

Ophidiidae

Bythitidae

Batrachoididae

  • Batrichthys apiatus, snakehead toadfish (endemic)[11]
  • Chatrabus hendersoni, chocolate toadfish (endemic)[11]
  • Chatrabus melanurus, humpback toadfish (endemic)[11]

Lophiidae

  • Lophius upsicephalus, monk (endemic)[11]

Gobiesocidae

Atherinidae

Notocheiridae

Hemiramphidae

Belonidae

Berycidae

Zeidae

Syngnathidae

Macroramphosidae

Tetrarogidae

Congiopodidae

Platycephalidae

Triglidae

Kuhliidae

Serranidae

Teraponidae

Scombropidae

Pomatomidae

Haemulidae

Sparidae

Centracanthidae

Dichistidae

Parascorpididae

Scorpididae

Monodactylidae

Mullidae

  • Parupeneus rubescens, (Lacepède, 1801), blacksaddle goatfish[11]

Sciaenidae

Pomacanthidae

Chaetodontidae

Oplegnathidae

Carangidae

Coryphaenidae

Cheilodactylidae

Pomacentridae

Labridae

  • Coris caudimaucula, spottail coris[11]
  • Labriodes dimidiatus, blue streak cleaner wrasse[11]

Mugilidae

Sphyraenidae

Congrogadidae

Champsodontidae

Bleniidae

Trypterygiidae

Clinidae

Ammodytidae

Callionymidae

Gobiidae

Zanclidae

Gempylidae

Trichiuridae

Scombridae

Stromatidae

Bothidae

Cynoglossidae

Soleidae

Monacanthidae

Ostraciidae

Tetraodontidae

Diodontidae

Molidae

Seaweeds

Endemism

The MPA is in the warm temperate Agulhas inshore marine bioregion to the east of Cape Point which extends eastwards to the Mbashe River. There are a large proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline.[8][9]

Alien invasive species

Threats

Slipways and harbours in the MPA

There is a small concrete slipway at the Storm's River Mouth, which is moderately protected from swell. The Storms River mouth is navigable for small craft for some distance, and there are places where a boat can moor in the gorge that are accessible by footpath from the mouth.

See also

Map
Marine protected areas of South Africa[12][13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Tsitsikama". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b Declaration of areas as Marine Protected Areas: Government Notice R1429 in Government Gazette 21948 (PDF). 29 December 2000. Retrieved 19 January 2019 – via Centre for Environmental Rights.
  3. ^ a b c "Marine Protected Areas". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Tsitsikama". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Marine Protected Area". Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Government Notice 695: Marine Living Resources Act (18/1998): Notice declaring the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area under section 43" (PDF). Government Gazette: 3–9. 4 June 2004.
  7. ^ "Standard positions for SeaKeys dive sites: Dive sites of the Cape Town region". iNaturalist.org. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  8. ^ a b Jones, Georgina (2008). A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. Cape Town: SURG. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9.
  9. ^ a b 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.
  10. ^ a b c 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.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi gj gk gl gm gn go gp gq gr gs gt gu gv gw gx gy gz ha hb hc hd he hf hg hh hi hj hk hl hm hn ho hp hq hr hs ht hu "Appendix 6 - Species list: Fish" (PDF). www.sanparks.org. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  12. ^ "MPA Declarations" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 42478. 647 (10177). Pretoria: Government Printer. 23 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Protected Areas Register". dffeportal.environment.gov.za. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
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  • Western Maputaland Sandy Bushveld
  • Western Sandy Bushveld
  • Zeerust Thornveld
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Grassland
  • Aliwal North Dry Grassland
  • Amathole Mistbelt Grassland
  • Amathole Montane Grassland
  • Amersfoort Highveld Clay Grassland
  • Barberton Montane Grassland
  • Basotho Montane Shrubland
  • Bedford Dry Grassland
  • Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland
  • Bloemfontein Dry Grassland
  • Bloemfontein Karroid Shrubland
  • Carletonville Dolomite Grassland
  • Central Free State Grassland
  • Drakensberg Afroalpine Heathland
  • Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland
  • Drakensberg-Amathole Afromontane Fynbos
  • East Griqualand Grassland
  • Eastern Free State Clay Grassland
  • Eastern Free State Sandy Grassland
  • Eastern Highveld Grassland
  • Egoli Granite Grassland
  • Frankfort Highveld Grassland
  • Income Sandy Grassland
  • Ithala Quartzite Sourveld
  • KaNgwane Montane Grassland
  • Karoo Escarpment Grassland
  • Klerksdorp Thornveld
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  • Leolo Summit Sourveld
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  • Lydenburg Montane Grassland
  • Lydenburg Thornveld
  • Mabela Sandy Grassland
  • Midlands Mistbelt Grassland
  • Mooi River Highland Grassland
  • Mthatha Moist Grassland
  • Northern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
  • Northern Escarpment Afromontane Fynbos
  • Northern Escarpment Dolomite Grassland
  • Northern Escarpment Quartzite Sourveld
  • Northern Free State Shrubland
  • Northern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland
  • Northern KwaZulu-Natal Shrubland
  • Northern Zululand Mistbelt Grassland
  • Paulpietersburg Moist Grassland
  • Queenstown Thornveld
  • Rand Highveld Grassland
  • Sekhukhune Montane Grassland
  • Senqu Montane Shrubland
  • Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
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  • Soutpansberg Summit Sourveld
  • Soweto Highveld Grassland
  • Steenkampsberg Montane Grassland
  • Stormberg Plateau Grassland
  • Strydpoort Summit Sourveld
  • Tarkastad Montane Shrubland
  • Tsakane Clay Grassland
  • Tsomo Grassland
  • uKhahlamba Basalt Grassland
  • Vaal Reefs Dolomite Sinkhole Woodland
  • Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland
  • Vredefort Dome Granite Grassland
  • Wakkerstroom Montane Grassland
  • Waterberg-Magaliesberg Summit Sourveld
  • Western Free State Clay Grassland
  • Western Highveld Sandy Grassland
  • Western Lesotho Basalt Shrubland
  • Winburg Grassy Shrubland
  • Wolkberg Dolomite Grassland
  • Woodbush Granite Grassland
  • Xhariep Karroid Grassland
  • Zastron Moist Grassland
Fynbos
  • Agulhas Limestone Fynbos
  • Agulhas Sand Fynbos
  • Albertinia Sand Fynbos
  • Algoa Sandstone Fynbos
  • Atlantis Sand Fynbos
  • Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos
  • Boland Granite Fynbos
  • Breede Alluvium Fynbos
  • Breede Quartzite Fynbos
  • Breede Sand Fynbos
  • Breede Shale Fynbos
  • Canca Limestone Fynbos
  • Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
  • Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos
  • Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Central Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
  • Central Inland Shale Band Vegetation
  • De Hoop Limestone Fynbos
  • Eastern Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
  • Eastern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
  • Elgin Shale Fynbos
  • Elim Ferricrete Fynbos
  • Garden Route Granite Fynbos
  • Garden Route Shale Fynbos
  • Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos
  • Greyton Shale Fynbos
  • Grootrivier Quartzite Fynbos
  • Hangklip Sand Fynbos
  • Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos
  • Hopefield Sand Fynbos
  • Kamiesberg Granite Fynbos
  • Kango Conglomerate Fynbos
  • Knysna Sand Fynbos
  • Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos
  • Kouebokkeveld Shale Fynbos
  • Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos
  • Kouga Sandstone Fynbos
  • Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos
  • Loerie Conglomerate Fynbos
  • Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos
  • Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos
  • Matjiesfontein Shale Fynbos
  • Montagu Shale Fynbos
  • Namaqualand Sand Fynbos
  • North Hex Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
  • North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Northern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
  • Olifants Sandstone Fynbos
  • Overberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Peninsula Granite Fynbos
  • Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
  • Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos
  • Potberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Robertson Granite Fynbos
  • South Hex Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
  • South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
  • Southern Cape Dune Fynbos
  • Stinkfonteinberge Quartzite Fynbos
  • Suurberg Quartzite Fynbos
  • Suurberg Shale Fynbos
  • Swartberg Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
  • Swartberg Shale Fynbos
  • Swartland Alluvium Fynbos
  • Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos
  • Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos
  • Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos
  • Western Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
  • Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
  • Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos
Renosterveld
  • Baviaanskloof Shale Renosterveld
  • Breede Alluvium Renosterveld
  • Breede Shale Renosterveld
  • Central Mountain Shale Renosterveld
  • Central Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
  • Ceres Shale Renosterveld
  • Eastern Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
  • Hantam Plateau Dolerite Renosterveld
  • Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld
  • Kango Limestone Renosterveld
  • Langkloof Shale Renosterveld
  • Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld
  • Montagu Shale Renosterveld
  • Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld
  • Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld
  • Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld
  • Nieuwoudtville-Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld
  • Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
  • Robertson Granite Renosterveld
  • Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld
  • Ruêns Silcrete Renosterveld
  • Swartberg Shale Renosterveld
  • Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld
  • Swartland Granite Renosterveld
  • Swartland Shale Renosterveld
  • Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld
  • Uniondale Shale Renosterveld
  • Vanrhynsdorp Shale Renosterveld
  • Western Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
Succulent
Karoo
  • Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld
  • Agter-Sederberg Shrubland
  • Anenous Plateau Shrubland
  • Bushmanland Inselberg Shrubland
  • Central Knersvlakte Vygieveld
  • Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland
  • Citrusdal Vygieveld
  • Die Plate Succulent Shrubland
  • Doringrivier Quartzite Karoo
  • Eastern Little Karoo
  • Eenriet Plains Succulent Shrubland
  • Goariep Mountain Succulent Shrubland
  • Hantam Karoo
  • Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland
  • Klawer Sandy Shrubland
  • Knersvlakte Dolomite Vygieveld
  • Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld
  • Knersvlakte Shale Vygieveld
  • Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo
  • Kosiesberg Succulent Shrubland
  • Lekkersing Succulent Shrubland
  • Little Karoo Quartz Vygieveld
  • Namaqualand Arid Grassland
  • Namaqualand Blomveld
  • Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld
  • Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld
  • Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld
  • Namaqualand Inland Duneveld
  • Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland
  • Namaqualand Shale Shrubland
  • Namaqualand Spinescent Grassland
  • Namaqualand Strandveld
  • Northern Knersvlakte Vygieveld
  • Northern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
  • Northern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
  • Oograbies Plains Sandy Grassland
  • Piketberg Quartz Succulent Shrubland
  • Platbakkies Succulent Shrubland
  • Prince Albert Succulent Karoo
  • Richtersveld Coastal Duneveld
  • Richtersveld Red Duneveld
  • Richtersveld Sandy Coastal Scorpionstailveld
  • Riethuis-Wallekraal Quartz Vygieveld
  • Robertson Karoo
  • Roggeveld Karoo
  • Rooiberg Quartz Vygieveld
  • Rosyntjieberg Succulent Shrubland
  • Southern Namaqualand Quartzite Klipkoppe Shrubland
  • Southern Richtersveld Inselberg Shrubland
  • Southern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
  • Southern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
  • Steytlerville Karoo
  • Stinkfonteinberge Eastern Apron Shrubland
  • Swartruggens Quartzite Karoo
  • Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland
  • Tanqua Karoo
  • Tatasberg Mountain Succulent Shrubland
  • Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland
  • Upper Annisvlakte Succulent Shrubland
  • Vanrhynsdorp Gannabosveld
  • Vyftienmyl se Berge Succulent Shrubland
  • Western Bushmanland Klipveld
  • Western Gwarrieveld
  • Western Little Karoo
  • Willowmore Gwarrieveld
Albany
Thicket
and
Strandveld
  • Albany Arid Thicket
  • Albany Bontveld
  • Albany Mesic Thicket
  • Albany Valley Thicket
  • Baviaans Valley Thicket
  • Bethelsdorp Bontveld
  • Blombos Strandveld
  • Buffels Mesic Thicket
  • Buffels Valley Thicket
  • Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
  • Crossroads Grassland Thicket
  • Doubledrift Karroid Thicket
  • Eastern Gwarrieveld
  • Elands Forest Thicket
  • Escarpment Arid Thicket
  • Escarpment Mesic Thicket
  • Escarpment Valley Thicket
  • Fish Arid Thicket
  • Fish Mesic Thicket
  • Fish Valley Thicket
  • Gamka Arid Thicket
  • Gamka Valley Thicket
  • Geluk Grassland Thicket
  • Goukamma Dune Thicket
  • Gouritz Valley Thicket
  • Grahamstown Grassland Thicket
  • Grassridge Bontveld
  • Groot Brak Dune Strandveld
  • Hamburg Dune Thicket
  • Hartenbos Dune Thicket
  • Kasouga Dune Thicket
  • Koedoeskloof Karroid Thicket
  • Lambert's Bay Strandveld
  • Langebaan Dune Strandveld
  • Mons Ruber Fynbos Thicket
  • Motherwell Karroid Thicket
  • Nanaga Savanna Thicket
  • Oudshoorn Karroid Thicket
  • Overberg Dune Strandveld
  • Saldanha Flats Strandveld
  • Saldanha Granite Strandveld
  • Saldanha Limestone Strandveld
  • Saltaire Karroid Thicket
  • Sardinia Forest Thicket
  • St Francis Dune Thicket
  • Subtropical Dune Thicket
  • Sundays Arid Thicket
  • Sundays Mesic Thicket
  • Sundays Valley Thicket
  • Thorndale Forest Thicket
  • Umtiza Forest Thicket
  • Vanstadens Forest Thicket
  • Western Gwarrieveld
  • Willowmore Gwarrieveld
Nama
Karoo
and
desert
  • Albany Broken Veld
  • Blouputs Karroid Thornveld
  • Bushmanland Arid Grassland
  • Bushmanland Basin Shrubland
  • Bushmanland Sandy Grassland
  • Eastern Lower Karoo
  • Eastern Upper Karoo
  • Gamka Karoo
  • Kalahari Karroid Shrubland
  • Lower Gariep Broken Veld
  • Lower Karoo Gwarrieveld
  • Northern Upper Karoo
  • Upper Karoo Hardeveld
  • Western Upper Karoo
  • Alexander Bay Coastal Duneveld
  • Eastern Gariep Plains Desert
  • Eastern Gariep Rocky Desert
  • Helskloof Canyon Desert
  • Kahams Mountain Desert
  • Kwaggarug Mountain Desert
  • Namib Lichen Fields
  • Noms Mountain Desert
  • Northern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
  • Richtersberg Mountain Desert
  • Richtersveld Sheet Wash Desert
  • Southern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
  • Western Gariep Hills Desert
  • Western Gariep Lowland Desert
  • Western Gariep Plains Desert
Azonal
  • Albany Alluvial Vegetation
  • Albany Dune Strandveld
  • Algoa Dune Strandveld
  • Arid Estuarine Salt Marshes
  • Bushmanland Vloere
  • Cape Estuarine Salt Marshes
  • Cape Inland Salt Pans
  • Cape Lowland Alluvial Vegetation
  • Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands
  • Cape Seashore Vegetation
  • Cape Vernal Pools
  • Drakensberg Wetlands
  • Eastern Temperate Freshwater Wetlands
  • Fynbos Riparian Vegetation
  • Highveld Alluvial Vegetation
  • Highveld Salt Pans
  • Lesotho Mires
  • Lower Gariep Alluvial Vegetation
  • Muscadel Riviere
  • Namaqualand Riviere
  • Namaqualand Salt Pans
  • Namaqualand Seashore Vegetation
  • Namib Seashore Vegetation
  • Southern Kalahari Mekgacha
  • Southern Kalahari Salt Pans
  • Southern Karoo Riviere
  • Subantarctic Kelp Bed Vegetation
  • Subtropical Alluvial Vegetation
  • Subtropical Dune Thicket
  • Subtropical Estuarine Salt Marshes
  • Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands
  • Subtropical Salt Pans
  • Subtropical Seashore Vegetation
  • Tanqua Wash Riviere
  • Upper Gariep Alluvial Vegetation
Forest
and
Coastal
belt
  • KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt
  • Maputaland Coastal Belt
  • Maputaland Wooded Grassland
  • Pondoland-Natal Sandstone Coastal Sourveld
  • Transkei Coastal Belt
  • Ironwood Dry Forest
  • Lowveld Riverine Forest
  • Mangrove Forest
  • Northern Afrotemperate Forest
  • Northern Coastal Forest
  • Northern Mistbelt Forest
  • Sand Forest
  • Scarp Forest
  • Southern Afrotemperate Forest
  • Southern Coastal Forest
  • Southern Mistbelt Forest
  • Swamp Forest
Subantarctic
biome
  • Subantarctic Biotic Herbfield and Grassland
  • Subantarctic Cinder Cone Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Coastal Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Drainage Line Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Fellfield
  • Subantarctic Fernbrake Vegetation
  • Subantarctic Mire
  • Subantarctic Polar Desert
not on
VEGMAP
South
African
National
Parks
Biosphere
reserves
Marine
protected
areas of
South
Africa
Coastal
Offshore
Management
organisations
Biodiversity research in SA
Research
organisations
Research
projects
Citizen science
databases
Botanical
gardens
Taxonomists
Regional biodiversity
Legislation
Publications
  • List of field guides to South African biota
  • Categories: Biodiversity of South Africa
  • Index
  • v
  • t
  • e
National Parks
Mega Parks
Parks managed by
Eastern Cape Parks
and Tourism Agency
Private and other parks
Marine protected areas
  • v
  • t
  • e
Reef diving regions
Reef dive sites
Artificial reefs
Underwater artworks
Snorkelling sites
Wreck diving regions
Wreck dive sites
  • 115 (barge)
A
  • HMS A1
  • HMS A3
  • USS Aaron Ward
  • Abessinia
  • USS Accokeek
  • HMAS Adelaide
  • SS Admiral Sampson
  • MV Adolphus Busch
  • Aeolian Sky
  • USS Aeolus
  • Agat World War II Amtrac
  • SS Ajax
  • Albert C. Field
  • USS Algol
  • SS Algoma
  • Al Munassir
  • Amaryllis
  • SS America
  • USS Anderson
  • Andrea Doria
  • Antilla
  • Antilles
  • USS Apogon
  • SS Appomattox
  • Aquila
  • Aratama Maru
  • Arctic
  • USS Arkansas
  • SS Arratoon Apcar
  • USS Arthur W. Radford
  • SS Atlanta
  • USS Atlanta (CL-51)
  • SS Australasia
B
  • HMAS Bayonet
  • SS Ben Doran
  • SS Benwood
  • Bianca C.
  • USCGC Bibb
  • SS Binnendijk
  • USS Blenny
  • HMS Boadicea
  • Booya
  • HMSAS Bloemfontein
  • Breda
  • Brian Davis
  • HMAS Brisbane
  • HMHS Britannic
  • Bud Bar
  • Bungsberg
  • Byron
C
  • HMAS Canberra
  • HMCS Cape Breton
  • USCGC Cape Henlopen
  • Captain Keith Tibbetts
  • Carl D. Bradley
  • USS Carlisle
  • Carnatic
  • Carthaginian II
  • SS Cayuga
  • SS Cedarville
  • Christina Nilsson
  • City of Bangor
  • SS City of Everett
  • SS City of Launceston
  • HMCS Chaudière
  • ROCS Chen Hai
  • Chester A. Congdon
  • SS Clan Ranald
  • SS Clifton
  • USCGC Comanche
  • SS Comet
  • Constandis
  • HMAS Coogee
  • Cormoran
  • Cornelia B. Windiate
  • HMS Coronation
  • Crusader
  • PS Cumberland
  • USS Curb
  • USCGC Cuyahoga
D
  • MV Dania
  • Daniel Lyons
  • David Tucker
  • SMS Dresden
  • SS D.R. Hanna
  • USCGC Duane
  • Dunraven
  • SS Dwight L. Moody
E
  • Eagle
  • Eastfield
  • SS Eber Ward
  • SS Edgar E. Clark
  • HMT Elk
  • Ellengowan
  • USS Emmons
  • SS Emperor
  • RMS Empress of Ireland
  • SS Erie L. Hackley
  • SS Espagne
  • SS Etruria
F
  • HMS Falmouth
  • Fifi
  • Fleetwing
  • SS Francisco Morazan
  • SS Francis Hinton
  • SS Frank O'Connor
  • F.T. Barney
  • Fujikawa Maru
  • Fumizuki
G
  • Gallinipper
  • SATS General Botha
  • USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
  • George A. Marsh
  • SS George Dewey
  • George M. Cox
  • Georg Thiele
  • HMS Ghurka
  • USS Gilliam
  • SS Glenlyon
  • Glen Strathallan
  • SAS Good Hope
  • HMAS Goorangai
  • Gothenburg
  • Grace A. Channon
  • SS Grecian
  • Green Bay
  • MV Gregory Poole
  • Gunilda
H
  • MT Haven
  • SS Henry Chisholm
  • MT Hephaestus
  • Hermann Künne
  • HMS Hermes
  • Herzogin Cecilie
  • SS Hesper
  • Hilma Hooker
  • Hispania
  • Home
  • HMS Hood
  • HMAS Hobart
I
  • Igara
  • USS Indra
  • SS Ironsides
  • SS Isaac M. Scott
  • Island City
J
  • HMAS J1
  • HMAS J2
  • HMAS J4
  • HMAS J5
  • James Eagan Layne
  • J.S. Seaverns
  • SS John B. Cowle
  • John M. Osborn
  • SS John Mitchell
  • Jura
K
  • SS Kamloops
  • Kashi Maru
  • PS Keystone State
  • King Cruiser
  • USS Kittiwake
  • Kizugawa Maru
  • SMS Kronprinz
  • Kyarra
  • Kyle Spangler
L
  • PS Lady Elgin
  • Lady Thetis
  • HMS Laforey
  • SS Lakeland
  • USS Lamson
  • USAT Liberty
  • SS Louisiana
  • Louis Sheid
  • SS L.R. Doty
  • USS LST-507
  • Lumberman
M
  • HMS M2
  • HMCS Mackenzie
  • Madeira
  • SMS Markgraf
  • SS Marquette
  • Mayflower (scow)
  • Mikhail Lermontov
  • Maine
  • Maloja
  • HMS Maori
  • SS Maori
  • SS Margaret Olwill
  • Marguerite
  • SS Mauna Loa
  • USAT Meigs
  • Mendi
  • MV Mercedes I
  • USCGC Mesquite
  • Metamora
  • SS Midland City
  • USS Mindanao
  • Minnedosa
  • SS Miowera
  • SS Milwaukee
  • USS Mizpah
  • Miztec
  • USCGC Mohawk
  • Mohegan
  • RMS Moldavia
  • SS Monarch
  • SS Monrovia
  • HMS Montagu
  • SS M.M. Drake
  • MV RMS Mulheim
  • USS Muliphen
  • SS Myron
N
  • Nagato
  • Niagara
  • Niagara (tug)
  • HMCS Nipigon
  • SS Norman
  • Northerner
O
  • Oceana
  • SS Onoko
  • USS Oriskany
  • Oslofjord
  • Ozone
P
  • P29
  • P31
  • SS Panay
  • SS Papoose
  • Pedernales
  • Persier
  • HMAS Perth
  • SS Pewabic
  • SAS Pietermaritzburg
  • USS Pilotfish
  • Piłsudski
  • SS Pioneer
  • USCGC Point Swift
  • Pool Fisher
  • SS Port Kembla
  • HMS Port Napier
  • Preußen
  • President Coolidge
  • HMS Prince of Wales
Q
  • PS Queen Victoria
R
  • SS R.P. Resor
  • Radaas
  • USS Rankin
  • Rainbow Warrior
  • SS Regina
  • HMS Repulse
  • RMS Rhone
  • Riva Palacio
  • Robert C. Pringle
  • SS Robert Wallace
  • USS Rochester
  • Rondo
  • Rosehill
  • Rosinco
  • Rotorua
  • Rouse Simmons
  • Royal Adelaide
  • Royal Charter
  • Rozi
  • SS Russia
S
  • HMS Safari
  • Sagamore
  • HMCS Saguenay
  • Sakawa
  • Salem Express
  • SS Samuel Mather
  • Samuel P. Ely
  • Sanko Harvest
  • USS Saratoga
  • HMCS Saskatchewan
  • SS S.C. Baldwin
  • USS Schurz
  • USS Scuffle
  • USS Scrimmage
  • HMS Scylla
  • SS Selah Chamberlain
  • HMS Sidon
  • USCGC Spar
  • South Australian
  • USS Spiegel Grove
  • Sport
  • Stanegarth
  • Stanwood
  • Stella
  • SS Stepas Darius
  • HMS St Lawrence
  • SS Superior City
  • HMAS Swan
  • Sweepstakes
T
  • SS Tahoe
  • USCGC Tamaroa
  • USS Tarpon
  • Thesis
  • Thistlegorm
  • Thomas Friant
  • Thomas Wilson
  • Thunderbolt Wreck
  • Toa Maru
  • HMAS Tobruk
  • Tokai Maru
  • Torrey Canyon
  • SAS Transvaal
  • MV Treasure
  • HMNZS Tui
U
V
  • Varvassi
  • USS Vermilion
  • SS Vernon
  • SS Vienna
W
  • HMNZS Waikato
  • Walter L M Russ
  • Washingtonian (1913)
  • PS Waubuno
  • HMNZS Wellington
  • SS Wexford
  • SS William C. Moreland
  • SS Wisconsin
  • USS Wilkes-Barre
Y
  • USS Yancey
  • YO-257
  • Yongala
  • HMCS Yukon
Z
  • Zenobia
  • Zealandia
  • Zingara
Cave dive sites
Freshwater dive sites
Training sites