The Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA) is bounded by the Indian
Ocean and 83 km of coastline comprising both sandy and rocky
shores. This coastline is punctuated by 13 estuaries as well as
the port of Durban into which several canalized rivers flow.
Urban development stretches down to the coast over much of
the DMA and there are many access points so that
people can enjoy the marine environment.
The coastal waters of KwaZulu-Natal are warm
(19-26o C) with considerable wave action.
They are strongly influenced by the warm
southward-flowing Agulhas current, which results in the occurrence of
numerous tropical and sub-tropical animals and plants in the waters
adjacent to the DMA. Most of the marine biota is of
Indo-Pacific origin although a high percentage of endemism
also occurs.
The rocky shores are inhabited by species such as mussels,
oysters, octopus, crayfish and crabs which are harvested
for use as food and bait. Between the rocky outcrops there are
sandy beaches where species such as mole crabs and ghost crabs
are found. Subtidally, there are sandy expanses that are
interspersed with reefs where a high diversity of marine fish
species occur. There are also many pelagic fishes, some of
which migrate annually into KwaZulu-Natal waters (e.g. the
winter "sardine run"). Marine mammals such as dolphins and
whales and a variety of seabirds are also regularly
sighted.
Fishing from the shore with rod and line for
species such as shad/elf is a popular activity along
the DMA's coast. Boats are also launched through the
surf at ten recognised sites in the DMA, so that
anglers and commercial fishers can access fishes inhabiting
deeper reefs as well as pelagic gamefishes. Other fishing
activities include spearfishing, beach-seine netting and
capture of sharks by the Natal Sharks Board through their
netting operations at bathing beaches.
There are 18 point sources (including pipelines) where
effluent is discharged to the sea along the Metropolitan
coastline. In most cases the effluent consists primarily of
treated domestic sewage but industrial effluent is discharged
from the SA Tioxide, AECI and SAICCOR outfalls. Despite this,
sea-water quality along the Metropolitan coast is generally
good although, at times of high rainfall, it does deteriorate
near river mouths and stormwater drains because of poor
sanitation in informal settlements in the catchment areas.
Recreational use of the coastal
and marine environment in the DMA is probably the highest
in South Africa. Non-consumptive activities such as
swimming, surfing, beach sports, snorkelling, SCUBA diving and
sailing are extremely popular and can lead to huge numbers of
people at the coast particularly during the summer holidays.
The coast is the major tourist attraction in the
DMA.
