Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Integrated coastal zone management in northern Mozambique
A comprehensive review of integrated coastal zone management can be
found in the proceedings of a national workshop on integrated coastal
zone management in Mozambique (Lundin and Lindén, 1997). The only
example of integrated coastal zone management in Cabo Delgado prov-
ince is that of the Mecui Coastal Zone Management Project (Massinga,
1997).
Along with the other East African and Western Indian Ocean Island
States who signed the 'Arusha Resolution on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management in Eastern Africa (including Island States)', Mozambique
has pledged to develop and implement integrated coastal zone man-
agement (ICZM) programmes. Within the main government depart-
ment involved in coastal zone management, MICOA (Ministry for the
Coordination of Environmental Af airs) there is now a Coastal Zone Unit
with specii c responsibility for coastal management issues. Active coastal
zone management has largely been restricted to some large marine pro-
tected area projects in the southern sector of the country, for example the
Inhaca Island marine park, the Bazaruto Archipelago marine protected
area and the Xai-Xai Integrated Coastal Area Management project.
However, projects are gradually being developed throughout the country,
for example the Mecui Coastal Zone Management Project just south of
Pemba or the Island Management project on Isla de Moçambique, which
are currently in progress. City coastal zone management projects are also
planned for the city of Nacala in Nampula Province and the city of Beira
in Sofala Province.
Having only emerged from the civil war in 1992, Mozambique has the
dii cult task of reconciling coastal zone management programmes with
the need for rapid development of large areas left by the war without
even the most basic infrastructure and facilities. It also has to address the
problem of a population that, during the civil war, gravitated towards
coastal areas. Many refugees have remained and are now settled in
their coastal lifestyles. It is estimated that more than 40 per cent of the
Mozambican population live in coastal districts (MICOA, 1997). The pres-
sures on coastal resources are manifold: increased populations through
migrations, through the natural increase in population that is being expe-
rienced throughout the region and also increased exploitation of resources
by outside user groups such as foreign i shing l eets and recreational users
(Hatton and Massinga, 1994).
Itinerant i shers
Small numbers of itinerant i shers from local mainland villages have
i shed seasonally in the Quirimbas, but in the i ve years preceding the
