Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

Red Tide remains a strange phenomenon along Namibia’s coast. What is Red Tide and what are the causes?
"Red tide" refers to a phenomenon known as an algal bloom, an event in which algae or phytoplankton accumulate rapidly (bloom) in the water column. These phytoplankton, are microscopic, single-celled, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the ocean surface. Certain species contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in colour from green to brown to red. When the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be red or brown, thus the name "Red Tide".

When does it usually occur?
No one knows the exact combination of factors that causes red tides, but it is believed that high temperatures combined with a lack of wind are usually at the root of red tide blooms. The recent series of algal blooms that occurred along the central Namibian coast developed during such warm, windless conditions. It usually occur during summer-autumn (February to April) but can also develop in winter during the so called "bergwind periods", when similar warm windless conditions occur for extended periods.

What effects does it have – on marine life and human beings?
Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion of dissolved oxygen or other harmful impacts, and are generally described as harmful algal blooms. The most conspicuous effects of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities among marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals and other organisms. The species responsible for the blooms experienced along the Namibian coast in March, were non-toxic but the eventual die-off and bacterial decomposition of the bloom reduced oxygen concentrations in the water column which caused the rock lobster walk-outs and other fish mortalities.

Lots of rock lobsters fled to the beaches in the middle of March due to the Red Tide. Could they have been toxic?
No, fish and rock lobsters are usually safe to eat even in the event of a toxic bloom. However, oysters and other shellfish such as clams and mussels are filter feeders and can accumulate red tide toxins in their tissues. People that would eat these shellfish containing red tide toxins may become ill with stomach upsets, breathing difficulties and even death in very rare cases. Once a red tide appears to be over, toxins can remain in the shellfish for weeks to months. The recent Namibian blooms were non-toxic.

Quite a number of leatherback turtles have washed up dead on the coastline recently. A picture of one was published in a recent edition of your paper. Is this phenomenon increasing?
Yes. Leatherback turtles have washed up in significant numbers on our shores lately. During the past two to three years 200 to 300 turtles were found. They don’t breed along Namibia’s coast but they come here to feed on jellyfish. This may be the reason for their bigger numbers. However, it would be necessary to get to know more about this phenomenon.

What is so significant about leatherback turtles?
The leatherback is the largest turtle and largest living reptile in the world. It can reach a total length of 2.1 m with a weight of 365 kg. Unlike other turtles, the leatherback has no visible shell with bone hard plates. Instead, it has a carapace made up of hundreds of irregular bony plates, covered with a leathery skin. The largest leatherback on record was a male stranded on the West Coast of Wales in 1988. He weighed 916 kg.

Where do they breed along the African coast?
The beaches of Mayumba National Park in Mayumba, Gabon (Central Africa) are home to the largest nesting population of leatherback turtles on the African continent. Their breeding ground there is a marine protected area, which has a 15 kilometres seaward boundary and stretches 60 kilometres along the Gabon coast. They migrate in search of food. They are common around Walvis Bay and can be seen throughout the year.

What is killing them?
Leatherbacks have mistaken plastic bags, raw plastic pellets, plastic and styrofoam, tar balls and balloons for their natural food. Plastic bags get blown into the sea from land or from vessels, are one of the major killers of turtles. Jellyfish are their main source of food and they perceive the bags to be jellyfish. Ingesting this debris can obstruct the gut, lead to absorption of toxins and reduce the absorption of nutrients from their real food. The turtles also get entangled in the gill nets of fishing boats and then drown. They get also struck by ships or trapped by trawls, traps and pots, longlines and dredges.

Are they protected?
Yes. Leatherback Turtles are critically endangered worldwide and are in the highest categories in terms of need for conservation in CITES, IUCN and CMS. Also, although Namibia is not a signatory of CMS (Convention on Migratory Species), Namibia has endorsed and signed a CMS International Memorandum of Understanding specific to the conservation of marine turtles. So not only turtles are protected in our waters by our fisheries Act, but Namibia is also committed to conserve these species at an international level.

If we have information, pictures or even statistics on leatherback turtles, to whom can we send it?
The person most knowledgeable about this in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is Dr. Jean-Paul Roux (jproux@mfmr.gov.na) at Luderitz. A stranding network needs to be established to quantify, identify and do morphometrics. NACOMA will also set up a stranding site for both turtles and cetaceans to try and foster some interest. At present the MFMR does not have a person in Swakopmund to assist with the continuation of a Namibia Cetacean Stranding Network. You can contact NACOMA at Tel. 064 – 304905.

Aquaculture is being mentioned as one of the potential upcoming economic activities along the Namibian coast. What exactly is aquaculture?
According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture) aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic organisms. Unlike fishing, aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, implies the cultivation of aquatic populations under controlled conditions. Mariculture refers to aquaculture practiced in marine environments. Particular kinds of aquaculture include algaculture (the production of kelp seaweed and other algae), fish farming, shrimp farming, shellfish farming, and the growing of cultured pearls.

Does mariculture mean that you can cultivate fish or shellfish under natural sea conditions along the coast in the sea?
Yes. This includes the cultivation of shellfish such as oysters and mussels.

Is mariculture being practiced along Namibia’s coast?
According to the book, Namibia’s Marine Environment by Molloy and Reinikainen, the development of mariculture in Namibia has been moderate to date. The natural conditions seem quite favourable for high production and the pollution is very low. Since the 1980’s several small to medium-scale operations have been fairly successful in farming Pacific Oysters and European flat oysters, as well as a specific introduced mussel species and red seaweed.

What has limited the development of mariculture?
According to the same book the main limiting factors have been the underdevelopment and lack of infrastructure of the coastal regions, distance and associated transport costs to potential markets, as well as limited opportunities for investment.

Has Government given attention to aquaculture and specifically mariculture?
A governmental policy to promote the responsible development and sustainable management of aquaculture, including mariculture, was drafted. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources listed the development of mariculture as a priority. More information about this can be obtained from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

Is there room for further expansion?
In the shellfish culture the farming of species like clams, the local rock lobster or the South African abalone are possibilities. Also future developments could include finfish production both in cages and coastal ponds.

Are there any risks to the marine environment regarding mariculture or aquaculture?
The development of a large-scale mariculture will introduce new potential risks to the marine environment. Invasive alien species, including parasites and diseases with the seeds and spat, could be detrimental to the local marine environment. There are quite a number of risk factors that need to be taken into account.

Is the NACOMA Project only concerned with the desert along the Namibian coast?
The NACOMA Project is part of Government’s strategy to promote sustainable economic development in the coastal zone, balanced with its natural resources. The coastal zone concerns the whole coast of 1,570 km from the Kunene River to the Orange River, where the unique Benguela Current and the Namib Desert meet. Thus, the project’s efforts are also aimed at the ocean, which supports some of the greatest concentrations of marine life found anywhere in the world.

You mention that the Benguela Current is unique. Could you explain?
The Benguela Current is unique because of its particular upwelling system, one of four eastern boundary current regions of the world oceans dominated by a wind-driven coastal upwelling system. The high level of biological productivity along our coast is the result of seasonable south to southeast winds, which induce upwelling making available an abundant supply of nutrients in the upper layers.  These nutrients together with sunlight promote blooms of phytoplankton, rich resources of zooplankton and an abundance of pelagic fish such as pilchard, anchovy and juvenile horse mackerel.  These fish shoals in turn provide food for large populations of higher predators such as sharks, seals, cetaceans and seabirds.

But the Namibian coast is so long and relatively uninhabited. Do we really need to worry about what is happening in the ocean?
Yes, absolutely. The biomass of our fish stocks due to over-fishing has declined considerably over the past 30 years and should be of great concern to all Namibians. NACOMA contributes to specific issues that are being addressed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme. What the NACOMA Project needs to address are the impacts of mining activities on marine and coastal ecosystems and coastal zone management issues, especially on high – low water mark transect. Remedial regional actions recommended by the BCLME Programme, can be integrated into the NACOMA Project for Namibia. BCLME is a joint project of Namibia, Angola and South Africa, who all are utilizing the resources in the Benguela Current.

The washing up of a Fin Whale at Jakkalputz in April 2008 seemed to be a rare occurrence along the Namibian coast?
Fin Whales, also known as the Finback Whale or Razorback or Common Rorqual, are not common to the Namibian coast. The Southern Right Whale can be seen along the Southern Namibian coast and around Pelican Point in the breeding season between July and November. Also the Humpback whale sometimes frequents the waters here between July and November on its way or back from the Angolan waters it breeds.

How big does a Fin Whale get?
It is the second largest whale and the second largest living animal after the Blue Whale, growing to nearly 27 meters long. The Fin Whale, which was found at Jakkalsputz, was a male of 14,6 m. He was still young as males reach sexual maturity at between 6 and 8 years reaching a length of 17,7 m. Females grow to 18,3 meters when they become sexually mature. Calves are born at a size of 6,5 m.

How are they distinguished from other whales?
By its great length and slender built. Fin whales are brownish-grey with a paler underside. There are two distinct subspecies: the Northern Fin Whale of the North Atlantic, and the larger Antarctic Fin Whale if the Southern Ocean. They are found in all the major oceans, from polar to tropical waters. The highest population density occurs in temperate and cool waters. Like other whales the Fin has been observed to make long, loud low-frequency sounds. When they blow their spout is vertical and narrow, reaching heights of 6 m.

On what do they feed?
The Fin Whale is a filter feeder. It feeds on small schooling fish, squid and crustaceans including mysids and krill. It feeds by opening its jaw while swimming at a relatively high speed of 11 km per hour, taking in 70 cubic metres of water in one gulp. It then closes its jaws and pushes the water back out of its mouth through its baleen, while trapping the prey. The fastest Fin Backs can swim up to 30 km per hour and one has been recorded of swimming up to 300 km in a day. For more information on this peculiar whale visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fin_whales

The importance of the Ramsar sites along Namibia’s coast has been emphasized at times. What is Ramsar about?
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. This international convention aims to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future. It recognizes the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value. The convention was developed and adopted by participating nations at a meeting in Ramsar, Iran on February 2, 1971 and came into force on December 21, 1975.

Is Namibia part of this International Convention?
Yes, Namibia became a signatory to the Convention in 1995. Currently, there are 157 contracting parties. Signatories meet every three years as the Conference of the Contracting Parties. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance now includes 1,708 sites (known as Ramsar Sites) covering around 1,530,000 km².

Where are Namibia’s Ramsar Sites?
Only the Walvis Bay Lagoon, Sandwich Harbour and the Orange River Mouth are proclaimed Ramsar sites. Walvis Bay is the most important coastal wetland in terms of its bird diversity in Southern Africa and perhaps one of the three most important coastal wetlands in Africa. During summer it supports up to 25 0 000 birds and winter about 80 to 100 000 birds. Sandwich Harbour’s significance is its biotic richness including 26 species of fish, migrant shore birds and red data birds. The Orange River Mouth also accommodates migratory shore birds. Etosha is the only inland Ramsar Site.

Are there more potential Ramsar Sites along the coast?
Yes, the Kunene River Mouth is the second richest coastal wetland for birds in Namibia where 72 species of wetland birds, including 12 Namibian Red Data Species, can be found. Other sites would be the Cape Cross Lagoons, the Mile 4 Saltworks and the Lüderitz Lagoon.

What is the distribution and abundance of the plover?
The Whitefronted Plover is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. In southern Africa it is found around the entire coast, mainly along sandy shores and coastal dunes, estuaries and along large rivers and lakes, as well as rocky coasts and inter-tidal mudflats. They roost mainly away from water on broad, open shorelines. It is the most common coastally breeding wader species in the region.
The coastal population in Namibia and South Africa is estimated to be 18 000 birds, while the Namibian population is estimated between 10 000 and 12 000. In a July 2004 bird count at Sandwich Harbour a total of 4 749 Whitefronted Plovers were counted.

How do the plover breed?
It is a monogamous, solitary nester. The nest is a simple scrape in sand, gravel or shingle, usually near the high-water mark, or in dunes and riverine sandbanks. Between one to three eggs are laid all year on the coast, with a peak in the summer in Namibia.
During breeding plovers defend their territories vigorously by attacking intruders. In Namibia its biggest enemy is the jackal. Territories vary in size and shape. On the Namibian coast territories are about 100m, but can be as small as 25m.
Eager birdwatchers at Swakopmund can view one breeding pair between the Strand Hotel and Thick Lip and two pairs between Wreck and the Maritime flats.

What is the conservation status of the Whitefronted Plover?
Not threatened, which means it is not a cause for concern. Only monitoring is taking place as the international situation is such that there is not enough money around to focus on the conservation of species that are not yet classified as threatened.
The Whitefronted Plover are widespread along the coast and fairly tolerant of disturbance, although people dogs and vehicles certainly aggravate its breeding success, as was shown in the recently published article.
What also counts in the favour of the plover is that it breeds all year round, do not migrate and is very adaptable.

With our vast coastline it is said that litter is a threat. Is it really a problem?
Litter is a major threat to marine animals and birds. Marine turtles ingest plastic mistaking it for jellyfish Over 300 different species worldwide of seabird, turtle, seal, sea lion, whale and fish are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion. The scale of contamination of the marine environment is immense.

What is the worldwide extent of pollution in the oceans?
Litter is found from equator to pole. In the Pacific Ocean there is a litter gyre the size of the African continent where plastic has accumulated sometimes up to 20 metres in depth. Plastic forms 90 per cent of floating marine debris. It is an environmental, economic, cultural, health and aesthetic problem.

What kinds of litter does one get?
There are two types of litter on our beaches, marine litter, which comes from ships and land based litter coming from harbours, rubbish dumps, or irresponsible people. It has been estimated that globally about 80 per cent of coastal litter is from land-based sources whereas the remaining 20 per cent is from ocean-based sources. Namibia does not have the volume of shipping traffic close inshore that South Africa does nor the huge number of storm water drains or licensed pipeline outfalls. However the ships anchored off Walvis Bay often discard litter overboard especially at night or in thick fog to avoid prosecution. During strong winds litter is blown from the harbour or the towns into the desert and then later with easterly winds into the sea.

Who is responsible for cleaning up the beaches and dune areas along Namibia’s coast?
Everybody using this very important asset. We should not leave it to somebody else to remove the litter behind us. Namibians and visitors from elsewhere are obliged to remove any refuse. Keep the environment free of litter by using refuse bins or taking your rubbish home. Also please remove any litter you come across from dunes or beaches.

What can happen if you are found littering?
People found littering in the dunes or on the beaches would be prosecuted.

You have mentioned that turtles mistake jellyfish for plastic bags?
Yes. Plastic bags, which get blown into the sea from land or from vessels, are one of the major killers of turtles. Jellyfish are their main source of food and they think the bags are jellyfish. They either suffocate or eventually die from the bags clog up their stomachs, leaving no space for nourishing food.

What kind of marine turtle do we find along Namibia’s coast?
The Leatherback Turtle. They come in Namibia to feed on jellyfish. They are very common around Walvis Bay and can be found around the year. It is believed that the bigger occurrence of jellyfish has increased their numbers. Over the last two years between 200 and 300 leather back turtles were found dead along the Namibian coast, mainly because of the above reason as well as due to gill nets.

Are there any other dangers regarding littering?
Strapping, being used to secure boxes of seafood, also gets dumped overboard by fishing or processing vessels. Strapping is very dangerous to any sea life, especially seals who end up with the strapping around their necks, wit resultant deep or fatal cuts. And referring to cuts, broken glass (such as from beer bottles) cause injuries to children playing on the beaches or anglers trying to land a catch.

It is said the NACOMA Project is wielding the scepter over the dune belt between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund and that it is taking decisions about where people and vehicles may go or not. Is this so?
No the NACOMA Project is not taking any decisions. It is facilitating cooperation between the various stakeholders along the coast to amongst other promote environmental awareness of environmental problems. A Contingency Management Committee (CMC) was established earlier in the year to address the environmental problems facing the dune belt. It consists of         representatives of the Eronogo Regional Council, the municipalities of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, their respective Traffic Departments, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Coastal Tourism Association of Namibia, various operators who offer adventure sports in the area as well as concerned individuals work. They all work towards conserving the area for the current and future enjoyment of all.

What has this Contingency Management Committee done so far?
Various things. It has arranged parking and off-loading areas for quad bikes, put up information signs at conservation sites and published an information pamphlet about the do’s and don’ts in the area. A total of 30 000 pamphlets will be distributed to visitors to the coast this holiday season. The theme of the pamphlet is: “Enjoy, don’t destroy your environment.”

Why is the area between the two coastal towns so important?
The 30 km coastline between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay is designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA). It has up to 770 birds per kilometre of rocky-shore, the highest linear count of birds anywhere in Southern Africa. The rare and specially protected endemic Damara Tern (Sterna balaenarum) has its most important breeding area on the planet between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The colonies at Swakopmund and Caution Reef have been completely fenced off to protect them from off-road driving.

Are there any other sensitive areas we need to be aware of?
The Walvis Bay Lagoon is the richest coastal wetland in Southern Africa, hence its Ramsar status. The Swakop River Estuary is a dynamic system, which creates a mosaic of habitats with variable salinity levels, making it attractive to a diversity of plants and birds. The dunes have unique beetles, spiders, reptiles and mammals that live mainly on the vegetation or on the slip faces. Sandwich Harbour, proclaimed as a Ramsar site, is one of Southern Africa’s richest and most unique wetlands for migratory and resident birds.  Marine animals of interest living offshore include dolphins, seals, internationally protected whales and internationally endangered turtles.

Are those involved trying to spoil our holiday fun?
No. As is stated in the pamphlet, everybody should enjoy the natural resources in a responsible way to ensure the sustainability of these assets for generations to come. Quad bikes, motto cross bikes and 4x4 vehicles are only authorized in the two demarcated areas: Long Beach & Dune 7. A permit is required and can be obtained at the regional offices of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

What about angling?
Licences for angling, bait collection and crayfish diving are obtainable at the offices of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Enjoy these activities by respecting the harvesting regulations.

Where exactly in the dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay may one drive with your quad bike, moto cross bike or 4x4 vehicle?
There are two Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Zones especially for your enjoyment. The one area stretches from Long Beach (Langstrand) 10 km southward to about Long Beach. There you will find a turnoff, an off-loading and parking area as well as information signs. You can drive into the dunes easterly in an area of about 40 000 ha.. The other site is just past Dune 7, when approaching from Walvis Bay. Use the access route and obey the signs there. Please stay in the ORV areas, stay on the dunes and avoid slip faces, gravel plains and vegetated areas.

How do quad bikes at Long Beach get access to the dunes?
The Roads Authority created an access route especially for quad bikes to drive from the beach area, cross the tar road just north of Langstrand and enter the dune area, described above. Drivers of these bikes are requested to use this route only to ensure road safety.

Why can’t one off-load your quad bike from trailers anywhere?
First of all we need to obey the road rules and road safety. One can’t just turn off anywhere. Secondly, an off-loading and parking area has been created with the assistance of the Roads Authority, Walvis Bay Municipality and other role players for your convenience. Thirdly, a single entry place will ensure that the drivers of off-road vehicles will stay in the ORV Zones and not drive in protected areas. All quad bikes or moto cross bikes must be transported by trailer to the ORV Zones.

Why should we stick to the ORV areas in the dune belt and adjacent areas?
Once again. The endemic animals and plants in the dune belt are severely impacted on by motor vehicles in conservation areas. Hence, the demarcated ORV Zones. People still ignore the signs and drive in the no-go areas. These include the gravel planes east of the dune belt as well as the lichen fields north of Swakopmund. If too much hooliganism is noticed, a moratorium could be implemented, which may forbid all off-road activities on state land. Please note that the dune belt is state land.

Where are these protected areas?
These are areas we should keep away from. Rare bird species such as the Damara Tern, endemic to Namibia, have their breeding colonies at Swakopmund and Caution Reef, which are completely fenced off to protect them from off-road driving. Please take note of the information signs and fenced-off areas between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.

Do I need a permit to drive in the two ORV Zones?
Yes. Permits are obtainable from theregional offices of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The Swakopmund office (Tel. 064 – 404 576) is at the corner of Bismarck Street and Sam Nujoma Avenue and the Walvis Bay office (Tel. 064 – 205 971/2) at 643 Heinrich Baumann Street. All quad bikes should be licenced and drivers should wear helmets.

What about driving in National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area?
Remain on well used vehicle tracks and please do not go east of the main road without a qualified guide. Vehicle tracks are the most serious form of pollution. Avoid the lichen areas and bird breeding colonies and do not drive over any vegetation. Also don’t drive on the beaches in secluded areas and drive inland of campsites.

May we drive to Sandwich Harbour?
Yes. But a permit is required and is obtainable from the offices of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. If you are not an experienced 4x4 sand driver, do not go on your own. Even skillful beach drivers need to avoid traveling during high tides. No traveling south of the first lagoon at Sandwich Harbour is allowed as well as no overnight camping. And keep the area clean please.