With more than 2,700km of coastline, Mozambique is home to one of the most diverse marine life spots in the world and is recognized for having 9 out of 21 sites of recognized ecological importance in the East Africa region and 2 out of 36 marine life biodiversity hotspots.
The main coastal ecosystems include mangrove forests, estuaries, seagrass beds, coral reefs and wetlands that support high biodiversity, high endemism and endangered species: sharks and rays, more than 350 species of molluscs, dugongs, sea turtles and other marine mammals.
However, despite the international recognition of its unique marine ecosystems, only 3% of its territorial waters are contained in Marine Protected Areas (MPA). To help raise awareness of the wealth of the underwater world of Mozambique and advocate for greater protection of Mozambique’s marine ecosystems, the Ministry of the Seas, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), together with BioFund, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), National Conservation Areas Administration (ANAC), Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve, Terra Viva Center (CTV), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Luca Crudeli and Ashok Menon, created an underwater virtual exhibition.
You can view this amazing virtual exhibition here.
