**Proposed Expansion in Feb 2016.

Draft regulations to declare network of marine protected areas (9 Feb 2016) TimesLIVE.co.za

The new MPAs were identified through Operation Phakisa‚ a presidential project to fast-track the development of South Africa’s Ocean Economy.

“Many of these new MPAs aim to protect offshore ecosystems and species‚ ranging from deep areas along the Namibian border to a more than tenfold expansion of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in the KwaZulu-Natal Province."

The new MPAs will secure protection of marine habitats like reefs‚ mangroves and coastal wetlands which are required to help protect coastal communities from the results of storm surges‚ rising sea-levels and extreme weather. Offshore‚ these MPAs will protect vulnerable habitats and secure spawning grounds for various marine species‚ therefore helping to sustain fisheries and ensure long-term benefits important to food and job security.

From the WWF website:

The Aliwal Shoal MPA was declared in 2004 and it extends from high water mark to 7 km offshore of the town of Umkomaas KwaZulu-Natal on the South Coast. Along the shore the boundaries of the MPA are between Mzimayi River to the Umkomaas River mouth. The coastline of the MPA extends 18.3 kilometres. The Aliwal shoal was named after the Aliwal, a ship that sailed from London in September 1849 and was nearly wrecked on the reef. The reef itself is 1,5 km wide and situated approximately 5 kms off-shore from the Umkomaas River mouth ,on the inner edge of the Agulhas Current. The shoal is approximately 5 km in length, it runs in a north/south direction and ranges in depth from 5 to 27 meters. The reef itself was an ancient shoreline that was fossilized almost 80 000 years ago. 

The reef has claimed two ships to date, the first being the Nebo which was on its maiden voyage in 1884 and lies at a depth of 25 meters and the second being the Produce a 2000 ton bulk carrier which sank in 1974 and now lies at a depth of 30 meters. Both structures can still be seen today and are popular dive sites.

Aliwal Shoal is situated on the inner edge of the Agulhas Current which runs along the east coast of Southern Africa bringing with it warm water and a huge diversity of tropical sea life. This offers Scuba divers with a varied, spectacular and thrilling adventure. From July to December the Shoal is the congregation point for ragged tooth sharks, where up to 60 sharks have been encountered at one time. Marine life also includes an abundance of soft corals and sponges and the associated reef fish, tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks, zambezi sharks, whale sharks, sea turtles, potato and brindle bass.