"ThePondoland Marine Protected Area lies adjacent to one of the most rugged and beautiful coastlines’ in South Africa. It is South Africa’s largest MPA in terms of surface area, stretching for 90 km along the coast between the Mzamba River in the north and the Umzimvubu River in the south and extending approximately 10-15 km out to sea to the 1000 m isobath. In terms of marine biodiversity, the Pondoland coast lies within the Natal Bioregion but it forms a unique transition zone with elements of both sub-tropical and warm-temperate ecosystems. The area is therefore characterized by a high diversity of marine organisms and a large number of endemic species. The Pondoland MPA includes a wide range of marine and coastal habitats with some of the most pristine estuaries in South Africa, extensive rocky and sandy shores and large subtidal reefs. From a fisheries perspective, the area forms the core distribution area of many over-exploited linefish species (e.g. seventy-four, red steenbras, black musselcracker etc.), some of which spawn in the region. It also forms an important area for a number of intertidal invertebrates (e.g. brown mussels, oysters, limpets etc.), many of which have been subjected to extensive harvesting in the past.
The MPA is zoned into a number of controlled (i.e. limited use) and restricted (i.e. no-take) zones. No fishing from a vessel is allowed in the large offshore restricted zone between the Sikombe and Mbotyi Rivers, primarily to enable the recovery and rebuilding of depleted linefish stocks. The area between the Mtentu and Lupatana Rivers is managed by the Eastern Cape Parks Board, while the areas between the Mzamba and Mtentu Rivers and between the Lupatana an Umzimvubu Rivers is managed by MCM."