First Transfrontier Marine Park in Africa.

The very first - and largest - transfrontier marine conservation area on the continent has been established. This Park extends between South Africa's World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Maputuland, and Mozambique's first marine conservancy, the Ponto de Ouro Marine Protected Area.

This creates a vast marine conservation area covering 300km of unbroken coastline and untouched beaches. It stretches from St Lucia in the south to Maputo Special Reserve in the south. 220km of the park lies on the South African soil and 80km lies in Mozambique and includes Inhaca and Portuguese islands, and stretches three nautical miles out to sea.

Mozambique has also lodged an application for its protected area to be declared a World Heritage Site, which will further emphasise the area as an eco-sensitive, vital area for protecting marine life. It's the largest breeding place for leatherback turtles in Africa.

Cites-listed species needing special protection include the turtles as well as dugong, whales, white and whale sharks, and some bird species. It is also the northern limit of migration for Southern Right whales.

From now on, all commercial fishing, fishing on coral reefs and fishing with explosives as well as driving on the beaches is strictly prohibited. Casual fishing - with strict controls - will still be allowed.

Activities such as commercial fishing, fishing on coral reefs and fishing with explosives are now banned. Driving on the beaches is also prohibited. However, recreational fishing - under strict controls - will be permitted.

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