Eastern Africa Marine Ecoregion: background
Rich variety of species, habitats, environmental conditions
What about the Island states?
The coast of Eastern Africa extends for over 7,000 km (4,000 miles), from the northern tip of the Horn of Africa to Cape Town, and is home to the peoples of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.
North of Chisimayu in Somalia, the coast is strongly influenced by an upwelling of colder, nutrient rich water from March to October. As a result, there are marked changes in seawater temperature during the year, varying between 17°C and 30°C.The central region, stretching from Chisimayu all the way down to Sodwana Bay in South Africa is exposed to consistent, tropical, environmental conditions throughout the year, with seawater temperature usually between 24°C and 31°C.
This region extends for approximately 4,600 km and includes some or all of the territorial waters of Somalia (approx. 300 km), the entire coastlines of Kenya (500 km), Tanzania (900 km), and Mozambique (2,800 km), and the northeastern portion of South Africa (approx. 100 km).
South of Sodwana Bay the coast is influenced by colder seawater and weather that changes the environment from tropical to temperate. Within the tropical portion of the eastern African coast, the shores and coastal seas harbour a characteristic set of species, habitats, dynamics, and environmental conditions.
The coastal and marine plants and animals present in the region have adapted and evolved to live and breed in the consistent, reliable tropical conditions that prevail here. This coastal region, functioning largely as a unit, or ecological region, is called the Eastern African Marine Ecoregion (EAME).
