Coastal Environment Trust of Namibia (CETN)

Walvis Bay Ramsar site

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, aims to achieve the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world. It is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international co-operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are now 152 contracting parties to the Convention, with over 1600 wetlands designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

In December 1995 the Namibian Government designated the Walvis Bay Wetlands a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The timing of this was linked to the "Walvis Bay Enclave" being transferred from South Africa to Namibia in 1994. The total area of the Ramsar site is approximately 12,000ha; this excludes the deep waters of the bay and the Pelican Point peninsula. Three other areas in Namibia are also designated as Ramsar Sites: Sandwich Harbour, Etosha Pan (Lake Oponono and Cuvelai Drainage) and the Orange River Mouth in conjunction with South Africa.

The Walvis Bay wetlands - the lagoon, mudflats, shoreline and salt works - constitute the single most important coastal wetland in southern Africa for palaearctic (migratory) birds and amongst the top 3 for palaearctic (migratory) birds on the continent of Africa. The open desert landscape and the presence of predators, mainly Black-backed Jackals (Canis mesomelas) and Kelp Gulls (Larus dominicanus), combine to limit opportunities for ground-nesting birds to breed at Walvis Bay. The wetland therefore serves mainly as a dry-season and drought refuge for intra-African migrants and as a non-breeding area for Palaearctic migrants. Key species of African birds are Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Chestnut-banded Plover, Black-necked Grebe and the African Black Oystercatcher.

The declaration of the Walvis Bay wetlands as a Ramsar Site, and their recognition as one of BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas, indicates their global significance for bird conservation. The vast numbers and diversity of waterbirds, in their spectacular desert setting, combine to provide a powerful tourist attraction. If well-managed, this represents a sustainable use of this wetland and a source of employment for the local community. However, finding the right balance between conservation and utilisation is never an easy task; promulgation of the Walvis Bay wetlands as a protected area would be a good next step, and is long overdue.

Walvis Bay lagoon

The Lagoon is considered to be over 3,000 years old and to be the oldest coastal lagoon in Namibia. It is a dynamic lagoon in that it is affected by wind blown sand and waterborne silt but not by the "along shore" northerly sand drift, like Sandwich Harbour. Large fish such as Steenbraas, weighing up to 15kg were caught here in the Lagoon up to the early 70s. During the late 60s and early 70s a large amount of tidal and marshland was reclaimed for informal development etc. In the 70s, sedimentation of the lagoon became a cause for concern, and this is still a genuine concern today. Bird counts commenced in 1983, coordinated by Round Table and run by Dr Tony Williams and Dr Chris Brown. In 1996 the public were informed that the Lagoon was silting up fast and that action must be taken now. In 1997, with the support of the Mayor, a workshop was convened under the LA 21 programme. Following the workshop, a brief Terms of Reference (3 phases) was prepared and the Walvis Bay Lagoon Integrated Environmental Management Plan was constructed. This Management Plan was accepted in principle by both central and local government. Then, Phase 2 was enacted: a study of the Lagoon, Bay and coastline affecting the lagoon and the feasibility of options of reparation, if found necessary. DANCED took up this challenge; this work is currently underway.

Biodiversity

The Walvis Bay wetlands are important for many reasons; the two specific Ramsar criteria are denoted in pink:

The wetlands regularly support a minimum of 20,000 birds at any time.
Walvis Bay wetlands hold a minimum of 70,000 to 100,000 birds during our winter months and up to 250,000 during our spring and summer months.
The wetlands regularly support 1% of the world population of 19 species and subspecies of waterfowl. The most important of these are:
Chestnut-banded Plover65-70% of world population
Black-necked Grebe40% of African sub-species
Greater Flamingo65% of southern African population
Lesser Flamingo80% of southern African population
African Black OystercatcherImportant nursery area for 50% of 1 to 3 year old juveniles
Besides the local and intra African birds this is an extremely important wintering ground for palaearctic birds (species that arrive on our shore from the beginning of September and leave again to breed in the northern hemisphere in March/April)

Habitats

The Walvis Bay wetlands can be divided into four main waterbird habitats:

The lagoon

The lagoon, a sheltered inlet from the bay, is about 7 km long and 300 m wide at the mouth. The maximum depth at the mouth at low tide is about 2.5 m. The mouth and northern section is where Greater Flamingos may be observed as they feed mainly on invertebrates. The southern section is where Lesser Flamingos are more likely to be found as they feed solely on algae. Most palaearctics can be found on the shoreline and islands. Birds with longer beaks delve deeper and further from shore for invertebrates.

Mud flats

The intertidal mudflats lie between the mouth of the lagoon and the Salt Works pump station. Predominant in this area are various Plovers, Little Stints, etc; these birds are feeding mainly on fly larva. Along the shoreline of the mudflats are Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones and Greater Flamingos. There are large areas here that have very high concentrations of invertebrates and here you find longer billed birds.

Shore line

The western shore, ending at Pelican Point, is sandy and geomorphologically dynamic. The inner (eastern) side of the Pelican Point peninsula is about 6 to 7 km long, with an intertidal area about 800 m wide. A variety of birds may be found feeding here. These are predominantly Greater Flamingos, Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings, whilst on the tidal flats are short billed plovers and Curlew Sandpipers. Along this shoreline Eurasian Curlew and African Black Oystercatchers may be observed. The shoreline between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund has the highest linear count of birds in southern Africa (450 birds per km).

Salt works

Construction of the saltpans began in 1963 and the most recent expansion was in 2000. The total area is approximately 4,400 ha. The main feeders here are the Intra-African and resident birds such as Lesser Flamingos, Cape Teal, Black-winged Stilts, Black-necked Grebes, Avocets African Black Oystercatcher and the White-fronted and Chestnut-banded Plovers which breed here throughout the year.

Gulls and Terns

Hartlaub's Gull, Kelp (Cape) Gull and Grey Headed Gull breed here from January onwards. The near-endemic Damara Tern and the Caspian Tern both breed in the vicinity. Damara Terns breed mainly in cordoned off areas between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. The Swift Tern, although not breeding here, is found here all year round. It breeds mainly in the Lüderitz area.

About 250,000 terns come here from the northern hemisphere during our summer months as the upwelling from Lüderitz surfaces between Meob and Walvis Bay bringing in krill, zooplankton and phytoplankton. The largest numbers of Terns are normally found down at Sandwich, they feed between Sandwich and Swakopmund and large numbers may be observed along this portion of coast.

Many schools of small fish and krill enter the lagoon during our summer months which, in turn, brings large numbers of terns and fish to feed on them.

Conservation issues

There are a number of important issues relating to the conservation of the Walvis Bay Ramsar Site.

Anthropogenic

Of all anthropogenic impacts, the reduction of intertidal habitat poses the main ongoing threat to the waterbirds at Walvis Bay. This is due to the construction of the saltpans over previously intertidal habitat, the construction of roads, and the reclamation of land for the port and suburbs of the town. Whilst port operations potentially pose a risk from pollutants and the regular dredging of a channel into the port, the risk from these activities has been minimised.

Disturbance reduces the ability of birds to utilise the wetland fully. Disturbances include bird- and cetacean-watchers, angling, canoeing, off-road vehicles etc. Impacts can be minimised by zoning of habitats and restricting activities that can be undertaken in each zone, in combination with other measures such as the provision of hides. While the entire area has been broadly zoned for conservation, proposals have been made for the specific zoning of various activities within the Kuiseb delta area. This zoning will only go ahead once the nature reserve has been proclaimed and the subsequent regulations are in place, and after stakeholders have accepted the lagoon management plan. The proclamation is not intended to exclude members of the public from the area, but rather to work with the public to preserve the wetland. In the zoning proposal, Pelican Point will be zoned for kayaking, motor boats and dolphin and seal viewing. The lagoon mouth will be set aside for powerboat launching, windsurfing, birding and kayaks. No motorised craft will be allowed in the first lagoon area, which is to be reserved for birding, windsurfing and walking. The main lagoon area is to be used for birding and walking only. Non-destructive mari-culture activities, such as oyster farming and the salt works' pumping, will be allowed in the bay, as well as ski-boating, fishing, dolphin viewing and birding. The salt works area is to be designated for salt production, birding and access to Paaltjies. There is also the bird sanctuary zone and the delta zone, where birding, walking, a 4x4 trail and community-based tourism operations will be allocated once the Nature Reserve has been proclaimed.

Natural

In the long-term, siltation poses the major natural threat to the existence of the lagoon. There are two sources of sediments: firstly, sand is blown from the dunes of the Namib Sand Sea by the prevailing southwesterly winds and secondly, the prevailing winds generate an inshore current which transports two million m3 of sediment northwards past Pelican Point annually. Up to 200,000 m3 of this is estimated to enter Walvis Bay each year.

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