Sierra Leone - State of the Marine Environment 2015

4.3. Beaches (sandy beaches)

unplanned settlements and poor waste management, the coastal area has become pollution hotspot which has contributed to the deterioration in surface and ground water quality. In general the estuaries and deltas of Sierra Leone are found to be in good condition and stable. Estuaries and bays around Freetown receive most of the effluents from the industries. Pesticides from agricultural run-offs may also enter the estuaries as well as sediments from river mining activities and the indiscriminate clearing of the mangroves and forests. The most affected (worst) places are along the Freetown coastline and the best places are found along the Freetown peninsula coastline and in the north and south of the country. 4.2. Small bays The bays and estuaries support diverse ecosystems for which inhabitants of the coastal areas and beyond derive their livelihood. Around these coastal water bodies occur extensive fringes of mangroves, tidal swamps and intertidal mud flats. Because of their location near terrestrial sediment sources, the estuaries and bays contain large amounts of nutrients. The combination of this nutrient supply with generally shallow water gives rise to a diverse and large flora and fauna. These areas are important as a source of recreation, transportation and food and also they serve as a receptacle for waste disposal. According to the assessment, small bays are in fairly good condition in Sierra Leone.

In general, beaches are found to be in good condition. Ten percent of the best beaches along the Sierra Leone’s coastline are all-natural without major human influences and are mainly sandy facing the eastern Atlantic (e.g. Kent beach). The worst ten percent include the Goderich, Lakka and Hamilton beaches, all of which show signs of erosion. This is mainly due to sand extraction activities taking place at those sites. The Lumley beach is probably undergoing erosion due to the changing regime of the sea (accelerated sea level rise). Most of the beaches outside the western area do not have tourist recreational facilities and are used mainly as fish landing sites: e.g. Tombo, Shenge, Konakridi, Kambia, Pujehun, Port Loko, Moyamba and Bonthe. The best places are along the Turner’s peninsular. The sandy beaches are in generally good condition. 4.4. Rocky coasts and islands The biodiversity of the rocky shores include mollusks, barnacles, oysters, mussels, periwinkles, limpets, gastropods, algae and coralline sponges. The loss of biodiversity and integrity of rocky coasts is mainly due to human activities, e.g. infrastructure development and resource exploitation such as sand and stone excavation, but also sea level rise. The wildlife observed include birds, lizards, crabs and mollusks. In most places, the rocky coasts are in very good condition. However most of the islands are being eroded namely, Plantain, Yeliboya and Bunce Islands.

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